The Shaykh’s response to those who say that Islam consists of mere outward forms
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The Shaykh : Based on this, some of them utter words that, if they meant what they said, would render them apostates in the ruling of the Shari'ah. This is because they label this concern with outward matters, particularly those related to the body, as "outward forms" or claim that they are trivialities. We have often heard this and read it in some letters. This is a negligence of this scientific and Shari'ah reality, which, after Islam, became an empirical scientific reality—what they call today psychology. It has become clear to them that the outward state, whether sound or corrupt, affects the inward state, and that the body's weakness or strength affects the heart's weakness or strength. This has been established in their recent findings, whereas Islam, as is its constant and eternal habit, was ahead of them in this regard.
It has now been established through their experiments that when a person changes his appearance, his nature and morals are affected. They give a very simple example of this: they say that one person differs in moments due to the difference in his attire and clothing. For example, a poor man who cannot find clothing to adorn himself with wears a tattered garment and walks on the earth in a state of humiliation and degradation, even though he is not actually so in his own self. But this clothing makes him feel lowly and humiliated, so he walks in a slouched manner. This same person, if he is enabled or given the opportunity to wear beautiful, luxurious clothing, his appearance changes and his gait changes. Whereas you saw him a moment ago walking with the gait of a humble, poor person, now you see him standing straight and walking on the earth with strength, pride, and arrogance. What has happened to this man? He who used to walk that humiliating gait was previously affected by his tattered clothing, and then he was affected by his new, luxurious, expensive clothing.
This is an example they mention to show that the outward affects the inward. Likewise, and this is what I wish to reach as well, after pointing out the etiquette of gathering in religious lessons: when a man adorns himself in his clothing and imitates his women in that.
It has now been established through their experiments that when a person changes his appearance, his nature and morals are affected. They give a very simple example of this: they say that one person differs in moments due to the difference in his attire and clothing. For example, a poor man who cannot find clothing to adorn himself with wears a tattered garment and walks on the earth in a state of humiliation and degradation, even though he is not actually so in his own self. But this clothing makes him feel lowly and humiliated, so he walks in a slouched manner. This same person, if he is enabled or given the opportunity to wear beautiful, luxurious clothing, his appearance changes and his gait changes. Whereas you saw him a moment ago walking with the gait of a humble, poor person, now you see him standing straight and walking on the earth with strength, pride, and arrogance. What has happened to this man? He who used to walk that humiliating gait was previously affected by his tattered clothing, and then he was affected by his new, luxurious, expensive clothing.
This is an example they mention to show that the outward affects the inward. Likewise, and this is what I wish to reach as well, after pointing out the etiquette of gathering in religious lessons: when a man adorns himself in his clothing and imitates his women in that.