Of course Apostates Should Be Killed !

There seems to be a problem with many "modernist and liberal" Muslims out there who would like to "sugarcoat" the religion of Islam by distorting what it really teaches. There are those that go at length to deny that Islam teaches that apostates must be killed. They either deny the explicit hadith that speak about this or reinterpret it to only refer to those apostates that would fight the Muslims.

This is false. I am not going to spend time in this article trying to prove that Islam does call for the killing of apostates and the rules and conditions behind killing apostates (e.g. the apostate must be interrogated first in order to refute what doubts he has for three days, etc.) for I am assuming that my readers already adhere to and have knowledge of the orthodox position regarding the matter. What I want to speak about in this article is the reason for Islam ordering the killing of apostates.

Before I proceed, let me make it clear that when I speak about apostates that must be killed I am only referring to those apostates who live under an Islamic theocratic state and have openly declared their apostasy. What this means is that no Muslim has a right to go to America or Europe for example and start killing ex-Muslims, for he has no such authority to do so.

People find it difficult to grasp why apostasy is a crime that is so great that it would call for a punishment (i.e. execution) that is more severe than say fornication (i.e. flogging), deliberate and preplanned theft (i.e. cutting of the hand), etc. However, with careful contemplation and a realization of the reality of the issue at hand, the matter should be easy for one to swallow.

If someone tells you that the state executed a man who was guilty of murdering someone by stabbing him repeatedly, would you shout "This is injustice! Why did you execute this man! His crime wasn't that great!"?

I believe that many of us would not say so. I believe many of us would say that the murderer deserved to be executed because of the gravity of his heinous crime. Not too many of us would sympathize with such a man. This man made his innocent victim suffer greatly each time his knife penetrated his flesh. He caused him so much physical pain that the man suffered greatly even though it was only for a matter of a few minutes.

Now let us come to the apostate. A person who would openly declare his apostasy affects the people around him. The people around him might ask themselves "Why on earth did this Muslim leave Islam? Is he out of his mind? Or maybe he discovered something wrong with Islam? Maybe Islam isn't that clear after all!" These people would then start to doubt their religion. If they seriously doubt their religion, they cease to be Muslims. If they cease to be Muslims that would very likely land them up in the blazing fire of Hell for eternity.

In the previous example, we saw that the murderer was executed because he caused his victim so much physical pain even though it was only for a matter of a few minutes, however with the apostate we see that he could cause the people around him so much spiritual damage by destroying their souls that these people could land up in the blazing fire of Hell for eternity.

With all honesty, which crime is worse? Stabbing a person for a few minutes or making him burn for eternity? The answer is obvious and we know that it is the latter. If the latter crime is much worse, why are we insisting that it is difficult to grasp why Islam would call for the killing of apostates then?

I believe that this is for two reasons:

- Lack of faith or no faith at all in the truth of Islam.

- This Islamic Practice is Immoral According to non-Muslim Standards

Lack of faith or no faith at all in the truth of Islam

Many Muslims with weak faith still fail to fully comprehend the seriousness and gravity of kufr (disbelief). They fail to recognize its deadly results (i.e. Hellfire) because the crime of the apostate towards his victims won't be displayed or shown in this life, but in the after life (i.e. you would only realize the pain that the apostate will go through in the next life and not in this one, thus you don't see the seriousness of apostasy with your own eyes now), therefore they find it difficult to accept the fact that apostates must be punished in this life. However, if one has strong faith (especially in the fact that apostates will go to hell if they don't repent) and the correct understanding of the seriousness of Kufr then it only takes common sense to figure out why apostates must be killed.

Non-Muslims will of course (and understandably) argue that they don't even believe in Islam in the first place. If they don't believe in Islam, how could Muslims impose such rules upon them?

Islam already acknowledges the fact that there would be those that would hate to see Islam succeed and impose its ruling on others (Surah 8:8, 9:32-33, 10:82, 40:14, 61:8-9), thus non-Muslims complaining about how they don't "like" or agree with certain Islamic laws is something that is already expected.

