Imam Ibn al-Qayyim Rahimaullah provides a detailed religious context:
It is everything in which man exceeds his limits, whether it is being worshiped, followed, or obeyed. The Taghut of each community includes those who are sought for judgment instead of Allah and His Messenger, those worshipped besides Allah, those followed without proof from Allah, and those obeyed without knowing if it aligns with Allah’s judgment. Most people have turned from worshipping Allah alone to worshipping Taghut, seeking judgment from Taghut, and obeying and following Taghut. — [I’lām Al-Muwaqqi’īn (1/50)]
Taghut, therefore, represents any entity or person that diverts individuals from the path of Allah, making it a critical concept in Islamic theology and practice.
What is meant by Taghut?
From a linguistic perspective, Taghut is applied to every person who exceeds the limits of servitude to Allah. According to the Qur’an, Taghut refers to someone who, by surpassing the limits of servitude to Allah, declares themselves as the lord of others, encouraging people to worship them instead of Allah. There are three types of such people:
- The first type is the person who claims sovereignty by disobeying Allah’s commands and considers the judgment of Allah as secondary.
- The second type is the one who enforces their own laws over the divine laws of Allah.
- The third type is the one who submits to anyone other than Allah and follows a system other than the Shariah.
Rejecting all forms of Taghut is essential for true monotheism, as stated in the Qur’an: “There is no compulsion in religion; the right way stands clearly distinguished from the wrong.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:256)
Definition of Taghut by Maulana Maududi
Taghut refers to any force or entity that rebels against Allah’s sovereignty and leads people away from His path. This can include false gods, tyrants, or any authority that demands obedience contrary to Allah’s commandments. Maulana Maududi emphasized that Muslims must reject Taghut in all its forms to uphold the true monotheism of Islam.
