What is the ruling on imitating the disbelievers? Is it forbidden or disbelief?

The questioner : Regarding the one who imitates the disbelievers, is the ruling prohibition or disbelief, meaning?

The Shaykh : Disbelief?

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : No, there is no disbelief. Disbelief in our view is of two types: practical disbelief and creedal disbelief. So any action that the disbelievers perform, if a Muslim does it, it can be called practical disbelief, provided that this action is forbidden in Islam. But if it is less than that, it is not permissible to apply the term disbelief to it. And I thought that in your question you believed that all imitation is forbidden. This question is important, but you followed it up with "forbidden or disbelief." So you know the answer: we do not say that it is disbelief except with the following detail that arises from your question or someone else's question: Is all imitation forbidden? The answer is no; some of it is more severe than some. If the imitation is strong to the extent that it erases the Islamic identity, then it is forbidden without doubt. But if the imitation is less than that, such that it does not erase the Islamic identity, but it is said that this is wearing the clothing of the disbelievers, then we do not say that it is forbidden, but it is close to being forbidden. In brief, we say that in imitation, the strength of the appearance of imitation is observed. The stronger the appearance of imitating the disbelievers, the more it is forbidden. And as this appearance decreases, the legal ruling descends from prohibition to being disliked. And this being disliked also has degrees. The important thing is that it is not befitting for us to expand on this jurisprudential detail for the general public. We say this from the perspective of voluntary knowledge, otherwise we must apply the texts of the sacred law generally for the people. We do not say that this imitation has reached the level of prohibition or has not reached it. This is from the clothing of the disbelievers, as came in Sahih Muslim, so do not wear it, and the matter is ended. As for delving deep, this delving does not benefit the general public; it may benefit the special people, the students of knowledge, but for the general public, it is not permissible for us to detail this detail for them, because at that time they will follow their desires and say in every action in which they imitate the disbelievers, "This is of the light type, no problem." Is that clear?

The questioner: Yes.