Now since non-Muslims don't "like" or agree with the law of killing of the apostate they would argue that Muslims should be "open minded" and allow people to freely choose whatever religion they please. They would argue back that religion is only between God and the person. It is no body else's business.

Muslims could easily reply back by saying:

- You non-Muslims say that people should be free to practice their religion. Our religion states that apostates must be killed. So allow us to "freely practice our religion". If you don't allow us to, you are contradicting your selves then.

- Muslims would hate it if apostates were allowed to be free to run around publicly displaying their apostasy and see their loved ones getting affected by it. Why should Muslims suffer by standing back and watching this all happen? Why do non-Muslims insist that they don't get affected while Muslims must? These are double standards.

- You say that "religion is only between God and the person", fine so if someone apostatizes let him keep it between God and himself in private and not publicly display it. If he chooses to go public with it and start affecting others, then he hasn't made his religion only between himself and God but involved others as well. If he involved others as well, then others (i.e. the Islamic state) have the right to intervene.

Non-Muslims would also argue back that the apostate's intention is sincere. He is not intentionally trying to lure people into hell. They would say that we must take his intentions into account.

First of all, Muslims do take his intentions into account and this is precisely why we won't go ahead and have the apostate killed immediately. The authorities will bring the apostate in for questioning and ask him to lay out all the doubts that he has regarding Islam. Muslim scholars will be appointed to answer his questions. If he is not convinced and it appears to the scholars that his reasons for leaving are not valid (usually they are not valid, most people leave Islam for emotional reasons) they would then have him executed.

Secondly, it is not an excuse for us to let an apostate go free doing what he pleases just because his "intentions are sincere". At the end of the day, this is affecting the people around him and he must be stopped.

Millions of people around the world don't believe that marijuana should be made illegal. They believe that it is a natural plant and "gift from God" as singer Carlos Santana said.

Their intentions are sincere, but just because their intentions are sincere that doesn't mean that we legalize marijuana. That doesn't mean that we just stand by and let them get away with their crime. They are made aware of the punishment of breaking the law and should be held accountable regardless of what their intentions are. If they don't agree with the law, that is too bad. They have to deal with it.

The same applies to the apostate. He must obey the law. Him not agreeing with or liking the law means absolutely nothing.

Should we implement the law to please God and displease the apostate or should we remove the law to displease God and please the apostate? It is definitely not the latter.

This Islamic Practice is Immoral According to non-Muslim Standards

Both Muslims and Christians believe in the Divine Command Theory, which teaches that our morals are derived from God's commands. One cannot presuppose that something is moral or immoral and then judge whether something is moral or immoral. Rather, one has to know what is moral and immoral by knowing what God has said about the matter.

Dr. William Lane Craig himself states:

So the problem isn't that God ended the Canaanites' lives. The problem is that He commanded the Israeli soldiers to end them. Isn't that like commanding someone to commit murder? No, it's not. Rather, since our moral duties are determined by God's commands, it is commanding someone to do something which, in the absence of a divine command, would have been murder. The act was morally obligatory for the Israeli soldiers in virtue of God's command, even though, had they undertaken it on their on initiative, it would have been wrong.

On divine command theory, then, God has the right to command an act, which, in the absence of a divine command, would have been sin, but which is now morally obligatory in virtue of that command. (William Lane Craig, Slaughter of the Canaanites, Source)

As Dr. Craig rightfully states, we can't state that something is immoral unless we have evidence that God has not divinely approved of it.

So when non-Muslims say that Islam's ordering for the killing of apostates is immoral, they are begging the question that Islam is false and is not the ultimate standard of morality to follow.

In order to put forth a successful argument, our opponents must level a stronger critique.

There are two kinds of critiques that one can form.

1) Internal critique:

This is criticizing someone or something by pointing out its internal inconsistencies. This is usually a strong argument. Now, have non-Muslims put forth an internal critique against the killing of apostates? Actually, they haven't. They have not shown how this law contradicts other Islamic principles.

2) External critique:

This is using an external standard to judge somebody or something in order to critique that person or thing.

