He says in his letter: What is your esteemed opinion regarding these imitative youths? These traditions are not ours and do not stem from our customs, such as growing hair to an excessive length, lengthening the garment to the ankles, and hanging chains around their necks.
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The Shaykh : He says in his letter: What is your esteemed opinion regarding these imitative youths? These traditions are not ours and do not stem from our customs, such as growing hair to an excessive length, lengthening the garment to the ankles, and hanging chains around their necks. Is this not forbidden? And are the prayers and fasts of these youths accepted?
The Shaykh : Imitation in beneficial matters that the Shari'ah has not prohibited is permissible. However, imitation in harmful matters or in customs that the Shari'ah has prohibited is not permissible. As for those who grow their hair to an excessive length, we tell them that this is contrary to the custom followed in our time.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The matter of growing head hair is a point of disagreement: is it a recommended practice (sunnah) that is required to be done, or is it a custom in which a person follows what people in his time are accustomed to? The stronger view in my opinion is that this is a custom in which a person follows what people in his time have done. So if it is the custom of people to grow their hair and lengthen it, he does so; and if it is the custom of people to shave their hair or shorten it, he does so. But the whole problem is that these who grow the hair on their heads do not grow the hair on their beards. Then they claim that they are following the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and they are not truthful in that. Rather, they follow their desires. What indicates their lack of truthfulness in following the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is that you find they have neglected something of his religion that is obligatory.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : For example, growing the beard. They do not grow their beards, although they have been commanded to grow them and not cut them. And their negligence in prayer and in other obligatory matters indicates to you that their action in growing the hair on their heads is not intended to draw near to Allah or to follow the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Rather, it is a custom they found pleasing, so they desired it and did it.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for wearing chains, wearing chains is forbidden for the sake of adornment, because that is a characteristic of women, and it is imitating women. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed men who imitate women. It becomes more forbidden and sinful if it is made of gold, because it is forbidden for a man from two aspects: from the aspect that it is gold, and from the aspect that it is imitating women. It becomes uglier if it has an image on it, an image of an animal or an angel, or greater than that and more abhorrent if it has a cross on it. For this is forbidden even for a woman to wear jewelry with an image on it, whether the image is of a human, a bird, or a non-flying animal, or if it has an image of a cross. And this, meaning wearing what has an image on it, is forbidden for men and women.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So it is not permissible for either of them to wear what has an image of an animal or an image of a cross on it.
The questioner : Yes, you have done well.
The Shaykh : Imitation in beneficial matters that the Shari'ah has not prohibited is permissible. However, imitation in harmful matters or in customs that the Shari'ah has prohibited is not permissible. As for those who grow their hair to an excessive length, we tell them that this is contrary to the custom followed in our time.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The matter of growing head hair is a point of disagreement: is it a recommended practice (sunnah) that is required to be done, or is it a custom in which a person follows what people in his time are accustomed to? The stronger view in my opinion is that this is a custom in which a person follows what people in his time have done. So if it is the custom of people to grow their hair and lengthen it, he does so; and if it is the custom of people to shave their hair or shorten it, he does so. But the whole problem is that these who grow the hair on their heads do not grow the hair on their beards. Then they claim that they are following the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and they are not truthful in that. Rather, they follow their desires. What indicates their lack of truthfulness in following the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is that you find they have neglected something of his religion that is obligatory.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : For example, growing the beard. They do not grow their beards, although they have been commanded to grow them and not cut them. And their negligence in prayer and in other obligatory matters indicates to you that their action in growing the hair on their heads is not intended to draw near to Allah or to follow the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Rather, it is a custom they found pleasing, so they desired it and did it.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for wearing chains, wearing chains is forbidden for the sake of adornment, because that is a characteristic of women, and it is imitating women. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed men who imitate women. It becomes more forbidden and sinful if it is made of gold, because it is forbidden for a man from two aspects: from the aspect that it is gold, and from the aspect that it is imitating women. It becomes uglier if it has an image on it, an image of an animal or an angel, or greater than that and more abhorrent if it has a cross on it. For this is forbidden even for a woman to wear jewelry with an image on it, whether the image is of a human, a bird, or a non-flying animal, or if it has an image of a cross. And this, meaning wearing what has an image on it, is forbidden for men and women.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So it is not permissible for either of them to wear what has an image of an animal or an image of a cross on it.
The questioner : Yes, you have done well.