Tassabuh Bil Kuffaar

[Ihsaan]

Tassabuh Bil Kuffaar

The Warning of Faarouq-e-Aazam (r.a) in respect of the dangers and harm of imitation

Hazrat Umar (r.a) during his reign of Khilaafat when the circle of Islamic conquests increase,when the empires of Rome and Persia,the then superpowers collapsed,was assailed by concern and deep meditation on the imminent dangers of the multi national structure of the Islamic empire.His fear was,the effect of intermingling and the ramifications of the cross pollinating,the implications of social intercourse on the Islamic identity,on the salient features by which Muslims are recognised. In order to neutralise even the remote possibility of such an occurrence,he emphasised abstention from Tashabbuh with them.They were not to imitate the dressing,apprarance and conduct of the kuffaar while on the other hand the kuffaar were issued the commande to maintain their own culture,their own code of dress,social customs and character and not to imitate those of the Muslims so that there is no possibility of intermingling and interspersing of identities and cultures . This then was the door bring closed on assimilation and imitation .

THE STAEMENT OF FAROUQ-E`AAZAM ADRESSED TO MUSLIMS

Imaam Bukrari { Rahmatullahi Ala`y } has reported that Hadhrat Umar {R.A}penned the following letter to the Muslim inhabitants of persia:

O Muslims! Stay far away from the dress and appearence of the ahl-e-ushrik, the idol warshippers.'

Iqdidha-e-swiratal Mustaqeem Pg,60



In another narration it is related in this manner,

After praising Allah and his Rassoul{S.A.W} O Muslims! Maintain the use of the Izaar and Chaadar, wear shoes and hold fast to the dress code of your forefather Hadhat Ismail{A.S},(the lungi and Chaadar, the two sheets of close to cover the upprer and lower body). Abstain from luxury and extravagance, protect yourselves from adopting the dress code, the apperence and form of the Ajamies, the non arabs. Let it not be that you resort to donning the clothing of the grandson of Hadhrat Ismail(A.S).

Ma`ad bin Adnaan. Dress in coarse and heavy clothing, for this is conducive to maintaining humility and is the dress of the humble.

It is recorded in the Musnad Ahmad (r) that Abu Uthman Nahdi relates, `We were in Azerbaijan when the letter of Faarouq-e `Azam (r.a) reached the Amir of the Army,Utbah bin Farqad to whom it was addressed:

`O Utbah bin Farqad ! it is incumbent upon you all to abstain from adopting the dressing and appearance of the Kuffaar and Mushrikeen . Abstain also from dressing in silk garments .`

THE STATEMENT OF FAROUK-E-` AAZAM ADDRESSED TO THE KAAFIRS.

The statement of farouk-e-`aazam {R.A} which was made after the promise and admission made by the kuffaar of sham, as the conditions which were implemented throughout the entire khilaafat and on the basis of which the life, wealth, respect and honour of the christians was guaranteed under muslim rule: 'We the christians of sham seek protection of our lives, our wealth, our wives and families as well as our religion from the Amir-ul- Mu`mineen Farouk-e-Aazam and bind ourselves to the undermentioned condition:

1)We will respest and honour the Muslims.

(2) If the Muslims desire to sit in our gatherings we will allow them to sit therein.

(3)We will not imitate or resort to Tashabbuh with the Muslims in any matters whatsover, be it dressing, be it headgear, turban, shoes or even the parting of the hair.

(4) We will not adopt their names and language.

(5) We will not resort to naming our children with the names and pet names of The Sanad or chain of narrators is solid and firmly established.

6)We will not ride horses.

(7)We will not carry sword.

(8) We will not manufacture any type of arms and amunition nor will we carry such.

(10)We will not embosse the arabic script on our stamps.

(11)We will cut the hair of our forelokes.

(12) Wherever we live we will maintain own dress code and apperance.

(13) We will not preach and distribute our religions books on the steets and marketplace.

(14) We will resort to sounding our conches and bells very softly .

(15) We will not raise our voices when addressing our males .

(16) W4e will not carry fire together with our males . ( This refers to the fire worshippers )

The sanad or chain of narattors is solid and firmly estsblished .

Abdur Rahman bin Ghanam Ash`ari reports that the conditions agreed upon between Faarouq-eAazam (r.a) and the Christians of Sham were recorded . ( in which apart from the above mentioned conditions the following were also found )

(17) We will build no new churches in our localities .

(18) Those churches that fall into a state of disrepair will not be renewed .

(19) The portion of land reserved for the Muslims will not be occupied by us .

(20) We will not prevent any Muslims from entering our churches at any given time , be it day or night .

(21) We will entertain Muslim visitors and guest for three days .

(22) We will not afford respite or shelter either in our homes or churches to these who spy on the Muslims

(23) We will not hide any malice or rancour against the Muslims .

(24) We will not have our children tutored with respect to the Qur`an .

(25) We will not openly practice and announce any custom relative to shirk .

(26) We will not propagate shirk .

(27) We will not prevent any relatives from entering the fold of Islaam .

Abdur Rahmaan Ibn-e-Ghanam states ,

`After I penned these conditional clauses and handed them over to Farouq-e`Aazam (r.a) for perusal , he instructed me to add these lines as well .`

(28) Wev will not hit or beat any muslim i.e we will not cause any form of inconvenience to any Muslims .

We have on the acceptance clauses secured the protection of ourselves and our religion cohorts . If we act contrary to any of the cinditions mentioned , our promise and protection will be nulklified and the treatment to be meted out to the enemies of Islaam , we will deem fit to be meted out to us .

Tafseer Ibn Katheer