VisualDhikr|

False deities/Evil forces

View in graph
concept

False deities/Evil forces

الطَّاغُوت

In Islamic tradition, the concept of Taghut (الطَّاغُوت) encompasses anything worshipped or followed instead of Allah, or any evil authority or influence that causes rebellion against divine guidance. It represents the ultimate opposition to Allah's sovereignty and the fundamental spiritual adversary to human well-being. Rejecting Taghut is a foundational pillar of faith, as the Quran beautifully states, [whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it]. Taghut can manifest in many forms: false idols, oppressive rulers who demand obedience over Allah's commands, satanic whispers, or even one's own unrestrained ego and desires. It is seen as a force that actively misguides humanity, pulling people [out of the light into darknesses], contrasting sharply with Allah, who brings believers out of darkness into light. Believers are commanded to reject all forms of Taghut, refusing to [refer legislation to Taghut, while they were commanded to reject it]. Ultimately, the struggle against Taghut is a spiritual battle, where [those who disbelieve fight in the cause of Taghut], while believers strive solely for Allah's cause. Recognizing and disavowing Taghut is crucial for maintaining a pure and sincere devotion to Allah alone.

Quran 7 verses

لَآ إِكْرَاهَ فِى ٱلدِّينِ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ ٱلرُّشْدُ مِنَ ٱلْغَىِّ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِٱلطَّٰغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱسْتَمْسَكَ بِٱلْعُرْوَةِ ٱلْوُثْقَىٰ لَا ٱنفِصَامَ لَهَا وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

Laaa ikraaha fid deeni qat tabiyanar rushdu minal ghayy; famai yakfur bit Taaghooti wa yu'mim billaahi faqadis tamsaka bil'urwatil wusqaa lan fisaama lahaa; wallaahu Samee'un 'Aleem

There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.

دین (اسلام) میں زبردستی نہیں ہے ہدایت (صاف طور پر ظاہر اور) گمراہی سے الگ ہو چکی ہے تو جو شخص بتوں سے اعتقاد نہ رکھے اور خدا پر ایمان لائے اس نے ایسی مضبوط رسی ہاتھ میں پکڑ لی ہے جو کبھی ٹوٹنے والی نہیں اور خدا (سب کچھ) سنتا اور (سب کچھ) جانتا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary One who holds on to Islam firmly stays protected against destruction and deprivation. It was for this reason that such a person was likened to one who holds on firmly to the 'ring', the looped support of a strong rope, and thus manages to avoid falling down. As there is no danger of such ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: There is no compulsion in entering into religion. Rectitude has become clear from error that is say through clear proofs it has become manifest that faith is rectitude and disbelief is error this was revealed concerning the Ansār of Medina who tried to compel their sons to enter into Islam; so whoev...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): No Compulsion in Religion Allah said, لاَ إِكْرَاهَ فِى الدِّينِ (There is no compulsion in religion), meaning, "Do not force anyone to become Muslim, for Islam is plain and clear, and its proofs and evidence are plain and clear. Therefore, there is no need to force anyone to embrace Islam. Rather, ...

ٱللَّهُ وَلِىُّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُمُ ٱلطَّٰغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُم مِّنَ ٱلنُّورِ إِلَى ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ

Allaahu waliyyul lazeena aamanoo yukhrijuhum minaz zulumaati ilan noori wallazeena kafarooo awliyaaa'uhumut Taaghootu yukhrijoonahum minan noori ilaz zulumaat; ulaaa'ika Ashaabun Naari hum feehaa khaalidoon

Allah is the ally of those who believe. He brings them out from darknesses into the light. And those who disbelieve - their allies are Taghut. They take them out of the light into darknesses. Those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein.

جو لوگ ایمان لائے ہیں ان کا دوست خدا ہے کہ اُن کو اندھیرے سے نکال کر روشنی میں لے جاتا ہے اور جو کافر ہیں ان کے دوست شیطان ہیں کہ ان کو روشنی سے نکال کر اندھیرے میں لے جاتے ہیں یہی لوگ اہل دوزخ ہیں کہ اس میں ہمیشہ رہیں گے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary This verse also tells us that faith ('Iman ایمان ) is the greatest blessing and disbelief (kufr کفر ) is the greatest misfortune, and that there is darkness in friendship with those who disbelieve (kuffar کُفار ).
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: God is the Protector helper of the believers; He brings them forth from the shadows of unbelief into the light of faith. And the disbelievers — their protectors are false deities that bring them forth from the light into the shadows the repetition of ‘bringing forth from’ here is either to be taken ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Allah stated that whoever follows what pleases Him, He will guide him to the paths of peace, that is Islam, or Paradise. Verily, Allah delivers His believing servants from the darkness of disbelief, doubt and hesitation, to the light of the plain, clear, explained, easy and unequivocal truth. He als...