There are two types of external critique:

i) Universalist external critique:

This is appealing to universal standards and beliefs (e.g. raping a little child is wrong according to everyone) as a standard. However, have non-Muslims shown that killing of apostates violates universal standards? Of course not. One can appeal to early Christians who have ordered the killing of apostates as well.

ii) Ethnocentric external critique:

This is appealing to one's own cultural or religious beliefs as a standard for critiquing. Philosophers have stated that this form of argumentation is weak unless one can prove that the standard that he is using should be binding upon everyone.

Now, this is the kind of critique that non-Muslims are launching.

They must be using a moral law in order to judge whether the killing of apostates is moral or not. If they are using a moral law, then that implies that there is a moral law giver that they are appealing to.

If the person arguing is an atheist then this is not a problem. One who does not believe in God does not have an objective standard of morality to abide by anyways. So he might be using his culture or personal opinions and feelings as a standard to critique the law of killing apostates. If that is the case, then this argument is not threatening at all because it is not based on an objective standard, but a subjective emotional one.

If the person arguing is a Christian we are going to assume that his moral law giver is the God of the Bible. Have they proven that the law of killing apostates cannot possibly be a law put forth by God? No they cannot. One can easily appeal to the Old Testament and point out verses that order the killing of apostates.

These Christians might argue back that this law was a long time ago, but now we are in the 21^st century. However, this response is weak because God's laws are not supposed to adapt with the times, but vice versa.

Secondly, even if Christians were able to prove that this law violated Biblical standards for morality then SO WHAT?

Why should I care if a particular Islamic law did not live up to the moral standards of the Bible? Have Christians shown us that the Bible is the complete true word of God and that it is binding upon us? The answer is no.

If they would like to reply back and say that the Qur'an affirms the Bible and that means that Muslims should hold the Bible as authoritative, then I ask the reader to refer here. http://www.call-to-monotheism.com/does_islam_endorse_the_bible

In conclusion, non-Muslims cannot provide an INTELLECTUAL AND RATIONAL argument against the Islamic law regarding the killing of apostates. They can only provide EMOTIONAL and SUBJECTIVE arguments.

However, Muslims let their rationality overcome their emotions and don't fall for these silly appeal to emotion arguments. That is probably the main reason why we are Muslims.

In conclusion, the Muslim should keep his head up and confidently say:

OF COURSE APOSTATES SHOULD BE KILLED!

Defeated Nations - Hadith Explanation

“Allah's Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: 'You will indeed follow the ways of those before you, hand span by hand span, and an arms length after another. Even if they enter into a lizard’s hole, you will follow them.’ We (the Sahaba) asked, ‘Is it the Jews and the Christians?’ He replied, ‘Who else!’” [Bukhari]

We see the fulfillment of this prediction all around us. Muslims imitate non-Muslims in their dress, in the greetings that they use, in the holidays that they celebrate, in their modes of entertainment and even in their definition of right and wrong. It used to happen in the past that defeated nations would start worshipping the gods of their conquerors, believing them to be more powerful and thus responsible for their conquest. Muslims, especially their leaders, seem to be suffering from an inferiority complex at least as powerful as this.

In 637 CE Jerusalem offered a truce, provided that the Khalifa come himself from Madina to sign the treaty. Umar (radi Allahu anhu) set out for Jerusalem with a slave and a camel. The slave and he would take turns riding the camel and they also gave the camel time off from carrying either passenger. When they approached Jerusalem, Umar (radi Allahu anhu) was walking and had to cross through muddy ground, as a result of which his feet and clothes got mud on them. When Umar (radi Allahu anhu) entered Jerusalem, he was holding the rope of his camel leading it and his clothes were patched and muddy.

Abu Ubaidah (radi Allahu anhu), the commander in chief of the Muslim army and himself a very pious man, suggested that he change his clothes so that the people of Jerusalem, accustomed to the pomp and grandeur of kings and emperors, were not dissuaded from handing the keys of Jerusalem over to him. Umar (radi Allahu anhu) hit him hard on the chest and reminded him that they had been a disgraced nation. What had brought them honour and elevated them was Islam; should they seek honour from anything else, they would surely be humiliated again. “The only way for success is the way of the Holy Prophet” he said.

