The Origin of “Heresy”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The term “heresy” is from Greek “heiretikos”.  It originally meant “choice”, or “thing chosen”.  It later came to mean the “party or school of a man’s choice”, and also referred to that process whereby a young person would examine various philosophies to determine how to live.  The word “heresy” is usually used within a Christian, Jewish, or Islamic context. 

The founder or leader of a heretical movement is known as a heresiarch, while individuals espousing or committing heresy are known as heretics.  Heresiology is the study of heresy.  In Islam, a heretic is a zindiq.  In shari’ah, within the context of an Islamic state, a zindiq may be killed for waging war against the state. 

In modern Iran, Baha’ism, a syncretic faith of Islam and Zoroastrianism, is considered a heresy.  In medieval India, Sikhism, a syncretic faith of Islam and Hinduism, was once considered a heressy.  In the history of Islam, the Khwarij, elements of the Mu’tazilah, elements of Isma’ili Shi’ah, the Qaramatiyyah, the Qadariyyah, the Jabariyyah, the Qadiyani, and the Wahhabiyyah, amongst others have been considered heresies.  Heresy was also used as a weapon in political and religious feuds.  Shaykh Muhyi ad-Din Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn ‘Arabi (q.s.), and Imam al-Mugits Husayn ibn Manswur al-Hallaj (q.s.), are among many falsely accused of heresy.