Islamic Studies and Quranic Research in the Contemporary World

Islamic Studies and Quranic Research in the Contemporary World

The Concept of Taqiyya in Shi‘i Discourse Analysis: With Emphasis on Rationality and Utilitarian Ethics

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Postdoctoral scholar, Theology, Quranic and Hadith Sciences, Visiting Professor, Islamic Azad University, Islamshahr, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Linguistics and Foreign Languages, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Jurisprudence and Fundamentals of Islamic Law, Islamshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Taqiyya, understood as the capacity for adaptation to various forms of otherness—other-being, other-thinking, and other-living-can be traced throughout the narratives of Shi‘i religious' texts. This strategy is not a permanent obligation but rather a conditional option supported by both rational and juridical foundations. From the standpoint of practical reason, its basis lies in the principles of harm prevention, prioritization of the greater good over the lesser, and preservation of existence for the realization of the higher aims of religionnamely, safeguarding faith within the sphere of religious life and transitioning from duty-based ethics to divine ethics while maintaining collective interests. The application of such an approach enables tolerance and the adoption of modes of living that may differ from explicit religious teachings in order to protect the essence of religion and collective identity under exceptional circumstances marked by political, social, or cultural threats. This foundation aligns with the principles of utilitarian ethics, as it seeks to maximize collective benefit and minimize harm arising from violence and conflict. Thus, within the framework of Shi‘i religious discourse analysis and grounded in rational considerations, taqiyya offers a means of alternative existence amid conditions of violence and cultural or social constraints. Using a descriptive-analytical method and library-based sources, the present study interprets the concept of taqiyya as a mode of life for the religiously moderate-a transitional stage between ethics and faith in the rational conduct of believers under conditions of duress.
Keywords
Subjects

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Volume 4, Issue 2 - Serial Number 8
February 2026
Pages 359-420

Supplementary File

  • Receive Date 28 April 2025
  • Revise Date 04 December 2025
  • Accept Date 31 January 2026
  • First Publish Date 31 January 2026
  • Publish Date 21 January 2026