The Arabic word taghut or taaghoot (ar. طاغوت, á¹ÄÄ¡Å«t, pl. á¹awÄÄ¡Ä«t) means to "cross the limits, overstep boundaries," or "to rebel." In Islamic theology, the word refers to idolatry or to worship anything except Allah.
Taghut also denotes one who exceed their limits. The first stage of error is fisq (i.e. disobeying God without denying that one should obey Him), the second is kufr, (i.e. rejection of the very idea that one should obey God). The last stage would be not only to rebel against God but also impose their rebellion against the will of God upon others. Those who reach this stage are taghut.
In the Qur'an
"Do you not see how those given a share of the Scripture, [evidently] now believe in idols and evil powers? (Taghut) They say of the disbelievers, 'They are more rightly guided than the believers."
This is taken to refer to an actual event in which a group of disbelieving Meccans went to two eminent Jewish figures for counsel on the truth of Muhammad's teachings and were told that the pagans were more rightly guided than Muslims.
"Do you [Prophet] not see those who claim to believe in what has been sent down to you, and in what was sent down before you, yet still want to turn to unjust tyrants for judgement, although they have been ordered to reject them? Satan wants to lead them far astray."
The Arabic taghut is variously interpreted to refer to idols, a specific tyrant, an oracle, or an opponent of the Prophet.
"The believers fight for God's cause, while those who reject faith fight for an unjust cause. Fight the allies of Satan: Satan's strategies are truly weak."
Again, this term taghut has been used here.
"There is no compulsion in religion: true guidance has become distinct from error, so whoever rejects (taghut) false gods and believes in God has grasped the firmest hand-hold, one that will never break. God is all hearing, all knowing."
Further reading
- Indian Muslims Against Terrorism by Yoginder Sikand
- Understand Qur'an, The Easy Way
- The Qur'an and War: Observations on Islamic Just War
- Chapter Introductions to the Qur'an - by Syed Abu-Ala' Maududi
- Tafheem-ul Qur'an Towards Understanding the Qur'an (translated by Zafar Ishaq Ansari)
- Terrorism and Jihad: An Islamic Perspective - Part - 3 by Dr. Zakir Naik
- Terrorism and Jihad: An Islamic Perspective - Part - 4 by Dr. Zakir Naik
- A pillar of Tauheed is Rejecting Taaghoot and avoiding it: or, “A pillar of Tauheed is Rejecting Taaghoot and avoiding it†Or “Taaghoot & Rejecting Tawaagheet†Compiled and written by Abu Salman Deya ud-Deen Eberle (as note below)