Taghut

Taghut is <a href="/facts/Islamic_terminology/Bj2A30xa">Islamic terminology</a> denoting the worship of another deity besides <a href="/facts/God_in_Islam/L2VNNRJm">God</a>. In traditional <a href="/facts/Islamic_theology/Fa93y9T9">theology</a>, the term often connotes <a href="/facts/Idolatry/VRA0DKEd">idols</a> or <a href="/facts/Shaitan/L7jcxSmY">demons</a> drawn to blood of pagan sacrifices. The pre-Islamic deities <a href="/facts/Al-L%25C4%2581t/bD6Rs5rR">al-Lāt</a> and <a href="/facts/Al-%25CA%25BFUzz%25C4%2581/nwSoR5Wp">al-ʿUzzā</a>, later also <a href="/facts/Satan/XptVW6IY">Satan</a>, are associated with that term. In modern times, the term is also applied to earthly tyrannical power.
The modern <a href="/facts/Islamic_philosopher/QSzAKr2j">Islamic philosopher</a> <a href="/facts/Abul_A%2527la_Maududi/Taff9WvA">Abul A'la Maududi</a> defines taghut in his <a href="/facts/Tafsir/up84xNbN">Quranic commentary</a> as a creature who not only rebels against God but transgresses his will. Due to these associations, in contemporary political discourse, the term is used to refer to people considered anti-Islamic and agent of Western <a href="/facts/Cultural_imperialism/9qPKPpVk">cultural imperialism</a>. The term was introduced to modern political discourse since the usage surrounding <a href="/facts/Ayatollah_Ruhollah_Khomeini/y1kgDUoG">Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini</a> during the <a href="/facts/1979_Iranian_Revolution/frTYhJ0F">1979 Iranian Revolution</a>, through accusations made both by and against Khomeini.

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Taghut