Forbidden Emulation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs what some people from his Ummah will be like, after his time, as they would strictly follow the way of the Jews and Christians in their beliefs, deeds, habits, and traditions, span by span and cubit by cubit, even if they entered the hole of a lizard, they would enter behind them.

1. This is one of the signs of his prophethood, as he foretold it before it occurred, and it happened just as he said.
2. It is forbidden for Muslims to imitate the disbelievers, whether in their beliefs, acts of worship, festivals, or costumes.
3. Clarification of abstract meanings through tangible examples is one of the educational methods in Islam.
4. Dabb: an animal whose whole is extremely dark and has a nasty smell. It is from the reptiles that are frequently found in deserts. The hole of the Dabb is particularly mentioned because it is so narrow and bad, and despite this, if they entered such a bad and narrow place, they would follow them—out of following their traces and adopting their methods—and Allah is the One to be sought for help.

صحيح البخاري (9/ 103) (7320). صحيح مسلم (4/ 2054) (2669). الجديد في شرح كتاب التوحيد، لمحمد القرعاوي (ص213). الملخص في شرح كتاب التوحيد، لصالح الفوزان (ص193).

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that whoever imitates some people - disbelievers, sinners, or righteous - by engaging in any of their peculiar traits, such as their creeds, acts of worship, or habits, becomes one of them. This is because outward imitation of them leads to inward imitation. In fact, imitation of any people indicates admiration of them, and it may result in loving, respecting, and inclining toward them, which may also prompt a person to even imitate them inwardly and in their worship - Allah forbid.

1. We are warned of imitating disbelievers and wicked people.
2. We are urged to imitate the righteous and follow in their footsteps.
3. Outward imitation brings about inward love.
4. A person will be sinful and worthy of punishment in accordance with the type and degree of his imitation of them.
5. The prohibition regarding the imitation of the disbelievers pertains to their religion and peculiar habits. Other things, like learning professions and so on, do not fall under this prohibition.

سنن أبي داود (6/ 144) (4031). مسند أحمد (9/ 126) (5115). توضيح الأحكام من بلوغ المرام، للبسام (7/ 363). منحة العلام في شرح بلوغ المرام، لعبد الله الفوزان (10/ 157). فتح ذي الجلال والاكرام بشرح بلوغ المرام، لابن عثيمين (6/ 335). مشكاة المصابيح، للتبريزي (2/ 1246).

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated with expulsion and dismissal from Allah's mercy for any man who imitates women in their peculiar clothing, whether in appearance, color, style, manner of dressing, adornment, or anything else. Or for a woman to imitate men in their peculiar clothing as well, and this is considered a major sin.

1. Ash-Shawkāni said: The prohibition of women imitating men and men imitating women because there is no curse except for prohibited acts.
2. Ibn ‘Uthaymīn said: What is common between them, like certain shirts worn by both men and women, is permissible, i.e., it is fine for both men and women to wear it, as it is common.

سنن أبي داود (6/ 195) (4098). السنن الكبرى للنسائي (8/ 297) (9209). سنن ابن ماجه (3/ 95) (1903). مسند أحمد (14/ 61) (8309). نزهة المتقين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (2/ 1122). كنوز رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (19/ 337). بهجة الناظرين، لسليم الهلالي (3/ 150). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (6/ 370).

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) told the Companions that the Jews and Christians do not dye their hair or beards; rather, they leave grey hair as it is. So he ordered them to do the opposite of what the Jews and Christians do by dying their hair and beards.

نزهة المتقين، تأليف: جمعٌ من المشايخ، الناشر: مؤسسة الرسالة، الطبعة الأولى: 1397 هـ الطبعة الرابعة عشر 1407 ه.ـ صحيح مسلم، تأليف: مسلم بن الحجاج النيسابوري، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت. رياض الصالحين، تأليف: محيي الدين يحيى بن شرف النووي ، تحقيق: د. ماهر بن ياسين الفحل ، الطبعة: الأولى، 1428 هـ. صحيح البخاري، تأليف: محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري، تحقيق: محمد زهير الناصر، الناشر: دار طوق النجاة الطبعة: الأولى، 1422هــ.

The meaning of the 'Tashyeed' of the mosques here is building high and lofty mosques, as Al-Baghawi said. However, there is nothing wrong with building and strengthening the mosque and perfecting its construction in a professional way, yet without decoration, embellishment, and adornment; so long as it does not involve ostentation, showing off and seeking fame. This is supported by the Hadīth of ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān: "Whoever builds a mosque for the sake of Allah, Allah builds for him the like of it in Paradise." The mosque of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was made from adobe, its roof from palm branches, and its pillars from palm timber. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) did not add anything to it. When the wood and palm branches began to rot during the caliphate of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) he restored it to its original construction and added to it. During the caliphate of ‘Uthmān (may Allah be pleased with him) he added a lot to it, building its walls from stones and plaster, and making its pillars from stones and its roof from oak, thus adding to it what would strengthen it, not adorn it. All what he did was for stabilization and plastering, without embellishment and adornment. As for the engraved stones, they were not engraved by his command; rather, they simply happened to be engraved. Those who were not pleased with his act from among the Companions had no evidence supporting its (engraved stone) prohibition except the encouragement to follow the example of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) as well as that of ‘Umar, in the construction of the mosque while avoiding luxuries. Yet, it does not entail prohibition or dislike of strengthening mosques.

السنن، لأبي داود سليمان بن الأشعث أبو داود السجستاني الأزدي، دار الفكر، تحقيق : محمد محيي الدين عبد الحميد. مشكاة المصابيح للتبريزي، تحقيق: محمد ناصر الدين الألباني، ط3، المكتب الإسلامي، بيروت، 1985م. توضيح الأحكام من بلوغ المرام، لعبدالله بن عبد الرحمن البسام ، مكتبة الأسدي، مكة ، ط الخامسة 1423هـ. منحة العلام في شرح بلوغ المرام، تأليف: عبد الله بن صالح الفوزان، ط 1، 1427هـ، دار ابن الجوزي، الرياض .

In this Hadīth, Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated against the effeminate men (who imitate the appearance and manners of women) and the masculine women (who imitate the appearance and manners of men). He supplicated Allah to curse them and expel them from His mercy, because their behavior is an alteration of the creation of Allah, the Almighty. He then ordered Muslims to get them out of their homes and towns to ward off their evil and to maintain the purity and chastity of the Muslim households.

- صحيح البخاري، تحقيق: محمد زهير بن ناصر الناصر، ط1، دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، 1422ه - تسهيل الالمام، للشيخ صالح الفوزان. طبعة الرسالة. الطبعة الأولى 1427 – 2006 م - فتح ذي الجلال والاكرام بشرح بلوغ المرام، للشيخ ابن عثيمين، المكتبة الإسلامية - الطبعة الأولى 1427 - 2006م - توضِيحُ الأحكَامِ مِن بُلوُغ المَرَام، للبسام، مكتَبة الأسدي، مكّة المكرّمة، الطبعة: الخامِسَة، 1423 هـ - 2003 م - بلوغ المرام من أدلة الأحكام، لابن حجر، دار القبس للنشر والتوزيع، الرياض - المملكة العربية السعودية، الطبعة: الأولى، 1435 هـ - 2014 م - مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح، للتبريزي، الناشر: دار الكتب العلمية، سنة النشر: 1422 - 2001 ط 1.