“Therefore...

“Therefore, proclaim openly the message of Allah—that which you are commanded—and turn away from the idolaters,” as Allah instructed the Prophet.[^5] Afterwards, the Prophet began openly inviting people to Islam after this period of taqiyyah. Moreover, Islamic history shows that many prominent leaders, of all schools of thought, from various recorded traditions practiced taqiyyah on different occasions.

For example, Imam Abu Hanifah when he gave verdicts to abandon prayers and break fast during the month of Ramadan for the person who was being coerced. Similarly, Imam Malik was obliged to use high levels of diplomacy with the Umayyad and ‘Abbasid dynasties by using Surah 3, verse 28 as justification.

Imam Shafi΄i also used taqiyyah in his verdict regarding a man who swore falsely by the name of Allah under coercion that he will not have to pay the kaffarah (expiation).[^6] Imam al-Ghazzali narrates that protecting the Muslim blood is obligatory thus lying is obligatory, if it means preventing the shedding the blood of a Muslim.[^7] Some people associate taqiyyah with nifaq (hypocrisy).

However, hypocrisy is defined as falsely displaying faith ( iman ) while hiding disbelief ( kufr ), whereas taqiyyah is showing agreement, while in the heart there is disagreement in order to protect one’s self, family, money, or religion. [^1]: Noble Qur’an, 3:28 [^2]: Noble Qur’an, 16:106 [^3]: Noble Qur’an, 40:28 [^4]: Sirat ibn Hisham, Vol. 1, 274. Tarikh al-Tabari, Vol. 2, 216 and 218; Ibn Sa΄ad, al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, 200 [^5]: Noble Qur’an, 15:94 [^6]: Al-Amidi, Difa ‘an al-Kafi, Vol.