The Ruling on Imitating the Disbelievers with Intention

Question:
And do you think that one should have an intention, because it is a condition, or not?

Answer:
If one is aware in his heart of the imitation, the matter is more severe. As for if we do not know about him and he is intending it, he is prohibited from it; we have only the appearance to go by, and we judge by the appearance. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said , this is absolute; no one comes to say, "I did not intend it, so the hadith does not include me." The hadith did not specify this; the hadith generalized and said and did not restrict this to intention. The mere apparent form in speech, or in feeling, or in walking, or in clothing, or in eating—this is imitating the disbelievers, whether he intended it or not? Allah the Exalted knows best, so Allah