Tahgoot : Perpetual Characterization of Evil Systems
The term taghoot is closely related with the tahweed concept which is the core establishment of Islamic aqeedah. The word taghoot comes from the root tega which is related to toogyan as it means “rebellion against Allah(j.j)
Anyone or any “ism” or any political movement or ideology or socio-economic system that rejects the arbitraments and laws of Allah(j.j) is considered taghoot. The first taghoot was the devil, as we call it Islamic terminology “shaytan”. He rebelled against Allah’s(j.j) will and got jealous of Adam(a.s) and became “a fallen angel”.
Throughout the history of mankind, there have been myriad number of iconographic descriptions of the devil. Almost all of them try to paint it as some sort of “bad guy” who has been cast down to earth to persuade human beings to do “bad things.”
Naturally, this depiction transformed into some sort of caricature visage, which resulted in a complete disinformation for mankind’s perception of it.
Probably something the devil itself enjoyed doing so, as some say, the greatest trick the devil ever pulled is to convince the world it didn’t exist.
In Islamic aqeedah however, emphasize is made on the “taghoot” concept, not just the devil. Since it is as easy to demolish as it is to eradicate icons, iconic representation of devil will lead us to false conceptualization of one great adversary of mankind, as Holy Quran states:
Did I not enjoin on you, O ye Children of Adam, that ye should not worship Satan; for that he was to you an enemy avowed?- (Ya-Seen 36/60)
Which it did, today many people believes “devil” is some sort of ancient tale.
However, by narrating us the story of devil in Holy Quran, Allah(j.j) warns us about the underlying mentality in the rebellion against Him:
For We assuredly sent amongst every People a messenger, (with the Command), “Serve Allah, and eschew Evil”: of the People were some whom Allah guided, and some on whom error became inevitably (established). So travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who denied (the Truth). (AN-Nahl 16/36)
Here, in some translations the word devil is also used. Evil sounds like a better correspondence for the term “taghoot”, still it doesn’t have the same connotation.
Devil is just a masquerade or like a costume. One unfortunate fallen angel that has problems with the creation of human-kind. So be it.
But it is every Muslim faithful duty to stand against and reject everything, every being related with the taghoot, not just the devil.
Any “leader” or “man-made system” claim to be a supreme being if they want to rule the earth on their own terms, instead of Allah’s(j.j) terms. Anyone who claim to be a supreme being is secretly or openly pretends to be a deity is one way or another and is “following the footsteps of the devil”.
It is Quranic wisdom and prevision that mankind will soon forget, make light of and finally underestimate the perils of devil, therefore it warns about the root of the problem, taghoot, beforehand.
Every concept that is iconized will face the same fate. Knowing firmly about the root of the problem is essential in this case.
People can forget and shrug off about the devil but taghoot mentality still lurks today in every man-made system that is enslaving mankind, every kind of man-made system that is bound to rebel against Allah(j.j)
Therefore, Holy Qurans warns us that until eternity there can be entities that try to position themselves as “opposition to the creator of the universe”. It is essential to reject the taghoot, of all evil system, not just one mere fallen angel.
Baris Tarimcioglu/islamoformation.com
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