THE CONCEPT OF TAQİYYAH İN ABÛ MUHAMMAD AL-HASAN B. MÛSÂ AL-NEVBAHTÎ

Abstract

The concept of taqiyya, which emerged at the beginning of Islam and refers to concealing one’s faith in the face of life-threatening danger from disbelievers, has been a subject of extensive debate in the history of Islamic sects. Some scholars from schools such as Shi'a Imamiya have elevated this concept to a matter of belief, while scholars from Sunni, Mu'tazila, and Khawarij schools have opposed the view of the scholars under the Shi'a umbrella particularly the Imami Shi'a arguing that this understanding of taqiyya could lead to sociological, psychological, and ethical negative consequences. Thus, the concept of taqiyya has become one of the major topics debated among scholars of Islamic sects. This article primarily explores the concept of taqiyya as presented by al-Nawbakhti. Al-Nawbakhti is considered one of the first scholars to systematically compile the fundamental tenets of Imami Shi'ism, including the concept of taqiyya and the theory of Imamate. Interestingly, however, al-Nawbakhti never directly identifies himself as a follower of Imami Shi'ism in his book. Despite this, both Imami Shi'a scholars and scholars from other schools clearly state that al-Nawbakhti was a devoted adherent of Imami Shi'ism. On the other hand, while Shi'a scholars and those from other schools openly express their affiliations, al-Nawbakhti's reticence about his sectarian identity is seen as noteworthy from a taqiyya perspective. This raises the question: is his behavior regarding the concealment of his sectarian affiliation an example of taqiyya? To answer this, an investigation is deemed necessary within the context of the history of Islamic sects. In this study, while examining al-Nawbakhti's understanding of taqiyya, we will also briefly touch upon the different views on taqiyya within Islamic sects. This is important because the concept of taqiyya, both in theory and practice, has had significant relevance in Islamic thought throughout history, and understanding how it has been defined and perceived is crucial. Certainly, it is possible to argue that al-Nawbakhti, who was a member of the Imami Shi'a, was influenced by the socio-political pressures of his time. This is especially true given that during the 3rd and 4th centuries AH, the Abbasid caliphs were not particularly favorable toward Shi'a Imami thought, due to concerns about the potential political aspirations of Shi'a Imami leaders. Therefore, it is likely that al-Nawbakhti concealed his Imami Shi'a identity to avoid the pressures of the official regime. However, it must be noted that concealing one’s sectarian identity is not necessarily a point of criticism, as no one is obligated to declare their sectarian affiliation.