STOP IMITATING THE DISBELIEVERS, BEWARE OF THE TRAPS OF THE ENEMIES OF ALLAH SWT Despite the fact that he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam told us that his nation would imitate the errors of the disbelievers, he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also stated that a group of his nation will firmly adhere to the truth until the Hour comes. He sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also said that Allaah would make it such that the Muslim nation would not unanimously agree on falsehood. Also, he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam assured us that Allaah frequently raises certain persons for the sake of His religion whom He uses and appoints for obeying Him. As a result, it becomes clear from the authentic Ahadeeth of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam that there will be a group of people who follow and adhere to his guidance, the religion of Islaam. On the other hand, some Muslims will deviate to the doctrines of the religion of the Jews or that of the Christians. Such deviation is made alluring by Satan. That is why a servant of Allaah is commanded to ask Allaah to guide him to the straight path, which is far away from Christianity and Judaism. O servants of Allaah! The wisdom behind the prohibition of imitating the disbelievers and commanding us differ from them is so clear. This is because imitating them outwardly leads to imitating them inwardly which in turn results in resembling them in their morals and actions. However, being different from them outwardly leads to differing from them inwardly, which in turn leads to being so completely distinct from them that one is rescued from the causes of Allaah’s wrath. Being distinguished also saves one from going astray and leads to being directed to the way of guidance and Allaah’s pleasure. O Muslims! Today many Muslims, both men and women, imitate the disbelievers in their manners of speaking, dressing, appearance and in so many other areas that time does not allow me to enumerate them. Among these aspects is the shaving of beards and growing moustaches. Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, commanded trimming the moustache and allowing the beard to grow in a generous manner, thus being distinct from the disbelievers who shave their beards and grow their moustaches. We must know that clipping the moustache and growing the beard are among the characteristics of Fitrah, or human-nature and from the guidance of the Prophets, peace be upon them all. It is a symbol of being distinct from the enemies of Allaah and His Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. This is because clipping the moustache brings about cleanliness, keeping it away from the phlegm of the nose and because when it becomes long and hangs over the lip; it becomes immersed in food and drinks in a disgusting manner. I stress again that growing the moustache long distorts one’s appearance, despite the fact that some people may approve of it. Wearing the beard is a symbol of a man’s handsomeness and dignity. Therefore, when he becomes old his attraction remains due to the existence of the hair of his beard. In contrast, the one who disobeys Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam by shaving it will have a distorted face devoid of any beauty when he becomes old. The habituation and blind imitation of these people lead them to misjudging a bad thing as good and vice versa. What we say to those people, may Allaah guide us and them, is: You must repent and return to the truth, for returning to the truth is far better than continuing with falsehood. The Sunnah of Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam has become clear to you and you have been commanded to obey and follow in his footsteps. Allaah says that which means: “There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allaah an excellent example.” (Al-Ahzaab: 21).Therefore you have to adhere to his Sunnah and not to change it, despite the great number of Muslims who neglect it. The disbelievers are also imitated in certain acts of worship, such as building up the areas around graves and making them places of visitation and worship. Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “May Allaah’s curse be on the Jews and the Christians, for they build places of worship at the graves of their Prophets.” He sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also said: “If any righteous man dies amongst them, they would build a place of worship at his grave and make pictures of him to place therein; they are the worst creatures in the sight of Allaah.” These sayings of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam reveal that exaggeration with regard to graves leads to the gravest shirk, or polytheism, which is obvious to everybody. All this is owing to imitating the Jews and the Christians. Other forms of imitation are celebrating polytheistic and innovated days such as the Prophet’s birthday and those of presidents and kings. Celebrating these occasions may be for one day or a week such as National Day, Mother’s Day, Cleanliness Week and so on. All these celebrations came to the Muslims from the disbelievers. In Islaam, there are only two days of feasts: the Day of Fitr, or ending the fast of Ramadhaan, and the Day of Adhaa, or sacrifice. Celebrating any day other than these two is bid`ah, or an innovation in the religion, and imitation of the disbelievers. Muslims should be mindful of this and not be lured by the great number Muslims participating in these sinful events. Such people either do not know the ruling of Islaam concerning it and celebrate these days due to ignorance, or know the ruling of Islaam and celebrate them despite that. The sin of the latter class is of course, much greater. I seek refuge with Allaah from the outcast Satan. Allaah says that which means: “There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allaah an excellent example for anyone whose hope is in Allaah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allaah often.” (Al Ahzaab: 21). --Khateeb Saalih Al-Fawzaan
Posted on: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 23:43:05 +0000
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