The Shaykh advises students of knowledge to study the book *Iqtida' al-Sirat al-Mustaqim* by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah.

The Shaykh : And on this occasion, I advise students of knowledge to pay special attention to studying the book by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him), namely *Iqtida' al-Sirat al-Mustaqim: Mukhalafat Ahl al-Jahim*. This man is a sign among the signs of Allah in that he combined knowledge from the Book, the Sunnah, and the reports of the Salaf with a sharp intellect. He is the one who truly deserves what the Sufis use and attribute to those who do not deserve it, saying "the one who knows Allah is so-and-so." The one who truly knows Allah is like Ibn Taymiyyah and his like. The summary is that after establishing, with dozens of texts, the rule: first, the prohibition for Muslims to imitate the disbelievers; second, this is a higher and more noble stage than the first, that the Muslim should intentionally differ from the disbeliever. This is different from that. The Muslim elder does not grow old by his desire, but it is the Sunnah of Allah in His creation. The disbeliever, whatever type of disbelief he has, grows old by the Sunnah of Allah in His creation. Is there any similarity between the Muslim and the disbeliever in old age? No, because similarity is only through an action issued from the human being. Nevertheless, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Differ from them. Let your beards grow, for they do not let their beards grow. So differ from them." The point is that Ibn Taymiyyah encompassed this topic with very precise scientific coverage. To the extent of my knowledge, I acknowledge, with the saying of Allah the Exalted: , I have not found a parallel to it in what I have looked into. I advise reading this topic in this book. Among its benefits is that it clarifies the wisdom of the Wise Lawgiver in prohibiting imitation of the disbelievers. He says that apparent similarity affects the hearts contrary to what people imagine. And the reason for our delay with you today was that we returned to a sick person. We ask Allah for his well-being and speedy healing, if Allah wills. He has three brothers: the sick one and the healthy one are bearded, and the eldest of them is shaven. So I wanted to open the door from the hadith, from the door of advice and reminder. I said, "But I see a difference: two brothers are bearded, indeed standing by the obligatory, and another is shaven." He surprised me by saying, "The criterion is what is in the hearts." So I delivered a lecture here; there is no need to repeat it. The point is, in response to such a person, Ibn Taymiyyah brings examples that apparent similarity causes hearts to bond. If the imitation is of the righteous, it causes bonding with the righteous. And if it is bonding with the wicked, it causes bonding in the hearts with the wicked. He gives the following example: He says, if a person is wearing the uniform of the soldiers and attends a gathering, and he finds a person in this gathering wearing the uniform of the soldiers, he sees that he inclines toward him, he inclines toward him, and he establishes affection and a sitting, and so on. What attracted him? This appearance. So the appearance has an effect on the inner self, and it is not as the heedless imagine. This is in the words of Ibn Taymiyyah.