Husn al-Tanabbuh lima warada fi al-Tashabbuh
- Author died
- 1061 AH
- Editions
- Dar al-Nawadir
Husn al-Tanabbuh lima warada fi al-Tashabbuh (The Fine Awakening to What Has Been Transmitted Regarding Imitation) is an extensive encyclopedic work on religious and moral imitation (tashabbuh) by the Damascene Shafi'i scholar Najm al-Din al-Ghazzi (977–1061 AH / 1570–1651 CE). The work synthesizes Quranic exegesis, Hadith, Shafi'i jurisprudence, ethical guidance, and homiletics to delineate who Muslims are commanded to emulate and who they are prohibited from imitating.
Title and Composition
The author explicitly titled the book Husn al-Tanabbuh lima warada fi al-Tashabbuh in his own handwriting on the original manuscript volumes and in his introduction. Several biographical authors cited the work under slightly modified or shortened titles: Abu al-Mawahib al-Hanbali in his Mashyakha and al-Muhibbi in Khulasat al-Athar recorded it as Husn al-Tanbih fi al-Tashbih; Shams al-Din al-Ghazzi referenced it in Diwan al-Islam as Husn al-Tanbih fima warada fi al-Tashbih; and Mustafa al-Hamawi cited it in Fawa'id al-Irtihal as al-Tanbih fi al-Tashbih.
Al-Ghazzi spent nearly forty years researching, refining, expanding, and composing the encyclopedia.
Structure and Content
The work opens with an introductory section outlining its scope and legal principles, including an examination of nine apparent divine wisdoms behind the historical appearance of the Muslim community after earlier nations. The core text is divided into two primary parts:
-
Part One: Commanded Emulation (al-Tashabbuh bi-man warada al-amr bi-al-tashabbuh bihim): Arranged in an ascending spiritual hierarchy inspired by وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُولَئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَئِكَ رَفِيقًا ("And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger - those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions" [al-Nisa': 69]). It comprises six successive chapters detailing emulation of:
- The Angels (al-Mala'ika).
- The virtuous among mankind (al-akhyar min bani Adam).
- The righteous (al-Salihin).
- The martyrs (al-Shuhada').
- The truthful affirmers of faith (al-Siddiqin).
- The Prophets (al-Nabiyyin), culminating in an extensive chapter on the character and noble traits of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
-
Part Two: Prohibited Imitation (al-Nahy 'an al-tashabbuh bi-man warada al-nahy 'an al-tashabbuh bihim): Focuses on blameworthy traits, sinful behaviors, and prohibited practices, divided into three broad categories:
- The prohibition of imitating Satan (al-Shaytan).
- The prohibition of imitating disbelievers (al-Kuffar), such as past destroyed nations (e.g., the peoples of Nuh, 'Ad, Thamud, and Pharaoh), the People of the Book, non-Arabs, and the pre-Islamic Jahiliyya.
- The prohibition of imitating transgressors (al-Fasaqa), addressing both doctrinal innovators (mubtadi'a) and other open sinners. This part also includes discussions prohibiting the imitation of beasts, predatory animals, birds, and pests.
The book concludes with a comprehensive chapter on repentance and turning back to God (al-Tawba wa-al-Inaba).
Methodology and Style
Al-Ghazzi supports his discussions with extensive citations of Quranic verses, prophetic traditions, and reports from the early generations (athar). He incorporates classical Quranic commentaries, explains rare and difficult terms (gharib) found in scripture, addresses practical legal questions and fatwas, and enriches the prose with verses of his own poetry.
Publication
The work was edited from primary manuscript copies—including those preserved in the Zahiriyya Library in Damascus and the Süleymaniye Library in Istanbul—by a team of researchers under the supervision of Nur al-Din Talib, and published in twelve volumes by Dar al-Nawadir in 1432 AH / 2011 CE.
Answer updated