Almuhtada.org – Zindiq is a person who has lost his faith or an apostate. Zindiq is from Persian language, zandiq, which means someone who has drifted away from the teachings of Zoroaster, an ancient Persian religion.
At first, used to mentioned as a follower of the Manichaean or Manichaean religion in the Sasanid Empire (224-651).
In the context of Islam, the term zindiq came into use in the 8th century, during the Abbasid Empire, and also have a lot of meanings. Here is the history about Zindiq.
History of Sindiq in Islam religion
During the Abbasid Empire, Zindiq used to mentioned as people who mix various religious teachings.
Narrowly, the word is also applied to people who claim to be Muslim, but are disbelievers on the inside.
The arrival of Islam in the Persian lands did not erase the Persian civilization that had lasted for hundreds of years.
Before Islam came, the people of Persia followed the Zoroastrian religion. This condition makes Persians who convert to Islam focus more on tasawwuf and (slightly) neglect fiqh.
In its evolution, zindiq is also used to mention people who make changes in the meaning of the Quranic texts and hadith, according to their own wishes.
Such deviations in their meanings would certainly destroy the purity of the teachings of Islam.
Accusing someone of being a zindiq is a serious accusation and can endanger lives.
The Abbasid khalifahs firmly did not tolerate such deviations because zindiq were seen as a threat to Islam, Muslim society and the state.
The third Abbasid Khalifah Al-Mahdi, for example, hunted down and executed many zindiq.
Similar policies slowly disappeared during the time of Khalifah Harun Al-Rashid (786-803).
Over time, Muslim theologians usually consider a zindiq to be a Muslim who denies the Quran and hadith, and is therefore often referred to as a disbeliever or apostate.
Today, the word zindiq sometimes also refers to members of sects and cults within Islam. [Fahdina Dean Yustisia]
