Reading from the author's text with commentary and collation of manuscripts: "Chapter: We have mentioned from the evidence of the Book, the Sunnah, scholarly consensus, reports, and consideration
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The reader: "Chapter: We have mentioned from the evidence of the Book, the Sunnah, scholarly consensus, reports, and consideration, that which indicates that imitating them in general is forbidden, and that differing from them in their way is prescribed, either as an obligation or as a recommendation, according to the specific contexts. It has been previously explained that what is commanded regarding differing from them is prescribed, whether the actor intended to imitate them or not. Likewise"
The Shaykh : And this is also a matter that one must be aware of. Some people, when I say that this is imitating the disbelievers, say, "I did not?"
The reader: I did not intend to imitate.
The Shaykh : I did not intend to imitate. Imitation occurs whether you intended it or not, as long as the similarity is present. There is no difference between intending the similarity or not intending it, or not intending it, as the Shaykh (may Allah have mercy on him) said.
The reader: "Likewise, what is forbidden regarding imitating them covers both cases where one intends to imitate them and where one does not. For most of these actions, the Muslims did not intend to imitate them, and some of them do not even allow for the intention of imitation, such as white hair, long mustaches, and the like.
Then know that their actions are of three categories: a category that is prescribed in our religion, whether it was prescribed for them or it is not known that it was prescribed for them, but they do it now; and a category that was prescribed and then abrogated by the legislation of the Qur'an"
The Shaykh : He paused here for a good research.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : The Shaykh, the principle you mentioned, O Shaykh, "what was legislated before us is legislated for us," what is the correct view?
The Shaykh : And this is also a matter that one must be aware of. Some people, when I say that this is imitating the disbelievers, say, "I did not?"
The reader: I did not intend to imitate.
The Shaykh : I did not intend to imitate. Imitation occurs whether you intended it or not, as long as the similarity is present. There is no difference between intending the similarity or not intending it, or not intending it, as the Shaykh (may Allah have mercy on him) said.
The reader: "Likewise, what is forbidden regarding imitating them covers both cases where one intends to imitate them and where one does not. For most of these actions, the Muslims did not intend to imitate them, and some of them do not even allow for the intention of imitation, such as white hair, long mustaches, and the like.
Then know that their actions are of three categories: a category that is prescribed in our religion, whether it was prescribed for them or it is not known that it was prescribed for them, but they do it now; and a category that was prescribed and then abrogated by the legislation of the Qur'an"
The Shaykh : He paused here for a good research.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : The Shaykh, the principle you mentioned, O Shaykh, "what was legislated before us is legislated for us," what is the correct view?