Question/Criticism: Muslims believe in something called Taqiyyah. Taqiyyah allows Muslims to believe in and practice lying to cover their true intentions.

Answer:

I don’t, nor do any Muslim believe in lying. We are encouraged over and over again in the Qur’an and teachings of Al-Islam to be truthful and shun falsehood. In fact the Prophet (saaw) said that the greatest Jihad is one who speaks the truth in the face of an unjust ruler. The Qur’an promises G'd’s richest blessings to those who are truthful as in the following verse:

G'd will say: "This is a day on which the truthful will profit     from their truth: theirs are gardens, with rivers flowing beneath,- their eternal Home: G'd well-pleased with them, and they with G'd. That is the great salvation, (the fulfillment of all desires). [5:119]

The Hadiths also compliments the Qur’an with the following:

Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘You must be truthful, for truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man will keep speaking the truth and striving to speak the truth until he will be recorded with Allah as a siddeeq (speaker of         the truth). Beware of telling lies, for lying leads to immorality and immorality leads to Hellfire. A man will keep telling lies and striving to tell lies until he is recorded with Allah as a liar." (Reported by Muslim, 4721)

Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "I memorized from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him):  ‘Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt, for truthfulness is certainty and tranquillity, whilst lying is doubt and confusion." (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 2520; al-    Nisaa'i, 8/327; and Ahmad, 1/200)

Enemies of Al-Islam distort the meaning of Taqiyyah to pervert Al-Islam and cause ignorant people to be confused. Let me explain what Taqiyyah is. It is defined as:

"Concealing or disguising one's beliefs, convictions, ideas, feelings, opinions, and/or strategies at a time of eminent danger, whether now or later in time, to save oneself from physical and/or mental injury."

The verse from the Qur’an that Muslims use to justify this behavior is:

"Any one who, after accepting Faith in Allah, utters unbelief, EXCEPT UNDER COMPULSION, his heart remaining firm in faith -- but such as open their breast to unbelief, -- on them is Wrath from Allah, and theirs will be a dreadful Chastisement. [16:106]

Islamophobes take this and run with it as if it is an endorsement for Muslims to lie as part of our general behavior. When in truth lying is condemned in Al-Islam but saving your life at times of eminent danger is encouraged.