7 minutes to read When to IMITATE and when NOT to imitateNon-muslims:: The prophet clearly stated that it is forbidden to blindly imitate non-Muslims. In one hadeeth, he over emphasized how blindly some Muslims will imitate no matter how hard it may be. The prophet (S.A.W.) said, You will surely follow the ways, steps, or traditions of those who came before you, span by span and yard by yard (very closely) even if they entered into a lizards hole you will enter it. The companions asked, O prophet, you mean the Jews and Christians? He replied, Who else!? [Reported by Imaam Bukhaari] In another hadeeth, he clearly prohibited imitation stating, If one imitates another nation or people, he will be from them. [Reported by Imaam Abu-Daawud] is from the beauty of our deen and its divine design from Allaah (S.W.T.) that our deen allows us to imitate non-Muslims in many ways and to take part in other areas like food, dress and the general lifestyle of non-Muslims. This is important because our deen does not limit us from imitating to the point that our lives become severely restricted. As long as we are careful from doing anything which is clearly forbidden in Islaam or are doing something that is clearly only a non-Muslim practice, then taking part in most activities is totally halal. For example, it is forbidden to imitate by wearing the same clothing priests wear or the turban like members of the Sikh sect. There is plenty of evidence supporting this, for example: 1. During the time of the Prophet, anyone seen wearing red clothing were considered non-Muslims. When the Prophet spotted one of the companions wearing two pure red garments, he quickly told him, These are the clothes of the kufar and you must not wear them again. [Reported by Imaam Muslim] Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) had prohibited him from dressing in two pure red garments because these garments distinguished people as non-Muslims at that time. The prophet forbade Muslims from wearing any clothing that were strictly identified as clothing only a non-Muslim would wear. 2. However, this does not mean that the Prophet did not wear the same types of clothing that non-Muslims wore; in fact, he wore the same type of clothing as most of the people in the non-Muslim society that he lived in. He preferred to wear Omani and Yemeni clothing, made and worn by non-Muslims, mainly Christians. What made it halal for him to wear this clothing was that both the Muslims and non-Muslims wore this clothing, and since he (S.A.W.) had no intention of imitating the non-Muslims, then his clothing choices were permissible. He was careful from wearing clothing that specifically only non-Muslims wore. In fact, he preferred to wear a type of material called ‘Hibara’ made of cotton or linen, and even died wearing this type of clothing as his wife Aisha (R.A.) recalled, He died in two Yemeni dresses. [Reported by Imaam Muslim and others] According to the Prophet, the best way to dress is to wear whatever is available, most practical, comfortable, and cost effective. 1 Typically, much of the clothing that is worn by non-Muslims is halaal for Muslims to wear as well; however, if your intention is to imitate non-Muslims or you are dressing in a certain way just to fit in with a certain group, then this is prohibited. Your actions are judged by your intentions. If for example, you like what some non-Muslims are wearing and you want to wear a particular outfit or style, then it is okay if there is no Islamic evidence that prohibits it, and as long as you have no intention of imitating them. And Allaah (S.W.T.) is the only One who knows your true intentions. Islaam’s teachings have remained the same over the centuries, yet have adapted very well to constantly changing societies. Its teachings encourage us to take whatever is good and to leave whatever is bad, from Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Islaam does not frown upon the growth of our intellect, rather it teaches us to continuously strive for knowledge, even if that means taking ideas from other cultures and people. I ask Allaah (S.W.T.) to make us among those who listen to this speech and benefit from its message. Aameen.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 23:35:37 +0000
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