Tolerant Dissimulation in the View of Imam Khomeini

Tolerant dissimulation (taqīyya) is a Shiite theological-jurisprudential belief, which is of utmost importance today. The existence of denominational disputes in the Islamic world and an unprecedented attack on Shi’as in the present age has made it an undeniable requirement to account for tolerant dissimulation as a sign for Shiism’s will to peaceful coexistence and Islamic unity. Such dissimulation, which is grounded in religious doctrines, has been acknowledged by the majority of Imāmī jurists (fuqahā), and Imam Khomeini considers it as a way of attracting the affection of opponents without a fear of any harms and with the aim of Islamic unity. In the present research, we consider tolerant dissimulation and its rulings according to Imam Khomeini. He derives the legitimacy of tolerant dissimulation from hadiths and inferred jurisprudential rules, maintaining that dissimulation with respect to Sunni Muslims counts as one of the best worships. In the jurisprudential view of Imam Khomeini, if one acts in accordance to dissimulation, then his act will be sufficient (mujzī); that is, it does not need to be performed again as i’āda (repetition in due time) or qaḍā’ (doing or repeating an obligation after its due time). Moreover, all effects of correctness will be consequent upon an act done from dissimulation.