How Taqiyya Alters Islam’s Rules of War
7th January 2010
Unlike Christianity, Islam doesn’t forbid telling lies; only telling lies to other Muslims.
Taqiyya offers two basic uses. The better known revolves around dissembling over one’s religious identity when in fear of persecution. Such has been the historical usage of taqiyya among Shi’i communities whenever and wherever their Sunni rivals have outnumbered and thus threatened them. Conversely, Sunni Muslims, far from suffering persecution have, whenever capability allowed, waged jihad against the realm of unbelief; and it is here that they have deployed taqiyya—not as dissimulation but as active deceit. In fact, deceit, which is doctrinally grounded in Islam, is often depicted as being equal—sometimes superior—to other universal military virtues, such as courage, fortitude, or self-sacrifice.
The parallels between Islam and the Mafia are sometimes very scary; if you want to know how Muslims think about non-Muslims, watch The Sopranos.