When the people of Jerusalem saw Umar's simplicity they started crying. Another narration states that the books of the Christians foretold 14 patches on the clothes of the person to whom the keys of Jerusalem would be handed. Hazrat Umar's clothes had 14 patches on them.

This is a very important lesson for us. It was Islam that gave Muslims dignity, not entourages, designer suits, name brands, foreign degrees or adopting the sins of the Kuffar. This slavish behaviour of ours has not brought us even an iota of respect. There is nothing but disgrace for us as long as we don’t return to the path trodden by the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam).

4 FABRICATED HADITHS

NO.1 : Love the Arabs for three reasons ; because I Muhammad (Allah’s apostle ) am an Arab, the holy Quran was revealed in Arabic and the language of Jannah will be Arabic.

Related by Al Haakim in his book Al Mustadrak ( vol. 4, page 87 ).The great Hadith scholar Abu Haatim in his book Jarh Wa Ta’deel, ‘The Invalidation and Acceptance of Transmitters of Hadith ( vol 3, page 359 ), said this Hadith is false.

In islam we love people if they are mindful of their duties to Allah.We do not show love to people because of their race,language,tribe,nationality or wealth.

The Arab governments in the world today happen to be the greatest enemies if Islam and Muslims, thus we are not allowed to love these despotic leaders simply because they are Arabs, this is so because we are obliged to practice Al-Wala Wal Baraa ( to love and hate solely for Allah. In this regard Allah said,

“You will never find any people who believe in Allah and the last day making friends with those who are enemies of Allah and his messenger. Even though they may be their fathers, or their sons or their brothers or their kindred. For such He {Allah} has written in their hearts Iman .” { SURA MUJAADILAH : 22 }

It is worthy to mentioning that when the Holy Prophet Muhammad {SM} fought His first battle {the battle of Badr}. He didn’t fight against Persians or Romans but instead He fought against His own people the Arabs of Quraish. In this battle Umar {RA} killed His own uncle and Abu Ubaida Ibn Al Jarrah {RA} killed His own father. As for the language of Jannah, Allah knows best what it shall be, however Allah shall say ‘Assalaamu alaikum’ to the believers after admitting them into His paradise, and this is the explanation to Allah’s words :

“ It will be said to them “Salaamun” {peace be on you} a word from the Lord Allah,most merciful ”

{ Sura Yaa-seen : 58 }

NO.2 : TO LOVE YOUR COUNTRY IS A PART OF IMAN

Classified fabricated by aghaani.

This fabricated khabar promotes nationalism. At preent nationalism is a cancer in the body of the ummah, which stunts the spiritual and economical growth of the ummah. This fabricated khabar causes Muslims to call themselves British Muslim, Pakistani Muslim, Indian Muslim, Arab Muslim etc. So they see themselves as Indian first and Muslim last.

These expressions enhance prejudices and deviations among the believers. The only time a country is worth loving is when Shari’ah being implemented in that country to its fullest. Hence we love and hate for the Allah’s sake.

NO.3: The Holy Prophet Muhammad {SM} was once returning from a battle with His companions and He turned to them and said, “ We have returned from the lesser Jihad to the greater Jihad, Jihad Akbar {to fight against your evil desires} is the greatest. “

Related by Bayhaqi and classified fabricated by Ibn Hajar who said this khabar is not a saying of a man by the name of Ibrahim Ibn Abee Ablah.

This hadith is frequently quoted by cowards andhypocrites who don’t want to die for Allah. In this regards :

“ Fighting is prescribed for you and you hate it, and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know “

{ Sura Al Baqarah : 216 }

In regards to Jihad and its importance to Holy Prophet Muhammad {SM} said :

“ He who died and didn’t do Jihad and didn’t makehisintentionto do Jihad ; died on a branch of hypocrisy. “ { Sahih Muslim }

The great Scholar of Islam Ibn-ul-Qayyim said this fabricated Hadith is obnoxious.

