The linguistic origin of ‘Taaghoot’

In the Arabic language ‘Taghaa’ is the verb that means ‘to go beyond the bounds/limits.’ So as for the water at the time of Nooh (as) it went beyond its normal limits during the flood, so Allah (swt) says "Verily, when the water rose beyond its limits [taghaa] we carried you floating." (al Haqqah 69:11)

Allah (swt) uses this verb and its derivatives in various places in the Quran to describe various transgressions either generally or for specific types of transgression, so Allah (swt) says in the general sense "Nay! Verily, man does transgress all bounds [layatghaa]" (al A’laq 96:6) and "In order that you may not transgress [tatghaw] the balance," (ar Rahmaan 55:8) and in specific types of transgression the verb was also used, for instance, with regards to eating the halaal food, Allah (swt) says "Eat of the tayyibaat wherewith We have provided you and do not go beyond bounds [laa tatghaw] in it lest my anger should justly descend on you. And he on whom My anger descends he is indeed perished." (Ta-Ha 20:81)

Allah also uses this verb for those who transgress by being disbelievers, thus the kuffaar have been referred to in the Quran as ‘Taagheen’ i.e. ‘Those who go beyond the limits’ in taking a Lord or object of worship other than Allah (swt). So Allah (swt) says "This is so! And for the transgressors [litaagheen] will be an evil final return" (Sa’d 38:55) and "Then for him who went beyond bounds [taghaa] and preferred the life of this world, verily, his abode will be the fire" (an Naazia’t 79:36-38) and "Thamood denied through their transgression [bitaghwaahaa]" (ash Shams 91:11) and "They said: ‘Woe to us, verily, we were transgressors [taagheen]." (al Qalam 68:31)

The Shari’ah meaning of Taaghoot

As for the word Taaghoot, then although its linguistic root is the same root as the taagheen, the Taaghoot is a specific form of transgression [taghaa]. The one who exceeds bounds in claiming the rights, attributes, actions, essence of Allah is a Taaghoot. Anything that is worshipped besides Allah and anything that claims attributes of Allah is Taaghoot. The taaghoot is the one who has transgressed (taghaa) in attributing to himself the actions or attributes of Allah such as the transgression of Fira’wn. Fira’wn was described as transgressing in the Quran and we know that he called the people to worship and obey him before Allah. Allah (swt) says "Go to Fira’wn! Verily, he has gone beyond bounds [taghaa]" and "Go to Fira’wn, verily, he has gone beyond beyond bounds [taghaa]" (Naziat 79:17) (Ta-Ha 20:24) and "Go both of you to Fira’wn verily, he has gone beyond bounds [taghaa]." (Ta-Ha 20:43) The most manifest transgression was when Fira’wn claimed to be a god [ilah], an object of worship, Allah (swt) says "Fira’wn said ‘O chiefs! I know not that you have an ilah [god, object of obedience and worship] other than me…" (al Qassas 28:38) and Allah (swt) says concerning Fira’wn "Then he gathered his people and cried aloud, saying ‘I am your lord most high.’" (an Naazi’aat 79:23-24) We also see that Fira’wn was feared due to his other forms of transgression e.g. "They said ‘Our Lord! Verily, We fear lest he should hasten to punish us or lest he should exceed bounds [yatghaa]’" (Ta-Ha 20:45) and "And Fira’wn who had pegs, who did go beyond bounds in the lands [taghaw fi’l bilaad] and made therein much corruption [fasaad]." (Fajr 89:11)

The one who practises taghaa is not necessarily a taaghoot, for the taaghoot is only the one who does this in a way that makes him an object of shirk with Allah. This is because the word taghoot is a specific word that the wahi associated with the a’qeedah, whereas taghaa is its verbal root. The plural form of those who practise taghaa is ‘taagheen’ or ‘taaghoon’ and this is general which could mean the excess or transgression which amounts to sin (ithm) and it could reach the level of kufr, shirk and nifaaq.  But as for the word ‘taghaa’ in the Quran, then it does not necessarily always mean the transgression that reaches the level of shirk. As for the one who does this excess to the level of shirk, then he may be described as the mushrik and he is also from the taagheen.

As for the ‘Taaghoot’ (and in the plural ‘tawaagheet’), this is not the one who does shirk from the aide of the aa’bid (worshipper), but rather, the ‘Taaghoot’ is the one who does shirk from the side of the ma’bood [the one worshipped]. From this we see that all Tawagheet are Taagheen but not all Taagheen are Tawagheet. The i’baad Allah are the worshippers of Allah while Allah (swt) is al Ma’bood, i.e. the one who is worshipped. The Mushrik is the one who makes shirk with Allah while the Taaghoot is the object of shirk. Therefore, whoever is recognizing the Taaghoot as legitimate, or is obeying the Taaghoot, or is seeking judgement from the Taaghoot then this person is of the Taagheen [transgressors] and the mushrikeen [associationists] although he himself is not referred to as the ‘Taaghoot’. 

