Does the hadith imply participating in the festivals, or merely residing there?

The questioner : Does the hadith mean merely mixing with them, or participating in the festivals and such matters?

The Shaykh : No, no, this is a prelude to residing there. Residing there is a prelude to what you are asking about. I did not mean that one should actually reach that point.

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : How?

The questioner : Did they not reach that point in this manner?

The Shaykh : How did they not reach it? No, no, I want to finish my point. I want to finish my point. If one’s nature is to imitate, as we mentioned, one who mixes with people must inevitably be influenced by their customs and traditions. Perhaps he knows that among the characteristics of peoples or nations is the preservation of their history and language. So, one who resides in Britain, for example, even if he is a pure Arab, will eventually become anglicized and lose his distinctiveness. This is the opposite of a non-Arab who resides in Arab lands, who becomes Arabized. We have examples from real life.

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : Ah, okay, we want you to be with Adnan always, not just in this...