NO.4 : NECESSITY KNOWS NO LAW

Classified fabricated by Adh-Dhahabee

The scholars of Islam say this saying is not a hadith but instead it’s a saying of the Islamic jurist. Hence the meaning is authentic and it is permissible for the Muslims to act upon it. For example, Allah has given us the permission to eat pork if we are starving and there is nothing else by which we can eat to save ourselves. Thus Allah said :

“ Allah has forbidden you only the Maytata { animals that die by themselves } and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah or has been slaughtered for idols etc, or which Allah’s name hasn’t been mentioned while slaughtering. But if one is forced by necessity without disobedience nor transgressing due limits, then there is no sin for him. Truly Allah is off forgiving Most Merciful “ { Sura Baqara : 173 }

Likewise we are allowed to renounce Islam when persecuted, the way Ammar Ibn Yaasir {RA} renounced Islam with his tongue when the arch enemy of Islam Abu Jahl was persecuting him for taking his shahadah.

Even though apostasy is the worst crime under the heavens we are allowed to apostate with our tongues to save our lives as long as our hearts are firm with Iman. In this regards Allah said,

“ Whoever disbelieved in Allah after his belief, except him who is forced to do so while his heart is centred with Iman “ { Sura An Nahl : 106 }

The great commentator of the Holy Quran ibn Abbas said this ayah was revealed when Ammar Ibn Yaasir {RA} the apostate with his tongue due to the severe persecution Quraish unleashed against him for the sake of his Deen,Al-Islam.

Likewise even though alcohol is haram a person who is choking to death and didn’t find any liquid to drink except alcohol to save his life is allowed to so do so. Thus the khabar is a fiqh ruling used by the Islamic jurist past and present therefore its meaning is authentic that is necessity knows no law.

BABAR AHMAD E-PETITION REFUSAL IS NO SURPRISE

The refusal of the British parliament to discuss the case of Babar Ahmad should come as no surprise for the 140,000 signatories of the e-petition submitted to the UK government. After all it is the same government which incarcerated and abused him in the first place and who have held Sheikh Abu Qatada without charge on and off for 7 years and Sheikh Khalid Al-Fawwaz without charge for 13 years (since Augest 1998) and who engage in torture through rendition and indeed who slaughter innocent Muslim men, women and children with impunity to establish their own economic, military and strategic interests in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Allah (SWT) says clearly in the Qur’an that the Jews and Christains are open enemies to us and that they will not rest until they take us away from the Deen (Islam) and that what they utter from their mouths is hatred but what they conceal in their hearts is far worse. Moreover the British regime are the same regime who have issued the most draconian laws against Muslims such as stop and search, glorification of terrorism, internment for 29 days and who were instrumental in destroying the Islamic State in 1924 and who do all they can to stand in the way of its re-emergence in the Muslim world etc… It is extremely naive to think that they would do anything other than blankly refuse any e-petition submitted to them by Muslims for their own religious causes.

For those who care about Babar Ahmad, we pray that Allah (SWT) accepts your efforts to release him, even though to appeal to the (taghout) regime of the UK for them to legislate is in istelf completely prohibited in Islam in the first place. Rather the Sunnah (Tradition) of the Messenger Muhammad (saw) to release the Aseer (Muslims Hostages) is either (i) to ransom them or (ii) to exchange them or indeed (iii) to break them free! Even though Brother Babar is being tested inside prison is it vital that those who want to help him also pass this test from Allah (SWT) by abiding by his commands in seeking to secure his release.

The banning of Muslims Against Crusades last week and the case of Babar Ahmad are linked in the sense that freedom and democracy have been shown to be false ideas which are tantamount to inconsistency, contradiction, censorship and the dictatorship of the few over the many, according to their own whims and desires. The banning of non-violent ideological groups with whom you disagree and the imprisonment of innocent Muslims on the behest of others runs rough-shod over such foolish ideas.

The clear reality is that, unlike man made law, the superiority of the Shari’ah (Islamic divine law) is that it is not subject to such change, contradiction and compromise or implemented arbitrarily whenever one feels like it. Rather divine law is implemented in its entirety and should even one law be unislamic it will mean a case for the removal of the Khaleefah (i.e. head of the Islamic State).

