If the disbelievers and the Muslims are equal in their clothing, who is commanded to distinguish himself in his clothing from the other?
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The questioner : Shaykh, if it were to happen, meaning, if it were to become so that... the Muslim is not distinguished from others.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : ... meaning... some of the caliphs, meaning, they made it obligatory for non-Muslims to... wear a specific dress.
The Shaykh : Correct.
The questioner : Now.
The Shaykh : That they distinguish themselves by their dress, and that they distinguish themselves by their adornments as well, so that their heads are not like the heads of the disbelievers, and that they distinguish themselves in their riding, so that even in riding they do not ride like the Muslims ride.
The questioner : Now, meaning, many people, by Allah, pass by you and you do not know whether he is... .
The Shaykh : Correct, correct.
The questioner : Do you return the greeting or not?
The Shaykh : Yes, yes, it is a difficult matter.
The questioner : The Muslim should be distinguished.
The Shaykh : Yes, this is how it should be.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : This is how it should be, that the Muslim is distinguished, but the one from whom distinction is required is the disbeliever, so that humiliation is upon him.
The questioner : I mean, now, if anything comes to us...
The Shaykh : No, it is not about anything that comes to us, it is not correct, it is not about anything that comes to us, but if it becomes widespread and general, and people use it, both the disbelievers and the non-disbelievers, then it is not imitation.
The questioner : Shaykh, perhaps at first we permit them, and then it becomes widespread, everything is possible, at first it starts...
The Shaykh : No, no, no, no, first we forbid it, at first we forbid it, so if it happens that reality imposes itself and there is nothing forbidden in itself, for example, it is not forbidden in its own right, this specific dress, then the cause is removed, yes, the imitation, and for this reason, if the matter were from the acts of worship, would it be permissible for us to follow it? No, it is not permissible, even if it becomes widespread among the Muslims, it must be denounced.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : ... meaning... some of the caliphs, meaning, they made it obligatory for non-Muslims to... wear a specific dress.
The Shaykh : Correct.
The questioner : Now.
The Shaykh : That they distinguish themselves by their dress, and that they distinguish themselves by their adornments as well, so that their heads are not like the heads of the disbelievers, and that they distinguish themselves in their riding, so that even in riding they do not ride like the Muslims ride.
The questioner : Now, meaning, many people, by Allah, pass by you and you do not know whether he is... .
The Shaykh : Correct, correct.
The questioner : Do you return the greeting or not?
The Shaykh : Yes, yes, it is a difficult matter.
The questioner : The Muslim should be distinguished.
The Shaykh : Yes, this is how it should be.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : This is how it should be, that the Muslim is distinguished, but the one from whom distinction is required is the disbeliever, so that humiliation is upon him.
The questioner : I mean, now, if anything comes to us...
The Shaykh : No, it is not about anything that comes to us, it is not correct, it is not about anything that comes to us, but if it becomes widespread and general, and people use it, both the disbelievers and the non-disbelievers, then it is not imitation.
The questioner : Shaykh, perhaps at first we permit them, and then it becomes widespread, everything is possible, at first it starts...
The Shaykh : No, no, no, no, first we forbid it, at first we forbid it, so if it happens that reality imposes itself and there is nothing forbidden in itself, for example, it is not forbidden in its own right, this specific dress, then the cause is removed, yes, the imitation, and for this reason, if the matter were from the acts of worship, would it be permissible for us to follow it? No, it is not permissible, even if it becomes widespread among the Muslims, it must be denounced.