Imaan is not present except by rejecting Taaghoot

The kalimah of tawheed [laa ilaaha ill Allah] is a negation [nafi] and an affirmation [ithbaat]. It is impossible to have belief in something without rejecting and disbelieving in that which contradicts that belief. For instance if someone said ‘I only believe in one god’ but then said ‘I also believe in two gods,’ then this second statement has exposed the falsehood of the first statement because the second claim contradicts the first. This means that one of the claims is false or that they are both false, to say that they are both true is falsehood and nonsensical. This is because two contradictory matters can not both be affirmed in the same instant.

The first pillar of Imaan is the belief in Allah and this is verbally expressed by the statement ‘laa ilaaha ill Allah.’ The first part (‘laa ilaaha’) negates anything that contradicts the second part (‘ill Allah’).

The following ayah makes clear that the taaghoot is the opposite of worshipping Allah, it is the false object of worship, Allah (swt) says "And Verily, We have sent among every ummah a messenger (proclaiming) ‘Worship Allah and avoid Taaghoot." (an Nahl 16:36) So whoever does not reject the taaghoot, then he has contradicted the basic message of all prophets and has contradicted the worship of Allah at its very roots.

Allah (swt) says "Whoever rejects Taaghoot and believes in Allah then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold." (al Baqarah 2:256) Mujaahid [d.103 h.] said ‘The most trustworthy handhold is imaan’ and as-Suddi [d.127 h.] said it is ‘Islam’ (both from IBN KATHEER Tafseerul Quran al A’zeem). This ayah makes clear that there can be no imaan without rejection of taaghoot, and that believing in Allah as the only object of worship, as the only ‘ilah’ is dependent upon rejecting any other object of worship.

Imaam at-Tabari [d.310 h.] said that ‘Taaghoot’ is anyone or anything that symbolizes rebellion against Allah and is worshipped besides Him, whether it be from mankind, jinn or idols (Jaami’ul Bayaan).

Therefore, to believe in Allah we must reject that which contradicts the belief in Allah and we must therefore reject the Taaghoot. The rejection of the Taaghoot is the first pillar of Tawheed. This is because our Kalimah Tayyibah, ‘Laa ilaaha ill Allah’ is a statement of negation [nafy] and affirmation [ithbaat]. When we are saying ‘laa ilaaha’ we are rejecting all worship for other than Allah and when we say ‘ill Allah’ we are affirming that the worship is only for Allah. Worship includes obedience [Taa’ah]. This means that we must accept that only Allah can legislate for us. From Tawheedul Asmaa’ was Sifaat is that Allah has the Names and Attributes of Al Hakam [The Only Judge], Al Haakim [The Only Lawgiver], Al Hakeem [The Wise], Khayrul Haakimeen [The Best of Lawgivers], Ahkamil Haakimeen [The Most Judicious of Lawgivers]. If anyone affirms that others can make law then he becomes a mushrik who has recognized and believed in the Taaghoot. The Taaghoot is that which is competing in the Rights [huqooq] and Attributes [Sifaat] of Allah (swt).

Imaam Maalik [d.179 h.] said ‘The Taaghoot is anything that is worshipped apart from Allah’ (IBN KATHEER ‘Tafseerul Quran al A’zeem’).

Imaam Ibn al Qayyim [d.751 h.] said  ‘The Taaghoot is anyone to whom the slave [a’bd] goes beyond the limits whether it is someone worshipped [ma’boodin] or followed [matbooi’n] or obeyed [mutaai’n]’ (I’laamul Muwaqqi’een).

Shaykh Muhammad ibn A’bdul Wahhaab [d.1206 h.] said ‘The Taaghoot are many and their heads are five: Iblees, whoever is worshipped and is pleased with that, whoever calls the people to worship himself, whoever claims to possess anything from the knowledge of the unseen and whoever rules by other than what Allah has sent down’ (Thalaathatul Usool).

Sayyid Qutb said ‘It refers to forces and systems that disregard the Divine religious, moral, social and legal order and operate in this life on values and principles not sanctioned by Allah or derived from His guidance…’ (Fi Zilaalul Quran).