The case of Babar Ahmad, if nothing else, should serve as a wake up call that the interests of Muslims lie in seeking the pleasure of Allah (SWT) by doing what he asks us to do and not by just following our own desires. The ultimate interest for us all is to attain entry into paradise and not seeking the release of Babar Ahmad. This may mean that brother Babar must spend some more time in prison in seclusion with his Lord until Allah (SWT) finds us a way out for him but at least in the meantime we do send out a message to our youth and community that nothing can be gained from trying to seek justice from the British Governement, whose ultimate goal is to extinguish the light of Allah (SWT).

Fundamentals of the Shahadah ‘Laa ilaaha ill Allah Muhammadar Rasool Allah’

In the Arabic language ‘La ilaha illallah’ is made up of two sets of words, the first one being ‘La ilaha’ and the second one ‘illallah’. The first part of the Shahadah requires negation [nafee] and the second part requires affirmation [ithbaat] - for you must reject something before accepting anything else. So what are the obligations of ‘La ilaha illallah’ - what do we have to reject in order to accept Allah(swt) as our One and Only Lord?

There are four main things, which we must reject for ‘La ilaha illallah’ to be accepted from us. These consist of the following:

1) Aaliha

Aaliha is the plural form of the word ilah and ilah is the name given to any object of worship: the worship of an idol such as Hubal (worshipped by the people of Quraish at the time of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)), the worship of a grave as we see today in the Asian sub-continent and other parts of the world, a Saint and finally ones internal desires can also be described as an ilah. For Allah(swt) to be worshiped Alone, all other ilah’s such as idols, graves, saints and other similar ilah’s- all must be rejected. Regarding this Allah(swt) said in the Quran:

“…Can you verily, bear witness that besides Allah there are other Aaliha? Say: “I bear no (such) witness!” Say: “But in truth He (Allah) is the only one ilah. And truly, I am innocent of what you join in worship with Him.” (al Ana’m 6:19)

And

“… And set not up with Allah any other ilah lest you should be thrown into Hell, blameworthy and rejected (from Allah’s Mercy)”. (al-Israa 17:22)

And:

”And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him”. (al Israa 17:23)

Also:

“And your ilah is one ilah (Allah), la ilaha illa Huwa (there is no ilah except for Him), the most Gracious, the Most Merciful.” (al Baqarah 2:163)

Also:

“Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship.” Surah 4 (an Nisaa’ 4:36)

2) Arbab

Arbab comes from Ruboobiyyah and is the plural of Rab which means Lord. Arbab and Aaliha are both inter-related, therefore if there is Arbab then there is Aaliha. For example, if anyone says he is Al-Qaadi (The judge), Al-Hakam (The legislater), Al-Wakeel (The disposer of affairs) or claims to give life and death then he can be classified as an Arbab because he has taken an attribute which is specific for Allah(swt) Alone. Allah(swt) says in the Qur'an;

“They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their Arbab (lords) besides Allah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allah).” (at Tawbah 9:31)

Other examples include: if you ask a peer or saint to make dua for you to have a child or get better from an illness expecting his dua to give you shifa (cure you) without expecting the shifa to come from Allah(swt) then you have taken another Rab alongside Allah(swt). Only Allah(swt) should be asked and your dua (prayer) should only be directed to Allah(swt).

Also, if you go to a court in any country (including man-made courts in so called Muslim countries (judging with British or French Laws), magistrates, county or any such courts) and they judge you in your dispute using Kuffar (man-made) laws rather than what Allah(swt) has revealed (Shari’ah- Islamic Law) then you would not be judged and the judging will not be according to what Allah(swt) has revealed so this will be like taking others besides Allah as your Rab (this is Shirk). All kinds of Arbab should be rejected for Allah to be worshipped Alone.