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَحَاكَمُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلطَّٰغُوتِ وَقَدْ أُمِرُوٓا۟ أَن يَكْفُرُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَيُرِيدُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ أَن يُضِلَّهُمْ ضَلَٰلًۢا بَعِيدًا

Alam tara ilal lazeena yaz'umoona annahum aarmanoo bimaa unzilaa ilaika wa maaa unzila min qablika yureedoona ai yatahaakamooo ilat Taaghooti wa qad umirooo ai yakfuroo bih, wa yureedush Shaitaanu ai yudillahum dalaalam ba'eedaa

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.

کیا تم نے ان لوگوں کو نہیں دیکھا جو دعویٰ تو یہ کرتے ہیں کہ جو (کتاب) تم پر نازل ہوئی اور جو (کتابیں) تم سے پہلے نازل ہوئیں ان سب پر ایمان رکھتے ہیں اور چاہتے یہ ہیں کہ اپنا مقدمہ ایک سرکش کے پاس لے جا کر فیصلہ کرائیں حالانکہ ان کو حکم دیا گیا تھا کہ اس سے اعتقاد نہ رکھیں اور شیطان (تو یہ) چاہتا ہے کہ ان کو بہکا کر رستے سے دور ڈال دے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Verses previous to these carried the command to revert back to the mandate given by Allah and the Messenger in all matters. In the present verses which follow, the act of reverting to laws contrary to the Shari` ah has been censured. Commentary The background of the revelation of these verses There ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: The following verse was revealed when a Jew and a hypocrite fell into a dispute. The hypocrite called on Ka‘b b. al-Ashraf to arbitrate between them while the Jew called on the Prophet s. When they came to him the Prophet ruled in favour of the Jew. But the hypocrite was not satisfied and so they we...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Referring to Other than the Qur'an and Sunnah for Judgment is Characteristic of Non-Muslims Allah chastises those who claim to believe in what Allah has sent down to His Messenger and to the earlier Prophets, yet they refer to other than the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger for judgment...

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يُقَٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُقَٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱلطَّٰغُوتِ فَقَٰتِلُوٓا۟ أَوْلِيَآءَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ إِنَّ كَيْدَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ كَانَ ضَعِيفًا

Allazeena aamanoo yuqaatiloona fee sabeelil laahi wallazeena kafaroo yuqaatiloona fee sabeelit Taaghoot faqaatiloo awliyaaa'ash Shaitaan; inna kaidash Shairaani kaana da'eefa

Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the cause of Taghut. So fight against the allies of Satan. Indeed, the plot of Satan has ever been weak.

جو مومن ہیں وہ تو خدا کے لئے لڑتے ہیں اور جو کافر ہیں وہ بتوں کے لئے لڑتے ہیں سو تم شیطان کے مددگاروں سے لڑو۔ (اور ڈرو مت) کیونکہ شیطان کا داؤ بودا ہوتا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Praying to Allah is the panacea for all hardships The words of prayer in verse 75: يَقُولُونَ رَ‌بَّنَا أَخْرِ‌جْنَا tell us that one of the reasons why the command to fight came was the prayer made by these weak Muslim men and women. Allah Almighty responded to their prayer and commanded Muslims to...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Those who believe fight in the way of God and those who disbelieve fight in the way of a false deity Satan. Fight therefore against the friends of Satan the supporters of his religion and you will defeat them with the strength you draw from God; surely the plotting of Satan against believers is ever...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Encouraging Jihad to Defend the Oppressed Allah encouraged His believing servants to perform Jihad in His cause and to strive hard to save the oppressed Muslims in Makkah, men, women and children who were restless because of having to remain there. This is why Allah said, الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّن...

قُلْ هَلْ أُنَبِّئُكُم بِشَرٍّ مِّن ذَٰلِكَ مَثُوبَةً عِندَ ٱللَّهِ مَن لَّعَنَهُ ٱللَّهُ وَغَضِبَ عَلَيْهِ وَجَعَلَ مِنْهُمُ ٱلْقِرَدَةَ وَٱلْخَنَازِيرَ وَعَبَدَ ٱلطَّٰغُوتَ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا وَأَضَلُّ عَن سَوَآءِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ

Qul hal unabbi'ukum bisharrim min zaalika masoobatan 'indal laah; malla'ana hul laahu wa ghadiba 'alaihi wa ja'ala minhumul qiradata wal khanaazeera wa 'abadat Taaghoot; ulaaa'ika sharrum makaananw wa adallu 'an Sawaaa'is Sabeel

Say, "Shall I inform you of [what is] worse than that as penalty from Allah? [It is that of] those whom Allah has cursed and with whom He became angry and made of them apes and pigs and slaves of Taghut. Those are worse in position and further astray from the sound way."

