Tawriyah means “Hiding something, pretending something is not there”
The proof for this meaning is the Ayah:
فَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ غُرَابًا يَبْحَثُ فِي الْأَرْضِ لِيُرِيَهُ كَيْفَ يُوَارِي سَوْءَةَ أَخِيهِ ۚ قَالَ يَا وَيْلَتَا أَعَجَزْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِثْلَ هَٰذَا الْغُرَابِ فَأُوَارِيَ سَوْءَةَ أَخِي ۖ فَأَصْبَحَ مِنَ النَّادِمِينَ
Then Allah sent a crow who scratched the ground to show him to hide the dead body of his brother. He (the murderer) said: “Woe to me! Am I not even able to be as this crow and to hide the dead body of my brother?” Then he became one of those who regretted.
[5:31]
وعن كعب بن مالك -رضي الله عنه- أن النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- كان إذا أراد غزوة ورى بغيرها متفق عليه.
” When the prophet, as salaatu was salaamu wanted to wage a war, he did tawriyah (he made apparent something else)” This narration is in al Bukaaree and Muslim.
لإمام النووي: فلا بأس بالتعريض ، فإن لم تدع إليه مصلحة ولا حاجة : فهو مكروه وليس بحرام ” الأذكار ” ( ص 380 )
Imaam an Nawawi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
” …at Ta’reed (being indirect, hiding something) is okay, However if there is no benefit and no urgent need (for it), then it is makrooh, not haraam.
End quote.
Bilaal ibn Sa’d said: “I saw them [the Sahaabah] jokingly pretending to fight over some goods, and laughing with one another, but when night came, they were like monks.”
[Extracted]
If one doesn’t want another person to be aware of something one intends to do, one should use a subtle means of distraction that doesn’t contain any lies as Yusuf alaihi as salaatu was salaam did when he put the golden cup into his brother’s bag. Also (this is noticed in) the story of Ibraaheem alaihi as salaatu was salaam with his wife Saarah.
Also, when Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said to the people that this young man (meaning the prophet alaihi as salaatu was salaam) is “guiding me to the path” (while he meant the path to pleasing Allah), here the people thought he was directing him to the correct road.
This narration is on the authority of Anas bin Maalik, may Allah be pleased with him, in Saheeh Al Bukaaree
Shaykh Yahya al Hajooree, may Allah preserve him, was asked regarding at Tawriyah, and he answered as follows:
Answer:
It is permissible when there is a need for it.
End quote.
Ash-Shaykh Muqbil, may Allaah have mercy upon him, mentioned that At-Tawriyah (pretending something is not there) is permissible in three scenarios:
1. When waging a war, for indeed the war is based upon deception.
2. When rectifying between people.
3. When there is a benefit to the Deen (such as exposing the people of falsehood).
End quote.
[at-Taaj al-Mukalal, page 80, print: al-Falaah]
Also ash Shaykh Zayd al Madkhalee, may Allaah preserve him said:
The reason for its (at Tawriyah) permissibility is:
- if there is a benefit to the speaker or to Islam and the Muslims
- or if it is a removal of harm to the person or to Islam and the Muslims
for indeed the Messenger, alaihi as salaatu was salaam, used it (at Tawriyah) against his opponents.
End quote.
[al Iqdul Mundad al Jadeed, (212/2)]
Also it has been narrated from Ibraahim an-Naka’ee (one of the righteous Salaf) that he said:
If it reaches a person something you said (regarding him of kalaam that he dislikes), so say, “Allaah knows “maa” (which either means what or that not) I said anything like that”. The intention of such a statement would be that the one being addressed thinks the “maa” to be a negation while it was initiated for an affirmation (meaning what).
End quote.
[az-Zawaajir an-iktiraafil Kabaa’ir,( 327/2) of the old print]
Also I (Abu Fajr) heard an audio from ash-Shaykh Uthaymeen, may Allaah have mercy upon him, when he was giving examples of at-Tawriyah. Elaborating his ,stance he said:
If you are busy at home, while someone comes to your door and you are too busy to accept guests at the time, then send your wife to the door to tell the person at the door that you are not present, while that which is intended is that you were not present in that specific room (and not the whole house). However the person at the front door thinks that you are not present at all.
End quote.
[Name of the audio: A question on the ruling of at-Tawriyah]
Also ash-Shaykh Uthaimeen was asked if one were to call asking for one’s father then the son says “he fell asleep” while (in reality) he (the son) intends that he slept before but however at that exact moment he is awake.
So, the Shaykh said:
“perhaps he wants to relax or do something of the same nature. This is (permissible) because there is a benefit/wisdom in such an action.
End quote.
[The reference: al-kanzu ath thameen, Page: 175, Print: Daarul at-Tadmuriyah]
Also know, may Allaah have mercy on you, the word Taqeeyah can come in the meaning of at-Tawriyah as it came in the Qur’aan:
لاَّ يَتَّخِذِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاء مِن دُوْنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ اللّهِ فِي شَيْءٍ إِلاَّ أَن تَتَّقُواْ مِنْهُمْ تُقَاةً وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ اللّهُ نَفْسَهُ وَإِلَى اللّهِ الْمَصِيرُ
Let not the believers take the disbelievers as Auliya (supporters, helpers, etc.) instead of the believers, and whoever does that will never be helped by Allah in any way, except if you indeed fear a danger from them. And Allah warns you against Himself (His Punishment), and to Allah is the final return.
[3:28]
It was recited by Qataadah and Rajaa, may Allaah have mercy upon them, as “Taqeeyah”. The word “Tuqaah” is from the same root of “Taqeeyah” in the ‘Arabic language.
So Ibn Kathir, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said that al Hasan al-Basree said”:
At-Taqeeyah (meaning at-Tawriyah) is (permissible) until the day of resurrection.
End quote.
[The Reference: Tafseer bin kathir (44/3) print: awlaadus Shaykh:Fat’hul qadeer (551/1)]
Also ash-Shaykh Muqbil, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said:
At-Taqeeyah is originally taken from the ayah (previously mentioned) and he, may Allaah have mercy upon said:
“The taqeeyah of the Shi’a is built upon Nifaaq.”
End quote.
[Ilhaad al Kumaynee , page 192, print: Daarul aathaar]
So we do not say Taqeeyah vs Tawriyah because at-Taqeeyah can come in the meaning of at-Tawriyah.
Translated by
AbdulFattaah Bin Uthman
Abu Fajr
