Taghut

Taghut (ar. طاغوت, ṭāġūt. pl. ṭawāġīt. broadly: "to go beyond the measure") is Islamic terminology denoting a focus of worship other than God. In traditional theology, the term often connotes idols or demons drawn to blood of pagan sacrifices.^[1] In modern times, the term is also applied to earthly tyrannical power, as implied in surah An-Nisa verse 60.^[2] The modern Islamic philosopher Abul A'la Maududi defines taghut in his Quranic commentary as a creature who not only rebels against God but transgresses his will.^[3] Due to these associations, in recent times the term may refer to any person or group accused of being anti-Islamic and an agent of Western cultural imperialism. The term was introduced to modern political discourse since the usage surrounding Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini during the 1979 Iranian Revolution, through accusations made both by and against Khomeini.^[2]

^ Nünlist, Tobias (2015). Dämonenglaube im Islam (in German). Walter de Gruyter. p. 210. ISBN 978-3-110-33168-4.
^ ^a ^b Momen, Moojan. (1995). "Țāghūt". In John L. Esposito. The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
^ Mawdudi, 1988, vol.1, pp.199-200

[1] Nünlist, Tobias (2015). Dämonenglaube im Islam (in German). Walter de Gruyter. p. 210. ISBN 978-3-110-33168-4.

[Jo-2] Momen, Moojan. (1995). "Țāghūt". In John L. Esposito. The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[3] Mawdudi, 1988, vol.1, pp.199-200

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