Taqqiya, Islamic Deceipt, and Islam

Well Taqqiya IS a thing. It exists in Islam. It is not just a crazy conspiracy theory on the Alex Jones channel. 

Taqqiya originates from Quranic verses about not making friends with unbelievers.  It is said that the Shiite Moslems started to use it when under threat by Sunni Muslims, to save themselves from death for holding the wrong Islamic beliefs.

It should be obvious that most Westernised Muslims don't actually practice taqqiya.  I personally wouldn't bother accusing a Muslim who grew up in The West of taqqiya for saying anything deceptive about Islam.  But to be clear, this does not mean that deceit about the nature of Islam isn't actually practiced. 

Taqqiya is only one type of deceit endorsed in Islamic literature, there are several, including tawriya, kitman, and muruna.

Significantly, Muhammad can be quoted as equating war with deceit (in Bukhari 52:269).  This is relevant because jihad, which literally means fighting or struggle for the cause of Islam, umbrellas physical fighting but also includes "jihad of the tongue" or creating arguments to defend Islam.  The bad news is that Jihad is obligatory in Shia Islam, and considered a duty more universally, so I guess the duty would extend to the largest group of Muslims, Sunni Muslims too!

Muhammad clearly used deceit to conquer people such as the Jews of Medina. 

The concept of deceit as a means to "defend Islam" actually made it into the Sha'afi Shariah manual 'The Reliance of the Traveller' (paragraph r8.2) that came out in the 14th century.

But I personally wouldn't accuse anyone of taqqiya unless you can show he has actually KNOWINGLY deceived you.  Unverifiable accusations are not fair and they are not polite.  I would estimate that most Westernised Muslims aren't knowingly trying to deceive you and don't know what taqqiya. 

Imams and Sheikhs however I hold to a greater level of suspicion, because they should know what taqqiya is.  I have witnessed Muslims saying lots of untrue things about Islam, and using lots of ingenious arguments.   They have to be getting these facts and arguments from somewhere.  I guess they are getting them from their teachers.

BTW, this post is a rebuke of a video made by Aymann Ismail.