کہو کہ میں تمہیں بتاؤں کہ خدا کے ہاں اس سے بھی بدتر جزا پانے والے کون ہیں؟ وہ لوگ ہیں جن پر خدا نے لعنت کی اور جن پر وہ غضبناک ہوا اور (جن کو) ان میں سے بندر اور سور بنا دیا اور جنہوں نے شیطان کی پرستش کی ایسے لوگوں کا برا ٹھکانہ ہے اور وہ سیدھے رستے سے بہت دور ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Consideration of the Addressee : A Principle of Da'wah The condition of a people who were under the curse and wrath of Allah has been introduced through a similitude in the next verse (60) which begins with: قُلْ هَلْ أُنَبِّئُكُم[ Should I (not) tell you...]. In fact, this condition applied to thes...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Say ‘Shall I tell you shall I inform you of what is worse than the followers of that about which you are spiteful by way of reward requital from God? They are those whom God has cursed whom He has removed from His mercy and with whom He is wroth and some of whom He has turned into apes and swine by ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The People of the Book are Enraged at the Believers Because of their Faith in Allah Allah commands: Say, O Muhammad, to those who mock and jest about your religion from among the People of the Scriptures, هَلْ تَنقِمُونَ مِنَّآ إِلاَّ أَنْ ءَامَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِ...

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ ٱلطَّٰغُوتَ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ ٱلضَّلَٰلَةُ فَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ

Wa laqad ba'asnaa fee kulli ummatir Rasoolan ani'budul laaha wajtanibut Taaghoota faminhum man hadal laahu wa minhum man haqqat 'alaihid dalaalah; faseeroo fil ardi fanzuroo kaifa kaana 'aaqibatul mukazzibeen

And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], "Worship Allah and avoid Taghut." And among them were those whom Allah guided, and among them were those upon whom error was [deservedly] decreed. So proceed through the earth and observe how was the end of the deniers.

اور ہم نے ہر جماعت میں پیغمبر بھیجا کہ خدا ہی کی عبادت کرو اور بتوں (کی پرستش) سے اجتناب کرو۔ تو ان میں بعض ایسے ہیں جن کو خدا نے ہدایت دی اور بعض ایسے ہیں جن پر گمراہی ثابت ہوئی۔ سو زمین پر چل پھر کر دیکھ لو کہ جھٹلانے والوں کا انجام کیسا ہوا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Has a Rasul of Allah appeared in India and Pakistan too? From verse 36 in the present Surah: وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّ‌سُولًا (And We did raise a messenger among every people), as well as from verse 24 of Surah Fatir: وَإِن مِّنْ أُمَّةٍ إِلَّا خَلَا فِيهَا نَذِيرٌ‌ (And there is no g...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And verily We sent forth among every community a messenger just as We have sent you forth among these Meccans to say ‘Worship God profess belief in His Oneness and shun false deities’ graven images and do not worship them. Then among them were some whom God guided and they believed and among them we...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Idolators Argument that their Shirk was Divinely decreed, and the Refutation of this Claim Allah tells us about the idolators delusion over their Shirk, and the excuse they claimed for it based on the idea that it is ordained by divine decree. He says: لَوْ شَآءَ اللَّهُ مَا عَبَدْنَا مِن دُونِه...

وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱجْتَنَبُوا۟ ٱلطَّٰغُوتَ أَن يَعْبُدُوهَا وَأَنَابُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ لَهُمُ ٱلْبُشْرَىٰ فَبَشِّرْ عِبَادِ

Wallazeenaj tanabut Taaghoota ai ya'budoohaa wa anaabooo ilal laahi lahumul bushraa; fabashshir 'ibaad

But those who have avoided Taghut, lest they worship it, and turned back to Allah - for them are good tidings. So give good tidings to My servants

اور جنہوں نے اس سے اجتناب کیا کہ بتوں کو پوجیں اور خدا کی طرف رجوع کیا ان کے لئے بشارت ہے۔ تو میرے بندوں کو بشارت سنا دو

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In verse 10, it was said: وَأَرْ‌ضُ اللَّـهِ وَاسِعَةٌ (and the earth of Allah is wide).In the sentence previous to this, Good deeds had been enjoined. This might prompt someone to come up with the excuse, 'The city or country in which I live, or the social milieu I am stuck with around me stops me ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: As for those who steer clear of the worship of false deities graven images and turn penitently apply themselves to God there are good tidings for them of Paradise. So give such good tidings to My servants
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Good News for the Righteous `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said, narrating from his father وَالَّذِينَ اجْتَنَبُواْ الطَّـغُوتَ أَن يَعْبُدُوهَا (Those who avoid At-Taghut by not worshipping them) was revealed concerning Zayd bin `Amr bin Nufayl and Abu Dharr and Salman Al-Farisi, may Allah be ple...

A detailed scholarly analysis for this topic is not yet available. Get in touch to request one.

Related Topics