The following group of ayaat make clear that the person who makes his own laws is a taaghoot, this would then include all those leaders, governments, kings, parliaments, judges and lawyers who are engaged in the process of making man-made law. Allah (swt) says "Have you seen those who claim that they believe in that which was sent down to you and before you and they wish to go for judgement to the Taaghoot while they have been commanded to reject them? But Shaytaan wishes to lead them far astray. And when it is said to them ‘Come to what Allah has sent down and to the messenger’ you see the munaafiqeen turn away from you with aversion. How then when a catastrophe befalls them because of what their hands have sent forth they come to you swearing by Allah, ‘We meant nothing more than goodwill and conciliation’." (an Nisaa’ 4:60-62)

Mujaahid [d.103 h.] said ‘Taaghoot is a shaytaan in the form of a man and they refer to him for judgement’ (TABARI, IBN KATHEER).

Ibn Katheer [d.774 h.] said ‘The ayah has a general meaning as it chastises all those who refrain from referring to the Quran and Sunnah for judgement and prefer the judgement of whatever they chose of falsehood, which befits the description of Taaghoot here. This is why Allah said "….and they wish to go for judgement to the Taaghoot…"’ (IBN KATHEER ‘Tafseerul Quran al A’zeem). Thus, the ayah is clear in declaring the kufr [disbelief] of those who went to other than the revelation from Allah for laws and judgement. The ayah said "…claim that they believe…" which means that they don’t believe. The ayah said "…Shaytaan wishes to lead them far astray [dalaala ba’eed]…" which means disbelief as the Quran affirms in many places e.g. "….and whoever makes shirk with Allah has gone far astray [dalaala ba’eed]." (an Nisaa 4:116) Then the following ayah continued to describe them as munaafiqeen for turning away from the Hukm of Allah, "…you see the munaafiqeen turn away…"

Further principles of the Deen in relation to the Taaghoot

The Taaghoot are a means of misguidance and whoever makes allegiance with the Taaghoot is a disbeliever. Allah (swt) says "Allah is the Wali [Protector, Ally, Supporter] of those who believe, He brings them out from darkness into light. But as for those who disbelieve their awliya [allies, supporters] are Taghoot, they bring them out from light into darkness. Those are the dwellers of the fire and they will abide therein forever." (al-Baqarah 2:257)

The Taaghoot are the allies of Shaytaan, whoever fights for them is a disbeliever. "Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah and those who disbelieve fight in the cause of Taaghoot. So fight against the awliya of Shaytan, weak indeed is the plot of Shaytan." (an-Nisa 4:76)  So this ayah is a clear judgement on those armies, police and security forces who are under the authority of the taaghoot. They are all disbelievers, even if they pray, fast and say the shahaadah. That is because they negated their imaan by defending and supporting the laws and leaders of shirk. Rather it is a duty to remove them as Allah (swt) says "…So fight against the awliya of Shaytan…" and "…So fight against the leaders of kufr…" (at Tawbah 9:12)

The one who believes in the taaghoot is cursed and he will have no help from Allah. Thus there will never be a shari’ nussrah [legitimate support and material help] for or from the armies of the taaghoot to establish Darul Islam until they reject the Taaghoot. Whoever recognises the authority of the false authority of the taaghoot or believes that they have better guidance than the shari’ah or believes that they possess any attributes or rights belonging to Allah, then they are a disbeliever. Allah (swt) says "Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Book? They believe in Jibt and Taaghoot and say to those who disbelieve ‘These people are better guided on the way’ than the believers. They are those whom Allah has cursed, and he whom Allah curses, you will not find for him a helper." (an Nisaa’ 4:51-52)

Many peoples in the past have worshipped taaghoot and so gained the Anger of Allah and were cursed and transformed. "Say: ‘Shall I inform you of something worse than that, regarding the recompense from Allah those who incurred the curse of Allah and His wrath, those of whom He transformed into monkeys and swine, those who worshipped Taaghoot." (al Maa’idah 5:60)

Paradise is only for those who reject Taaghoot and there is good news for those who avoid worshipping the Taaghoot. Allah (swt) says "Those who avoid Taaghoot by not worshipping them and turn to Allah, for them are glad tidings so announce the good news to My slaves, those who listen to the word and follow the best of it those are whom Allah has guided and those are men of understanding [oolul albaab]." (az Zumar 39:17-18)

So the duties for the believer with regards to the Taaghoot include:-

Whoever did any of these seven things has not rejected the Taaghoot and is therefore a disbeliever.

To apply this to reality, we now see that the following are disbelievers and they must not be classed as muslims and baraa’ [disassociation] must be made from them:-

All of these are kuffaar and this means the laws of Al Baraa’ apply to them which include:-