3) Andad

Andad in Arabic means ‘equal to’ and in shari’ah, specifically ‘something made equal to Allah(swt)’. This could be in any form such as ones wealth, family, community, leadership, etc. For example if Allah(swt) has ordered us to do something (i.e. in the Qur'an or the Sunnah) but instead of obeying His order you obey your father’s, mother’s, or leader’s order which contradicts Islam, then you have made an Andad with Allah(swt) because you have rejected Allah(swt)’s command- to follow something or someone else.

To love something is natural but if you love this thing more or equal to your love for Allah(swt) then it becomes a partner which you worship alongside Allah(swt). For He has told us in the Qur'an:

“Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you delight … are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger, and Jihad in His cause then wait until Allah brings about His Decision (torment). And Allah guides not the people who are Al-Fasiqun (the rebellious, disobedient to Allah).” (at Tawbah 9:24)

Allah(swt) also says:

“And of mankind are some who take others beside Allah as Andaadan (rivals). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe, love Allah more. If only, those who do wrong could see, when they will see the torment, that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is severe in punishment.” (al Baqarah 2:165)

Love for all things must come after our love for Allah(swt) and His Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). All kinds of Andad have to be rejected for Allah(swt) to be worshipped Alone.

4) Taghut:

The word ‘Taghut’ has been derived from the words ‘Tagha’ or ‘Tugyan’. Its literal meaning is ‘when something exceeds or goes over its limit’. In general the word Taghut covers a wide range of meanings. From the Shari’ah point of view Taghut is anything which is worshipped other than Allah(swt), i.e. false deities. This may include Satan, devils, idols, stones, sun, stars, angels, or even human beings. Likewise saints, graves, rulers and leaders, other ruling sytems besides Islam may also be falsely worshipped and made into Taghut. (Meanings of the word ‘Taghut’ taken from “Tafsir ibn Katheer” and the “Noble Qur'an” by Mohammad Muhsin Khan)

It is very important to understand what Taghut is in order to reject it, for if one does not know its meaning then how would you keep yourself away from it. Once you understand the meaning, it then becomes necessary to know how to reject the Taghut. Allah(swt) says in the Qur'an regarding Taghut;

“There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the right path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves (does Kufr) in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer All-Knower.” (al Baqarah 2:256)

And:

“Allah is the Wali (Protector or Guardian) of those who believe. He brings them out from darknesses into the light. But for those who disbelieve, their Auliya (supporters and helpers) are Taghut, they bring them out from the light into darknesses. Those are the dwellers of the fire, they will abide therein forever.” (al-Baqarah 2:257)

And:

“And verily, we have sent among every Ummah (nation) a Messenger (proclaiming) “Worship Allah (Alone) and avoid (or keep away from) Taghut.” (an Nahl 16:36)

And:

“Have you seen those who claim that they believe in that which has been sent down to you, and that which was sent down before you, and they wish to go for judgement (in their disputes) to the Taghut while they have been ordered to reject them. But shaytan (satan) wishes to lead them far astray.” (an Nisaa’ 4:60)

And:

“Those who avoid At-Taghut by not worshipping them and turn to Allah (in repentance), for them are glad tidings; so announce the good news to My slaves.” (az Zumar 39:17)

Also:

“Those who believe, fight in the path of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the path of Taghut.” (an Nisaa’ 4:76)

And:

“Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the scripture? They believe in Al-Jibt and At-Taghut and say to the disbelievers that they are better guided as regards the way than the believers (Muslims).” (an Nisaa’ 4:51)

Also:

“Say (O Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) to the people of the scripture): “Shall I inform you of some thing worse than that, regarding the recompense from Allah: those (Jews) who incurred the Curse of Allah and His wrath, those of whom (some) He transformed into monkeys and swines, those who worshipped Taghut; such are worse in rank (on the day of Resurrection in the Hell-fire).” (al Maai’dah 5:60)

In the above Ayat, Allah(swt) has described to us the straight path which would lead one to paradise. This straight path is to reject (in totality) the Taghut before ‘La ilaha illallah’ can be accepted. In other words before you can say ‘I believe in Allah’ (illallah) you must reject and disbelieve in the Taghut (La illaha).

