When is opposing the polytheists obligatory, and when is it not obligatory?

The questioner : He says: Opposing the polytheists is obligatory in every matter, and this is the position adopted by the Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah.

Another questioner : He says: When is opposing the polytheists obligatory, and when is it not obligatory?

The Shaykh : In my opinion, this issue is among the subtle matters, and it is not hidden from you that opposition is not the same as imitating the disbelievers. If that is the case, then imitation itself has levels and degrees. I do not think that a scholar—indeed, not even a student of knowledge—would say that every imitation, whether the appearance of imitation is strong or weak, has the same ruling. That is far-fetched. Opposition is less than imitation. So, if it comes in the hadith: then opposition is achieved by the strongest and weakest things. For example, we... wear the watch on the right hand instead of the left in opposition to the polytheists, but I do not believe that this is obligatory. Why? Because the appearance of conformity is not embodied, it is not strong, and I cannot, nor can anyone else, write a book that defines for you the number of degrees of opposition and the number of degrees of imitation. This is very difficult. Therefore, we give a general statement: the default ruling for imitation is prohibition, and the default ruling for opposition is obligation, and there are degrees, and every person...
... ... ...

The questioner : ... so if a person does something of what they do.

The Shaykh : This is not part of his action.

The questioner : Yes?

The Shaykh : This is not part of his action.

The questioner : It is part of his action.

The Shaykh : Gray hair is not part of the actionThe questioner .

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : It is part of the action of the Lord of the Worlds, who prescribed it for every person with gray hair, so one does not say here that he imitated or did not imitate, but here opposition comes into play, which is to intentionally oppose the polytheist. But when I wear the garment of the polytheist, I have imitated him.

The questioner : And if I did not intend it?

The Shaykh : And if I did not intend it, as long as it is from the garments of the disbelievers, ... from the garments of the disbelievers, do not wear it.

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : How?

The questioner : ... a cross or something like that.

The Shaykh : This is a deviation from the topic! - May Allah reward you - .

The questioner : ... all garments now are permissible.

The Shaykh : The specific garments of the disbelievers.