#aqeedah

Even if that closeness means being alone… even if it means isolation, total silence. WAllahi, I find myself longing for the moments of sadness and heartbreak certain trials caused me. Because every hardship brought me closer to my Rabb. It felt like Jannah in this dull dunya.

Allah mentions the term on a number of occasions:

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ

And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], "Worship Allah and avoid Taghut."

[Surah al-Nahl : 36]

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُوا بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَحَاكَمُوا إِلَى الطَّاغُوتِ وَقَدْ أُمِرُوا أَن يَكْفُرُوا بِهِ وَيُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَن يُضِلَّهُمْ ضَلَالًا بَعِيدًا

Have you seen those (hyprocrites) who claim that they believe in that which has been sent down to you, and that which was sent down before you, and they wish to go for judgement (in their disputes) to the Taghut (false judges, etc.) while they have been ordered to reject them. But Shaitan (Satan) wishes to lead them far astray.

[Surah al-Nisa : 60]

فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ لَا انفِصَامَ لَهَا

Whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break.

[Surah al-Baqarah : 256]

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا نَصِيبًا مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْجِبْتِ وَالطَّاغُوتِ وَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا هَٰؤُلَاءِ أَهْدَىٰ مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا سَبِيلًا

Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture? They believe in Jibt and Taghut and say to the disbelievers that they are better guided as regards the way than the believers (Muslims).

[Surah al-Nisa : 51]

Ibn al-Qayyim said:

الطاغوت: كل ما تجاوز به العبد حده من معبود أو متبوع أو مطاع ، فطاغوت كل قوم من بتحاكمون إليه غير الله ورسوله أو يعبدونه من دون الله أو يتبعونه على غير بصيرة من الله أو يطيعونه فيما لا يعلمون أنه طاعة لله

“The ṭāghūt is all that which causes the person to exceed the limits with regards to that which is worshipped, followed, or obeyed. So the ṭāghūt in any nation is whosoever turns to other than Allah and His Messenger for matters of judgement; or is pleased to be worshipped besides Allah; or is followed without a clear proof from Allah; or is obeyed in that which is known to be disobedience to Allah.”

— [I‘lām al-Muwaqqi‘īn 1/53]

A Taghūt can be in various forms as explained by Shaykh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab رحمه الله:

والطواغيت كثير ورؤوسهم خمسة: إبليس لعنه الله، ومن عبد وهو راض، ومن دعا الناس إلي عبادة نفسه، ومن ادعى شيئاً من علم الغيب ومن حكم بغير ما أنزل الله

“And the Tawāghīt are many, but their leaders are five:

Iblīs (may Allah curse him),

Whoever is worshipped and is pleased with that,

Whoever calls people to the worship of himself,

Whoever claims to possess anything of the knowledge of the unseen,

And whoever judges by other than what Allah has sent down.”

— [Ath-Thalathatul-Usūl]

Thus, anyone who is worshiped besides Allah, and pleased with that, is a Taghūt. Likewise, the person who claims to possess knowledge of the unseen, as well as the scholar who is (pleased to be) blindly followed in other than that which is the guidance of the Messenger (ﷺ), and the rulers who govern and judge with other than that which Allah has revealed or replace the shari'a of Allah with their desires and man made laws or abrogate the laws of Allah and implement their own laws are all Tawaghīt, according to the Divine Sharī’ah. Therefore, in order to be considered a true believer in Allah and the Last Day the Muslim must disbelieve in and reject at-Taghūt, irrespective of the form it assumes. And this act must precede his declaration of faith, for indeed the first pillar of Tawhīd is an-Nafy (i.e. negation). For instance, the statement (لا إله إلا الله), which represents Tawhīdul-Ulūhiyyah, consists of two parts:

1. “لا إله”

(There is none worthy of worship), which is an-Nafy, negates the existence of anything worthy of worship.

2. “إلا الله” (Except Allãh),

which is al-Ithbãt (affirmation), affirms that all worship is due to Allah alone.

Hence, the first obligation binding upon the slaves is disbelief in all that is worshiped besides the Most High.

Imaam an-Nawawee رحمه الله said:

“So the first thing which he should begin with is the memorisation of the mighty Qur’an, which is the most important of the branches of knowledge. And the Salaf did not used to teach hadeeth or fiqh, except to one who had memorised the Qur’an. So when he has memorised it, then let him beware of pre-occupying himself from it with hadeeth, or fiqh, or other things, to the extent that it leads him to forget anything from the Qur’an, or makes that likely.”

Marriage is a significant and vital obligation that can either build your life or destroy it; it can bring you closer to the Hereafter or pull you away from it. If a person spends their life in ostentation—seeking the applause of others—has no conscience, holds incorrect beliefs, lives in a state of delusion, or is a "mama's boy" who relies on parents and siblings to fulfill every small responsibility toward his wife and children, it is better to live life alone than to bring such a man into your life.

This is your life. Do not give it away to someone like a rented object. A woman often follows the Deen of her husband; therefore, choose a person for yourself whose Aqeeda is sound, who fears Allah, and who truly understands your responsibilities and feelings. Do not bring just any passerby into your life, someone whose presence still leaves you feeling lonely, or someone with whom you have a relationship but still have to turn to friends to share your feelings.

Life is not a game of bargaining where you sell your soul for superficial glitter and wealth. A person who cannot support you mentally is simply not worthy of you.

We entrust our entire lives to a stranger with the expectation that they will understand us. We hope that the things we couldn't fulfill in our parental home will be fulfilled through our husband. But if the husband himself fails to understand your emotions and feelings, then your entire life feels wasted. A husband is the Qawwam (protector and maintainer) of his wife. If the protector isn't on the right path, how will the household function? Marriage isn't just about getting married, fulfilling a duty, and then doing nothing; it isn't just for "fun"—it is a responsibility that only a responsible man can carry, not an immature person. Therefore, perform Istikhara before every major decision.

Advice to All Men

To all men: Do not view marriage merely as a means for enjoyment and pleasure. Marriage is a massive responsibility; understand your role and be a man. Care for your wife and children. If you are truly a man, prove it through your actions. It isn't enough to simply give examples of the Prophet and Sahaba you must act upon them. Repeating that "four marriages are Sunnah" is easy, but if four marriages are permitted, they come with equal responsibilities and an equal account to be settled [on Judgement Day]. Be a man, not a "parrot" who only repeats what he has been taught. Being a "mama's boy" will not sustain your life; you are not a five-year-old child whose mother needs to hold his hand at every step to tell him what to do.