Among the punitive examples are:
-
“So take heed, O people of insight.” (al-Hashr 59:2)
-
and His words, “Indeed, in their stories there is a lesson for those endowed with intellect.” (Yūsuf 12:111)
-
and other verses of the same tenor. Some of them state our point outright, while others hint at it and complete its meaning.
If the purpose is simply to show that differing from them in most of their affairs is better for us, then every one of these verses proves that. But if the purpose is to establish that differing from them is obligatory, only some of the verses point to that, not all. We have quoted what shows that differing from them is legislated in principle, for that is what concerns us here.
As for distinguishing the texts that denote obligation—or the actions that are themselves obligatory—from those that do not, and separating the obligatory from what is otherwise, that is not our present aim.
We shall, Allah willing, demonstrate that resembling them in their festivals is among the prohibited matters, for that is the very issue under discussion; the other topics were introduced only to lay down the broad, highly beneficial principle.
Allah, Mighty and Exalted, has said: