Imitating the disbelievers in what is specific to them
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Fatwa number ( 19857 )
Q: A phenomenon has spread among some of the youth of attaching themselves to the flags and emblems of some non-Muslim countries. We see them rushing to buy and possess them, and printing them on shirts, pants, belts, glasses, hats, shoes, rulers, and pens, as well as on rings and watches. They use them as covers for car seats and stickers on the windows, and some of them buy the flag in its entirety and spread it on the front or rear of the car. What is the ruling on selling, buying, possessing, and hanging these flags?
A: Among the objectives of the pure Islamic Shari'ah is that the Muslim be distinguished from all disbelievers and wrongdoers, in his belief, morals, behavior, and thought, and even in his appearance and language. This includes severing all ties of love, loyalty, and support for every disbeliever in Allah and His Messenger. The evidence for this has multiplied
in the form of explicit texts and derived proofs, confirming this Islamic principle and warning against violating it or being lenient with it through imitation and resembling those who do not believe in Allah or the Last Day, and who do not forbid what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said:[Al-Jathiyah 45:18], and He, the Exalted, said: [Al-Baqarah 2:120], and He, Glorified and Exalted, said: [Al-Ma'idah 5:49], and He, Glorified and Blessed, said: [Al-Hadid 57:16]. The verses in this meaning are numerous and well known.
It was narrated by Muslim in his (Sahih), and it is established in (the two Sahihs) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) differed from the People of the Book in letting their hair hang down. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 5892 They both narrated it in (the two Sahihs). The hadiths and athar from the righteous Salaf regarding this matter are numerous and famous. From what has preceded, it is known that a person does not act upon the reality of Islam until his outward and inward are in accordance with the command of Allah and His Messenger, so that his loyalty is to Allah, His Messenger, and his believing brothers, as Allah, the Exalted, said: [Al-Ma'idah 5:55]. It is obligatory for the believer to disavow disbelief and its people, whether they are Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, atheists, or others from the various religions and sects that contradict Islam. In order to preserve this aforementioned principle for the Muslim and protect his Islam from deviation and straying, the texts of the Shari'ah came with the prohibition of resembling the disbelievers in what is specific to them, in words, actions, clothing, and general appearance; because of the danger this poses to the Muslim's belief,
and the fear that it may lead him to approving the disbelief and misguidance they are upon. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: It was narrated by Imam Ahmad and others with a good chain. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2695Da'if (Darussalam) It is a good hadith, narrated by al-Tirmidhi and others. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him), explaining the wisdom of the Shari'ah in prohibiting resembling the disbelievers and the obligation to differ from them in outward matters, such as clothing and the like, said: "Allah sent Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) with the wisdom, which is his Sunnah, and it is the law and methodology He legislated for him. So from this wisdom: He legislated for him actions and words that differ from the path of those against whom anger was invoked and those who went astray. He commanded to differ from them in outward conduct—even if no harm appears to many people in that—among the matters: that sharing in outward conduct begets compatibility and resemblance between the similar, which leads to agreement in morals and actions. This is a tangible matter, for the one who wears the clothes of the fighting soldiers, for example, finds in himself a type of adopting their morals, and his nature becomes inclined to that, unless a preventer stops him.
And among the matters: that differing in outward conduct necessitates distinctness and separation, which necessitates disconnection from the causes of anger and the reasons for misguidance, and turning toward the people of guidance and pleasure, and realizing what Allah has severed of loyalty between His successful soldiers and their losing enemies. The more complete the heart is in life and knowledge of Islam, which is Islam—I do not mean merely assuming it outwardly or inwardly by mere beliefs, in general terms—the more complete its feeling of distinctness from the Jews and Christians inwardly and outwardly, and the stronger its distance from their morals that exist in some Muslims. And among the matters: that sharing with them in outward conduct necessitates outward mixing, until the distinction is lifted outwardly between the guided ones who are pleased and those against whom anger was invoked and those who went astray, and other such wise reasons. This is if that outward conduct is merely permissible, if it were free from resembling them. But if it is from the causes of their disbelief, it is a branch of the branches of disbelief, so agreeing with them in it is agreement in a type of their sins. This is a principle that one should be alert to." Based on what has preceded, it is without doubt that among the manifestations of loyalty to the disbelievers is: resembling them, and wearing clothes that carry their symbols; such as the cross and the like, and caring for their images, and encouraging their sports teams, and hanging
their flags on cars, houses, and commercial establishments, and naming oneself with their specific names, and calling for their love and friendship, and taking pride in belonging to them, and to their leaders and notables, and being dazzled by their desires and ideas that contradict Islam... to the end of those calamities and tribulations in which many of those who claim Islam have fallen, and they did not know that by their doing this they are demolishing a principle of the principles of Islam in themselves and in the souls of the Muslims, and they are adding weakness to the weakness of the Ummah. To Allah we belong and to Him we return. It is obligatory for all Muslims to adhere to the straight guidance of Islam, and to beware of straying from it to the path of those against whom anger was invoked and those who went astray, from the Jews, Christians, and all other polytheists, and to advise one another to righteousness and mindfulness of Allah, and all that is in it good and honor for Islam and the Muslims, and to leave all that is in it harm to the Muslims and assistance upon it, and its promotion and spread. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q: A phenomenon has spread among some of the youth of attaching themselves to the flags and emblems of some non-Muslim countries. We see them rushing to buy and possess them, and printing them on shirts, pants, belts, glasses, hats, shoes, rulers, and pens, as well as on rings and watches. They use them as covers for car seats and stickers on the windows, and some of them buy the flag in its entirety and spread it on the front or rear of the car. What is the ruling on selling, buying, possessing, and hanging these flags?
A: Among the objectives of the pure Islamic Shari'ah is that the Muslim be distinguished from all disbelievers and wrongdoers, in his belief, morals, behavior, and thought, and even in his appearance and language. This includes severing all ties of love, loyalty, and support for every disbeliever in Allah and His Messenger. The evidence for this has multiplied
in the form of explicit texts and derived proofs, confirming this Islamic principle and warning against violating it or being lenient with it through imitation and resembling those who do not believe in Allah or the Last Day, and who do not forbid what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said:
Then We put you, [O Muhammad], on an ordained way concerning the matter [of religion]; so follow it and do not follow the inclinations of those who do not know.
ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَى شَرِيعَةٍ مِنَ الأَمْرِ فَاتَّبِعْهَا وَلاَ تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَ الَّذِينَ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَAnd never will the Jews or the Christians approve of you until you follow their religion. Say, "Indeed, the guidance of Allah is the [only] guidance." If you were to follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, you would have against Allah no protector or helper.
وَلَنْ تَرْضَى عَنْكَ الْيَهُودُ وَلاَ النَّصَارَى حَتَّى تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى اللَّهِ هُوَ الْهُدَى وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ بَعْدَ الَّذِي جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلاَ نَصِيرٍand do not follow their inclinations and beware of them, lest they tempt you away from some of what Allah has revealed to you
وَلاَ تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ وَاحْذَرْهُمْ أَنْ يَفْتِنُوكَ عَنْ بَعْضِ مَا أَنْـزَلَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْكَHas the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allah and what has come down of the truth? And let them not be like those who were given the Scripture before, and a long period passed over them, so their hearts hardened; and many of them are defiantly disobedient.
أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَا نَـزَلَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَلاَ يَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الأَمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَكَثِيرٌ مِنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَAnd he (peace and blessings be upon him) said, when he saw two yellow garments on 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As: "Indeed, these are the garments of the disbelievers, so do not wear them."
وقال عليه الصلاة والسلام لما رأى على عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص ثوبين معصفرين: إن هذه من ثياب الكفار فلا تلبسهاIt was narrated by Muslim in his (Sahih), and it is established in (the two Sahihs) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) differed from the People of the Book in letting their hair hang down. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Do the opposite of what the pagans do. Keep the beards and cut the moustaches short.
خالفوا المشركين وفروا اللحى وأحفوا الشواربYour ally is none but Allah and [therefore] His Messenger and those who have believed - those who establish prayer and give zakah, and they bow [in worship].
إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاَةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَand the fear that it may lead him to approving the disbelief and misguidance they are upon. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
I was sent with the sword before the Hour so that Allah alone would be worshipped, with no partner, and I was made to have my provision under the shadow of my spear, and humiliation and degradation were placed upon those who oppose my command, and whoever imitates a people is one of them.
بعثت بين يدي الساعة بالسيف حتى يعبد الله وحده لا شريك له، وجعل رزقي تحت ظل رمحي، وجعل الذلة والصغار على من خالف أمري، ومن تشبه بقوم فهو منهمHe is not one of us who resembles other than us, no who resembles the Jews nor the Christians
ليس منا من تشبه بغيرنا، لا تشبهوا باليهود ولا بالنصارىAnd among the matters: that differing in outward conduct necessitates distinctness and separation, which necessitates disconnection from the causes of anger and the reasons for misguidance, and turning toward the people of guidance and pleasure, and realizing what Allah has severed of loyalty between His successful soldiers and their losing enemies. The more complete the heart is in life and knowledge of Islam, which is Islam—I do not mean merely assuming it outwardly or inwardly by mere beliefs, in general terms—the more complete its feeling of distinctness from the Jews and Christians inwardly and outwardly, and the stronger its distance from their morals that exist in some Muslims. And among the matters: that sharing with them in outward conduct necessitates outward mixing, until the distinction is lifted outwardly between the guided ones who are pleased and those against whom anger was invoked and those who went astray, and other such wise reasons. This is if that outward conduct is merely permissible, if it were free from resembling them. But if it is from the causes of their disbelief, it is a branch of the branches of disbelief, so agreeing with them in it is agreement in a type of their sins. This is a principle that one should be alert to." Based on what has preceded, it is without doubt that among the manifestations of loyalty to the disbelievers is: resembling them, and wearing clothes that carry their symbols; such as the cross and the like, and caring for their images, and encouraging their sports teams, and hanging
their flags on cars, houses, and commercial establishments, and naming oneself with their specific names, and calling for their love and friendship, and taking pride in belonging to them, and to their leaders and notables, and being dazzled by their desires and ideas that contradict Islam... to the end of those calamities and tribulations in which many of those who claim Islam have fallen, and they did not know that by their doing this they are demolishing a principle of the principles of Islam in themselves and in the souls of the Muslims, and they are adding weakness to the weakness of the Ummah. To Allah we belong and to Him we return. It is obligatory for all Muslims to adhere to the straight guidance of Islam, and to beware of straying from it to the path of those against whom anger was invoked and those who went astray, from the Jews, Christians, and all other polytheists, and to advise one another to righteousness and mindfulness of Allah, and all that is in it good and honor for Islam and the Muslims, and to leave all that is in it harm to the Muslims and assistance upon it, and its promotion and spread. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.