Tasabbuh: Trying To Resemble

Tashabbuh is resembling a person in his physical look, living style, character, quality or habits, or imitating another person to look like him.

Rasulullah (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said: ‘‘Whoever resembles a community (nation), he is one of them’’. Therefore, a person who resembles a group of people is regarded as one of them, because his efforts to imitate them indicates that he loves them and approves what they do, how they live, agree with their opinions and he cares for them. He is happy with them.

Rasulullah (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said: ‘‘When a person is pleased with the life-style and his action, he is like him.’’

The notable scholars and sages such as Harith bin Asad Al-Muhasibi, Abu Muhammad Sahl bin Abdullah Tustari, Abu Ali Rudbari, and Abul Qasim Qushayri stated: ‘‘Muhabbah (love) is following the beloved in every way. When a person loves another, he loves the next with his/her moral values, ideas, actions and qualities. Love causes the lover to get the habits of the beloved. The more he emulates his/her habits the more he looks like him/her.’’ Whoever loves and admires a people, will be together with them here and hereafter. Rasulullah (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said ‘‘Whoever loves and befriends a people, Allah Ta’ala raises him that day among them.”

(Husn Al-Tanabbuh Lima Warada fi Al-Tashabbuh, Najmuddin Al-Ghazzi Ash-Shafii’)