Taqiyyah is not to be used in regards to those who are...

Taqiyyah is not to be used in regards to those who are: confused and full of doubt, misguided or have gone astray from the faith, those who have fallen into error in regards to affairs of the life of this world or the next life, those who are ignorant of the truths of the faith but have the ability to accept the truth (if told to them) and are able to keep secrets from other people who are not worthy of such knowledge.

Thus in regards to such individuals, we must not observe taqiyyah and it makes no difference if they are ignorant or just misled or plagued with confusion and doubt or whether they are people of faith, disbelief, hypocrisy or willful disobedience.

Rather, it is sufficient that these people are those who are not willfully opposed to the truths and that they have the ability within them to accept, bear, safeguard and hide the truths from those who are not worthy of such truths being told to them and that there is a possibility that knowing these things will be of spiritual benefit to them.

The complete discussion concerning taqiyyah, how it works and under what conditions it is applicable has been mentioned in its own relevant place in the sources of Islam and those interested in learning more about this issue are advised to refer to the various Islamic resources. Imam Ja’far b. Muhammad as-Sadiq (as) has said: إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنَ احْتِمَالِ أَمْرِنَا التَّصْدِيقُ لَهُ وَ الْقَبُولُ فَقَطْ مِنَ احْتِمَالِ أَمْرِنَا سَتْرُهُ وَ صِيَانَتُهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَهْلِهِ.

فَاقْرِأْهُمُ السَّلاَمَ وَ قُلْ لَهُمْ: رَحِمَ اللٌّهُ عَبْداً إِجْتَرَّ مَوَدَّةَ النَّاسِ إِلـى نَفْسِهِ، حَدِّثُوهُمْ بِمَا يَعْرِفُونَ وَاسْتُرُوا عَنْهُمْ مَا يُنْكِرُونَ. ثُمَّ قَالَ : وَ اللٌّهِ مَا النَّاصِبُ لَنَا حَرْباً بِأَشَدَّ عَلَيْنَا مَؤُونَةً مِنَ النَّاطِقِ عَلَيْنَا بِمَا نَكْرَهُ “To undertake our affair is not only to believe it and accept only rather, it means to conceal and protect it against those who are not worthy of knowing about it.

Thus, you must greet them and say: ‘May Allah have mercy upon the servant who tries to acquire the people’s love for him.’ Speak with them about subjects which they are familiar with, but conceal from them the matters which they deny. The Imam then added: ‘By Allah (I swear): He who wages war against us is not worse than him who reports from us matters that we detest (to publicize).’[^3] In a tradition from the Commander of the Faithful ‘Ali b.

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