A Comparative Research in the Narrations Concerning Taqiyah

Taqiyah is one of the original Islamic concepts rooted in man's nature and innate indisposition. It is in reality the practice of concealing one's true faith or expressing the opposite of what he believes in to preserve a greater and more important interest than telling the truth. The comprehensiveness of the religion of Islam, and the dynamic and flexible nature of its legal codes have provided its followers and true adherents with solutions that can help them in difficult conditions. Thus, taqiyah being a powerful method of protecting oneself against harm or danger or preserving a more important interest in order to reach one's sacred and divine goals is a strategy that is permissible to practice. Prophetic traditions and sayings of infallible Imam (AS) are the most important corroborating reasons after the Quran that the scholars of the two sects have relied upon, to decipher taqiyah and its rules. There are many narrations which can be considered and assessed as evidences substantiating taqiyah. Taking these narrations into consideration, one must admit that taqiyah is among the indisputable Islamic precepts and a cause of the survival of Islam. It leads to peaceful co-existence between Muslims and followers of other religions. Taqiyah also facilitates Islamic unity and brotherhood.