The Meaning of Taghut and the Statement: They Want to Be Judged by Taghut
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The third question of Fatwa No. ( 8008 ):
Q3: What is the general meaning of Taghut ? With reference to the interpretation of Ibn Kathir of the verse in al-Nisa:[An-Nisa 4:60], the intention here is to clarify two matters:
First: What is the general meaning of Taghut, and does it include, as Ibn Kathir said, the Taghut of every people: those to whom they turn for judgment instead of Allah, so that we arrive at declaring the ruler and those who turn to him for judgment to be disbelievers, in the case where he does not rule by the law of His Lord, the Exalted?
Second: The meaning of His statement:[An-Nisa 4:60] Some said: The intention here is not realized except by the inner state, and no one knows it; therefore, one does not rule that the one who turns to [Taghut] for judgment is a disbeliever unless the condition of knowing the inner intention is met, which is not the case. The intention is understood in the apparent sense, with evidence from the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding satisfaction and following. Which of these is correct?
A3: First: The general meaning of Taghut: It is everything worshipped besides Allah, absolutely, as a means of drawing near to it through prayer, fasting, a vow, a sacrifice, or turning to it
for what is the affair of Allah, such as removing a hardship, bringing benefit, or making it the judge instead of the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and the like. The meaning of Taghut in the verse is: everything that turns away from the Book of Allah, the Exalted, and the Sunnah of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to turning to it for judgment, whether it is man-made systems and laws, inherited traditions and customs, or tribal leaders who judge between them by that, or by what the leader of the group or the soothsayer sees. From this it becomes clear: The systems established to be turned to for judgment, in imitation of the legislation of Allah, fall within the meaning of Taghut. However, one who worships something besides Allah while not being satisfied with it, such as the prophets and the righteous, is not called Taghut. Rather, Taghut is Satan, who called them to it and made it attractive to them, from among the jinn and humans. Second: The meaning of intention in the statement of Allah, the Exalted:[An-Nisa 4:60], is what is accompanied by an action or circumstances and signs indicating purpose and intention, as evidenced by what came in the verse following this one: [An-Nisa 4:61], and this is also indicated by the occasion of revelation mentioned by Ibn Kathir and others in the interpretation of this verse. Likewise, following is evidence of satisfaction, and thus the objection is resolved, which states: Intention is an inner matter, so
one does not rule on the one who intends it except by knowing it from him, which is not the case. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q3: What is the general meaning of Taghut ? With reference to the interpretation of Ibn Kathir of the verse in al-Nisa:
Have you not seen those who claim to have believed in what was revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you? They wish to refer legislation to Taghut, while they were commanded to reject it; and Satan wishes to lead them far astray.
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُوا بِمَا أُنْـزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنْـزِلَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَتَحَاكَمُوا إِلَى الطَّاغُوتِ وَقَدْ أُمِرُوا أَنْ يَكْفُرُوا بِهِ وَيُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ يُضِلَّهُمْ ضَلالا بَعِيدًاFirst: What is the general meaning of Taghut, and does it include, as Ibn Kathir said, the Taghut of every people: those to whom they turn for judgment instead of Allah, so that we arrive at declaring the ruler and those who turn to him for judgment to be disbelievers, in the case where he does not rule by the law of His Lord, the Exalted?
Second: The meaning of His statement:
They wish to refer legislation
يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَتَحَاكَمُواA3: First: The general meaning of Taghut: It is everything worshipped besides Allah, absolutely, as a means of drawing near to it through prayer, fasting, a vow, a sacrifice, or turning to it
for what is the affair of Allah, such as removing a hardship, bringing benefit, or making it the judge instead of the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and the like. The meaning of Taghut in the verse is: everything that turns away from the Book of Allah, the Exalted, and the Sunnah of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to turning to it for judgment, whether it is man-made systems and laws, inherited traditions and customs, or tribal leaders who judge between them by that, or by what the leader of the group or the soothsayer sees. From this it becomes clear: The systems established to be turned to for judgment, in imitation of the legislation of Allah, fall within the meaning of Taghut. However, one who worships something besides Allah while not being satisfied with it, such as the prophets and the righteous, is not called Taghut. Rather, Taghut is Satan, who called them to it and made it attractive to them, from among the jinn and humans. Second: The meaning of intention in the statement of Allah, the Exalted:
They wish to refer legislation to Taghut
يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَتَحَاكَمُوا إِلَى الطَّاغُوتِAnd when it is said to them, "Come to what Allah has revealed and to the Messenger," you see the hypocrites turning away from you in aversion.
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا إِلَى مَا أَنْـزَلَ اللَّهُ وَإِلَى الرَّسُولِ رَأَيْتَ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يَصُدُّونَ عَنْكَ صُدُودًاone does not rule on the one who intends it except by knowing it from him, which is not the case. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.