In Islamic jurisprudence, resemblance (Arabic: مُشَابَهَة) refers to the principle that Muslims should avoid imitating the blameworthy practices of non-Muslims or other groups.Ibn Manzur, Lisan al-Arab, entry: شبه, vol. 7, p. 12, Dar Sadir, Beirut.Al-Zabidi, Taj al-‘Urus min Jawahir al-Qamus, entry: شبه, vol. 21, p. 15, Dar al-Hidayah.Al-Raghib al-Isfahani, Al-Mufradat fi Gharib al-Quran, entry: شبه.Shah Waliullah Dehlawi, Hujjat Allah al-Balighah, 2/476.Al-Qurtubi, Al-Jami’ li-Ahkam al-Qur’an, 2/27.
Categories According to Shafi‘i, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ibn al-Madini, Abu Dawud and al-Daraqutni, human actions and so resemblance are classified into three types:Ibn Rajab, Jami’ al-‘Ulum wa al-Hikam, 1/256.Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Fath al-Bari, 10/272.
Natural (intrinsic/innate acts), such as eating, drinking, sleeping, resemblance does not apply to these.
Customary acts, such as eating habits or clothing, resemblance in these may be prohibited.
Voluntary acts, such as marriage or sources of livelihood, resemblance can also apply to these.
Rulings According to a hadith (Sunan Abi Dawud 4031), "" — "Whoever imitates a people is one of them."Sunan Abi Dawud, Kitab al-Libas, Hadith 4031.Imitating non-Muslims in religious matters, beliefs, or essential religious practices can lead to disbelief, such as worshipping idols or celestial bodies, disrespecting a prophet, the Holy Quran or the Holy Kabah, or belittling a Sunnah. Some acts are considered signs of disbelief, such as wearing a zunnar (belt), a specific hat or marking the forehead like non-Muslims. Those who commit these acts are considered disbelievers, and they must reconvert to Islam and renew their marriage contracts.Maulana Amjad Ali Azmi, Bahar-e-Shariat, Shabir Brothers, Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, 1996, 1:66. Such acts, whether wearing a belt or a specific hat, are considered disbelief.Imam Ahmed Raza Khan, Fatawa Razawiyya, Reza Foundation Lahore, 1423H / 2003, 24:548-50. Placing a specific hat on the head and saying "the heart should be upright" is also disbelief as it involves denial of the apparent rulings of Sharia.ibid., 24:549. Insulting religious scholars without reason is also disbelief, such as seating a scholar on a pulpit and mocking or striking with a pillow.Maulana Amjad Ali Azmi, Bahar-e-Shariat, 1:726. Imitating or mocking scholars with the intention of disrespecting the inheritors of prophets constitutes disbelief, and if a person contemptuously calls a scholar “Awalim” or “Alavi,” they become a disbeliever.Imam Ahmed Raza Khan, Fatawa Razawiyya, 14:269.ibid., 15:163.Allama Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadri Razavi, Questions and Answers on Kufriya Kalimat, Maktaba-tul-Madina, Karachi, p.21.
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