We ask you, may Allah reward you, to clarify for us the criterion for imitating the disbelievers in light of the hadith: (Whoever imitates a people is one of them). May Allah reward you with good.
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The questioner : The honorable Shaykh, we ask you, may Allah reward you, to clarify for us the criterion for imitating the disbelievers in light of the hadith: Sunan Abi Dawud 4031Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani) May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Part of the perfection of the Islamic Shari'ah is that Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) legislated, through the tongue of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), rulings that obligate every Muslim to preserve his Muslim identity, to preserve his Islamic appearance, and not to adorn himself with the dress of the disbelievers. This adornment and this imitation of the disbelievers indicates the weakness of the imitator on one hand, and the strength of the one being imitated on the other hand. The Muslim is noble and strong. As he (peace be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 4168Sahih (Darussalam) The strong believer in his faith and his belief, due to the perfection of his Lord's Shari'ah, cannot adorn himself with the dress of the disbelievers. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited it with the strongest prohibition. Among the famous hadiths in this regard is what Abu Dawud narrated in his *Sunan* in a concise form, and Imam Ahmad in his *Musnad* in its complete form, namely his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 10:131 : This phrase is what Abu Dawud narrated in his *Sunan*, whereas the hadith in its entirety is in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad, as we mentioned.
His saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Abi Dawud 4031Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani) is equivalent to many hadiths in which the Messenger (peace be upon him) groups the one who performs an action with those who are not among the Muslims. For example, he said in the hadith in *Sahih Muslim*: Sunan Ibn Majah 2225Da'if (Darussalam).
So he said in the first hadith:Sunan Abi Dawud 4031Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani) meaning: he is not one of us. Therefore, it is not permissible for a Muslim to adopt clothing that causes him to lose his Muslim identity.
He who copies any people is one of them.
من تشبه بقومٍ فهو منهمThe Shaykh : Part of the perfection of the Islamic Shari'ah is that Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) legislated, through the tongue of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), rulings that obligate every Muslim to preserve his Muslim identity, to preserve his Islamic appearance, and not to adorn himself with the dress of the disbelievers. This adornment and this imitation of the disbelievers indicates the weakness of the imitator on one hand, and the strength of the one being imitated on the other hand. The Muslim is noble and strong. As he (peace be upon him) said:
The stronger believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, although both are good
إنَّ المؤمن القوي أحب إلى الله من المؤمن الضعيف وفي كلٍ خيرI was sent with the sword before the Hour, so that Allah alone is worshipped, with no partner for Him. My provision was made under the shadow of my spear, and humiliation and degradation were made for whoever opposes my command. And whoever imitates a people is one of them.
بُعِثْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ السَّاعَةِ بالسَّيْفِ، حتى يُعبدَ اللهُ وحدَه لا شريك له، وَجُعِلَ رِزْقِي تَحْتَ ظِلّ رُمْحِي، وَجُعِلَ الذلُّ وَالصَّغَارُ عَلَى مَنْ خَالَفَ أَمْرِي، وَمَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْAnd whoever imitates a people is one of them.
ومن تشبه بقوم فهو منهمHis saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
He who copies any people is one of them.
مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْWhoever cheats us is not one of us.
من غشنا فليس مناSo he said in the first hadith: