al-Idah wa al-Tabyin lima waqa'a fihi al-aktharun min mushabahat al-mushrikin
- Author died
- 1413 AH
- Editions
- al-Idah wa al-Tabyin lima waqa'a fihi al-aktharun min mushabahat al-mushrikin
al-Idah wa al-Tabyin lima waqa'a fihi al-aktharun min mushabahat al-mushrikin (Clarification and Explanation of What the Majority Have Fallen into Regarding Imitation of the Polytheists) is a treatise by the Saudi Hanbali scholar Hammud ibn Abdullah al-Tuwayjiri (d. 1413 AH / 1992 CE) dedicated to expounding the Islamic prohibition against imitating non-Muslims in their religious rites, customs, dress, and behaviors .
Background and Methodology
The work was composed to address the widespread adoption by Muslims of customs and practices originating from non-Muslim groups, including Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, and polytheists . Al-Tuwayjiri structured his arguments around textual evidence from the Quran, prophetic hadiths warning that later generations of the Muslim community would follow the ways of preceding nations step by step, and rulings and statements transmitted from early Islamic scholars (al-Salaf al-Salih) . The book highlights the legal rationales and harms of outward imitation, warning that following foreign models leads to the neglect of prophetic Sunnahs and the obscuring of religious principles .
Contents and Topics
Al-Tuwayjiri examines a wide range of religious, social, and cultural practices that he characterizes as unlawful imitation:
- Religious practices and holidays: He addresses novel celebrations, arguing that commemorating the Prophet's birthday (Mawlid) represents an imitation of Christian celebrations of Christmas .
- Appearance and clothing: The author prohibits shaving portions of the head while leaving others (qaza'), shaving the beard, wearing Western-style brimmed hats (burnaytah or qabba'ah), and wearing European suits and trousers (sutrah and bantalun) .
- Social habits and mannerisms: He criticizes the practice of clapping hands (tasfiq) in gatherings, upon hearing speeches or poems, or when receiving dignitaries and rulers, citing Quranic and exegetical descriptions of pre-Islamic polytheists . He also treats non-traditional naming styles that drop the word ibn (e.g., naming someone "Ahmad Muhammad Hasan" rather than "Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hasan") as foreign adoption .
- Recreation and transactions: He criticizes modern team sports such as football when played in imitation of Western practices , and discusses commercial dealings such as banking interest and fee-taking in bills of exchange (suftajah) .
Reception, Editions, and Abridgments
The book received scholarly praise in an introductory endorsement written after hearing the text read entirely by al-Tuwayjiri, describing it as an unprecedented compilation in its specific genre for its clear exposition, detailed evidentiary backing, and legal deductions .
The work was first published in 1380 AH / 1960–1961 CE (running 254 pages; another citation notes an edition printed in 1384 AH) . A second edition of 290 pages was issued in Riyadh by Maktabat al-Ubaykan in 1405 AH / 1984–1985 CE .
The book was abridged by the Saudi scholar Abdullah ibn Jar Allah al-Jar Allah under the title Mukhtasar al-Idah wa al-Tabyin lima waqa'a fihi al-aktharun min mushabahat al-mushrikin .
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