Imitating Disbelievers
Dear brothers, I advise you, as well as myself, to fear Allaah in times of prosperity and misfortune, in secret and in public, Allah said: "O mankind! Worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous." (Al Baqarah: 21). O people! When a person meditates upon the histories of past nations and populations, he will be instantly amazed at the revolutions and transformations they went through. For instance, there was a pioneering nation (i.e., the Muslim nation) which led the world for many centuries but then, it faltered and lost its leading role; it fell in the midst of blind imitation and followed the paths of other nations in terms of manners and beliefs.
O Muslims! The Prophet (pbuh) said: "You will imitate the nations before you very closely to the extent that if they went into a lizard's hole, you would enter it as well" his companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, inquired: "(Do you mean) the Jews and Christians, O Messenger of Allaah?" He (pbuh) replied: "Who else?" (Bukhaari & Muslim). The Prophet (pbuh) also said: "The Day of Judgment will not come until my Nation closely imitates the nations before them." It was asked: "Like the Persians and Romans, Messenger of Allaah?" He (pbuh) replied: "Who are the nations (I could mean) except those?" (Bukhaari).
The Prophet (pbuh) foretold that some of his nation will imitate the People of the Book, namely the Jews and Christians, as well as other non-Arabs, namely the Persians and Romans. Allaah says that which means: "[You disbelievers are] like those before you; they were stronger than you in power and more abundant in wealth and children. They enjoyed their portion [of worldly enjoyment], and you have enjoyed your portion as those before you enjoyed their portion, and you have engaged [in vanities] like that in which they engaged..." (At-Tawbah: 69).
O servants of Allaah! The Prophet (pbuh) used to prohibit imitating other nations. It is worth mentioning that these traditions do not indicate that the entire Muslim nation will commit this sin as he (pbuh) also foretold that a group of his nation will continue to stick to the Straight Path until the Day of Judgment.
The Muslims constitute the most guided and well-mannered nation in this life; and on the Day of Judgment Allaah will make them witnesses over all other nations as He says that which means: "And thus We have made you a median [i.e., just] community that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you..." (Al-Baqarah: 143). Indeed, this is a very prestigious position. How is it, then, that Muslims imitate others in their customs, traditions and feasts? The Prophet (pbuh) even forbade the Muslims from acquiring religious information from the People of the Book; once, ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allaah be pleased with him, was reading some parts of one of the scriptures of the People of the Book to the Prophet (pbuh), so he got angry and said: "I have conveyed to you a clear religion. Do not ask them (the People of the Book) about anything, for they may tell you the truth while you belie them or they may lie and you might believe them. I swear by Him in Whose Hands is my soul, if Moosaa was alive, he would not have any choice but to follow me." (Ahmad & Ibn Abi Shaybah). The Prophet (pbuh) spoke the truth when he said: "Whoever imitates a people is one of them." (Ahmad & Abu Dawood) .Shaykh Al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy on him, said: "We have seen that the degree of polytheism is less in those Jews and Christians who reside with Muslims, and that the degree of faith in the Muslims who have dealt extensively with the Jews and Christians is lesser than that of the pious Muslims."
The weak and ignorant Muslims, who try to remodel the principles of our nation through imitation, should know that even though such temporal morals may ruin some of the deeply rooted ones, they will never remain or become innate. If some people believe that our nation must change its ways for development, then let it be known that our resorting to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Prophet (pbuh) is the best means for change. Allaah says that which means: "...Indeed, Allaah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allaah intends for a people ill, there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any patron." (Ar-Ra`d: 11). If we embrace the means to be powerful, stick to deep-rooted principles such as strong will, piety, courage and Islaamic zeal and adhere to our distinctive code of life which indicates that we are religious and ethical people, what harm would we get from it? Are these not the true Islamic morals? Are there any other solid foundations for progress besides them? Allaah says that which means: "[And say, ‘Ours is] the religion of Allaah. And who is better than Allaah in [ordaining] religion? And we are worshippers of Him'" (Al-Baqarah: 138) and also: "[Say], ‘Then is it other than Allaah I should seek as judge while it is He who has revealed to you the Book [i.e., the Qur'aan] explained in detail?'..." (Al-An'aam: 114)
Another form of imitation is the type of the women dress. Here, the question arises regarding "What clothes should be worn according to shareeah"?
The conditions required to fulfill in the dress of a Muslim woman:
- The dress must cover her body completely from the top to the bottom, except her face and hands.
- The dress must be opaque or non-transparent so that nothing shows through from underneath it.
- The dress must be wide enough so that it does not outline the body of the woman and does not profile her body parts. The design must not consist of bold designs nor has perfumes which attract attention. Clothing should not be worn for the sole purpose of gaining reputation or increasing one's status in society.
- The women should not imitate the men's dress
Then fear Allah, Allaah says that which means: "And never will the Jews and the Christians approve of you until you follow their religion. Say: ‘Indeed, the guidance of Allaah is the [only] guidance.' If you were to follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, you would have against Allaah no protector or helper." (Al-Baqarah: 120). He also says that which means: "They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike..." (An-Nisaa': 89).
I said this and ask Allah to forgive you and I .
