What is the ruling on Al-Qaza‘? And is it forbidden for me and for the barber to request it?

Al-Qaza' (shaving parts of the head and leaving other parts unshaven) is disliked (makrooh), and it may become forbidden (haram) if it involves imitation of the disbelievers, due to the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "Whoever imitates a people is one of them."