Taqiyya (Prudent Dissimulation) in Islam and the Philosophy behind Imam Reza's Taqiyya Based on Quranic Verses and the Islamic Narrations

The sacred religion of Islam is founded on human nature. The issue of God's ancient covenant with humanity that has been discussed several times in the Quran, also refers to this innateness. It is worth noting that all rules of Islam, including obligational rules that are based on the determination and authorization of free will on human beings, and conventional rules that are God’s ordinance in the everyday life of humans, are corresponding to the good and evil. This means that if someone abides by a religious law and prescript, it will be to his advantage, and if a person abstains from Haram (forbidden) deeds, he will free himself from the evil in this world and the afterlife. It also goes for conventional rules. If a person gets married according to religious principles and fathers a child, it will work to his advantage, but if he follows the temptation of the despotic soul and follows the path of Sheitan (Satan) and fathers a child, he will get corrupted. This also goes for taqiyya (prudent dissimulation) as one of the Islamic rules. If someone is obligated to do taqiyya, and fails to do so, he will damage himself and his faith, and if he follows that rule, it will work to his advantage and he will save himself and his faith from the evil. This article has attempted to elaborate on taqiyya as one of the rules of Islam and discuss the philosophy behind it to some extent, then discuss the role of Masouman (The Immaculate Imams) (pbut), especially Imam Reza, in explaining this important Divine rule.