Taghut

The term 'Taghut' appears in 8 places in the Koran:
Sura 2 Baqara Verse 256
Sura 2 Baqara Verse 257
Sura 4 Nisa Verse 54
Sura 4 Nisa Verse 60
Sura 4 Nisa Verse 76
Sura 5 Maidah Verse 60
Sura 16 Nahl Verse 36
Sura 39 Zumar Verse 17

The meaning of Taghut in the linguistic sense: Taghut comes from the verb Tagha, which means "He has crossed his borders".

Wahidi says: „All language scholars say that Taghut is everything worshipped besides Allah. Be it something in singular, plural or male or female.“ [Majmuatu't-Tauhid, p. 171]

Imam Nawawi (rha) said: '' Layth, Abu Ubayda and Al-Kasai said that Taghut is everything worshipped besides Allah.“ [Sharh Sahih Muslim, Volume 3, p.18]

The meaning of Taghut in the Sharia:

Ibn Jarir at-Tabari (rha) said: '“For me, the best meaning that can be given to the term Taghut is this: He who crosses his borders towards Allah and is worshipped next to Allah, either by force or by voluntary obedience. The worshipped can be a man, Satan, an idol or something else.“ [Tafsir at-Tabari, Volume 3, p.21]

Imam Qurtubi (rha) said: ''Taghut are fortune tellers, satans and guides of the wrong path.“ [Tafsir Qurtubi, Volume 3, p. 282]

Imam Mujahid (rha) said: '' Taghut is a human Satan with whom one is judged.“ [Tafsir Mujahid, Tahkik: Abdurrahman as-Surati, Volume 1, S.161]

Ibn Kathir (rha) said: “Umar ibn Khattab (ra) has defined the Taghut as Satan. This is a very strong view, because it covers all the bad of the people of Jahiliyya, like: The worship of idols to be judged by them and to demand help from them.“ [Tafsir ibn Kathir to the verse Baqara, 256]

Oh you, who thinks you are Muslim! Know that mere lip service or encouragement, without actually having knowledge of it, has no acceptance at Allah. For He (swt) requires us to confirm Him with knowledge and to negate the idols (Tawaghit) with knowledge as well.

Allah says: „So know (O Muhammad) that there is no God but Allah“ [Sura Muhammad 47 Verse 19]

Knowingly denying the false gods (La ilahe) and knowingly confirming the one ALLAH (illa Allah) plays a priority role in Islam, since ALLAH (swt) obliges us, before believing in Him, to reject the Taghut, as a condition.

Allah, who is exalted says: There is no compulsion in Faith. The correct way has become distinct from the erroneous. Now, whoever rejects the Taghut (the Rebel, the Satan) and believes in Allah has a firm grasp on the strongest ring that never breaks. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (256) [Sura 2 Verse 256]

And also the ask that we always ask ALLAH (swt) in the Surah Al-Fatiha to lead us on the straight path, which is undoubtedly the way of the prophets and messengers, also leads back to the denial of the Taghut and the unification of ALLAH.

So says the exalted one: We did raise a messenger among every people, with the message: “Worship Allah and stay away from the Rebel (the Satan).” [Sura An-Nahl 16 Verse 36]

Oh you, who thinks he's Muslim! Know that not knowing the foundations of Islam, such as the unification of ALLLAH (swt) and the dawah of prophets and messengers, means untruthfulness and dishonesty towards ALLLAH (swt).

Oh you, who thinks he's Muslim! So be honest to yourself and to Allah and see that your lack of knowledge of the Word of Allah and his denial - that is, the condition that Allah commanded us Muslims before believing in Him - did not make you understand La ilahe illa Allah or the reason for the coming of the prophets and messengers.

Oh you, who thinks he's Muslim! Think deeply about the following sentence:
The denial of the Taghut was imposed on us Muslims as a condition to realize our faith in ALLAH (swt). He who does not know the Taghut has never rejected it and consequently has never realized his faith in ALLAH (swt)...''

http://kalifat.org/the-taghut_d1069.html