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Crypto-Islam

Crypto-Islam is the secret adherence to Islam while publicly professing to be of another faith; people who practice crypto-Islam are referred to as "crypto-Muslims". The word has mainly been used in reference to Spanish Muslims during the Inquisition (i.e., the Moriscos and their usage of Aljamiado). During this time Muslims made an attempt to merge their own beliefs with the Christian views through secret texts called The Lead Books of Sacromonte. Through interpretations of the Quran Muslims were justified to secretly adhere to Islam as a means to protect themselves from harm.

The Spanish Inquisition

The Spanish Inquisition (1478–1834) is perhaps the best known case in which force was systematically used, over a long period of time, to alter morality. During this time specifically Jewish and Muslim followers were made to either convert to Christianity or be sentenced to exile. Moriscos was the name given to Muslims who remained in the Iberian Peninsula under Christian rule after the Inquisition. The term Moriscos was debatable as some Muslims had sincerely converted to Christianity while others were in secret adherence to Islam. In this uncertainty the term Crypto-Muslim became a means to distinguish the two. Both groups were in danger of being denounced to the Inquisition as heretics and consequently had to hide their true beliefs and religious practices from outsiders.

The Lead Books of Sacromonte

In response to forced conversion Muslims attempted to bring Islamic belief into Christian contexts through The Lead Books of Sacromonte. The aim of the Sacromonte forgeries was to establish a common historical origin for Spanish Christians and Arabs and to present a vision of Christianity as close to Islam in which no mention was made of the Holy Trinity, the divine nature of Christ or the worship of images. This may have also been seen as a secret adherence to Islam camouflaged by a thin veneer of Christianity. While one perspective offers a way for Muslims to genuinely bring together old and new practices the opposing view suggests the term crypto-Muslim and an attempt to remain devout and unwavering Muslims in secret.

Maintaining Religious Loyalty

Quran

Within passages of the Quran it can be interpreted that believers of Islam can hide their faith as a means of protection from non-believers in an outward gesture but to not inwardly except anything other than Allah. The passages from the Quran are from Surah number three: " 28. Let not the believers take the un-believers for friends rather than believers; and whoever does this, he shall have nothing of (the guardianship of) Allah, but you should guard yourselves against them, guarding carefully: and Allah makes you cautious of (retribution from) Himself: and to Allah is the eventual coming. 29.Say: Whether you hide what is in your hearts or manifest it, Allah knows it, and He knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and Allah has power over all things." Cases in which an outward expression of a faith other that Islam was acceptable were ones which threatened safety of life, limb and property.

Taqiyya

A literal translation of Taqiyya from Arabic to English means caution. It is used as a technical term in Islamic law which allows dissimulation. It is a type of legal dispensation which allows the Muslim believer to deny his or her faith or commit otherwise illegal or blasphemous acts when in danger of losing life, limb, or property. In general terms, the concept of taqiyya provides allowances for Muslims to conceal and thus guard their true beliefs when under threat of physical harm.