If a person says ‘La ilaha illallah’ and he has not yet rejected the Taghut, then he is going against the above mentioned Ayah of Allah(swt) in which He said: “Whoever rejects Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break”. In this Ayah Allah(swt) has used the Arabic word ‘Astamsaka’ instead of ‘Masaka’. ‘Masaka’ in Arabic means to hold something with one hand or in one hand but in this Ayah ‘Astamsaka’ is symbolically used, and means ‘to hold something with both hands’ or ‘to get a tight grip of something with both hands’. To make it simpler, if we say that you are holding something in your right hand then it must mean that your left hand is empty, so you can hold another object in your left hand. In the same way if we say that some one is holding ‘La ilaha illallah’ in one hand and Taghut in the other hand then his belief (iman) is not correct and he is outside the fold of Islam. This is why Allah(swt) used the word ‘Astamsaka’ in the above Ayah to make it clear to us that we have to hold ‘La ilaha illallah’ with both our hands and not in just one hand.

Thus, we must do what Allah(swt) has told us- “Reject the Taghut and hold ‘La ilaha illallah’ with both hands”. The plural of Taghut is ‘Tawagheet’. There are many different types of Tawagheet but the main among them are the following five:

1. Satan the accursed who calls people to worship other than Allah(swt). The proof is Allah(swt)’s statement in the Qur'an:

“Did I not ordain for you, O children of Adam, that you should not worship shaytan(satan). Verily he is a plain enemy to you.” (Ya-Seen 36:60)

2. The tyrant who changes the laws of Allah(swt) [Shari’ah]. The evidence is the statement of Allah(swt):

“You do not worship besides Him but only names which you have named- you and your fathers- for which Allah has sent down no authority. The Hukm (legislation, judgement, command) is for none but Allah. He has commanded that you worship none but Him; that is the (true) straight religion, but most men know not.” (Yoosuf 12:40)

And:

“Indeed your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and then rose over (Istawa) the Throne. He brings the night as a cover over the day, seeking it rapidly, and (He created) the sun, the moon, the stars subjected to His Amr (command). Surely, His is the creation and Amr (commandment). Blessed is Allah, the Lord of Alamin.” (al A’raaf 7:54)

3. A person who rules by laws other than what Allah(swt) has revealed. Allah(swt) says:

“… And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, such are the Kafirun (disbelievers).” (al Maai’dah 5:54)

Also:

“Have you seen those (hypocrites) who claim that they believe in that which has been sent down to you, and that which was sent down before you, and they wish to go for judgement (in their disputes) to the Taghut (false judges) while they have been ordered to reject them. But shaytan (satan) wishes to lead them far astray.” (an Nisaa’ 4:60)

4. Whoever claims to share Allah(swt)’s knowledge of Ghaib (unseen, future, etc) or takes any name, attribute or action belonging to Allah(swt) Alone. Evidence for this is the saying of Allah(swt):

“(He Alone) is the All-Knower of the Ghaib (the unseen) and He reveals to none His Ghaib except to a Messenger (from mankind) whom He has chosen. Then He makes a band of watching guards (angels) to march before him and behind him.” (al-Jinn 72:26-27)

Also:

“And with Him are the keys of the Ghaib; none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in the land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but he knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry but is written in a clear record.” (al-Ana’m 6:59)

5. A person who is worshipped with his consent, in lieu of Allah(swt). The proof is the saying of Allah(swt) in the Qur'an:

“And if any of them should say: ‘Verily I am an ilah (a god) besides Him (Allah),’ such a one We should recompense with Hell. Thus We recompense the Zalimun (wrong-doers and Polytheists).” (al Anbiyaa’ 21:29)

In conclusion to the above it is essential to understand that a person cannot be a Muslim or a true believer unless he makes Kufr (rejects, denies and condemns) the Taghut. The evidence for this is the saying of the Most High, Allah(swt):

“There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the right path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves (does Kufr) in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer All-Knower.” (al Baqarah 2:256)

Once a person rejects the Taghut, it is only then that he will enter inside the fold of Islam and become a Muslim.