taqiyah

or ta·qi·ya

[ tuh-kee-yuh ]

noun

1. the practice of denying one's religion, permissible when one is faced with persecution, especially by Sunnites: regarded as a means of protecting the religion.

Word History and Origins

Origin of taqiyah¹

From the Arabic word taqiyyah literally, caution, prudence

Example Sentences

The skinny: Near Doha’s international airport, Al Thumama’s design was inspired by the traditional Taqiyah, a short, woven cap of the kind Muslims believe was worn by the prophet Muhammad.

From Los Angeles Times

Driving his scooter through after Friday prayers, a friendly Muslim man wearing white robes and a taqiyah cap seems at peace with his fate.

From The Guardian

“Auckland,” the men in taqiyah, or skullcaps, responded.

From Washington Post

Valiullin, who has a white tufted goatee and wears a velvet-blue taqiyah, shakes his head when he recalls the arrests.

From The Guardian

His detractors, he went on, consider him adept at “taqiyah,” an Arabic word for dissimulation to protect oneself or the Islamic faith, and think he has a “far more obscure hidden agenda.”

From Seattle Times