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.
To delve deeper into Maulana Maududi’s interpretation, you can look into his works such as “Tafheem-ul-Quran” and other writings where he extensively discusses the concept.
A Modern Example of Taghut
A clear and undeniable example of Taghut, as some argue, is the United Nations (UN). This viewpoint suggests that the UN represents a system of authority that deviates from the principles set by Allah and His Messenger. Critics claim that by joining the UN, rulers of Muslim countries are submitting to a global authority that may conflict with Islamic values and laws.
Contextual Understanding
This perspective stems from the belief that any governance or entity seeking judgment outside the framework of Islamic law and promoting principles contrary to Islamic teachings can be considered Taghut. The concern is that international bodies like the UN can influence Muslim-majority nations to adopt policies or practices not aligned with Islamic principles, thus leading to the worship and obedience of Taghut.
