Blind following
The phenomenon of imitating non-Muslims has spread extensively among Muslim youth from boys to girls. It even went to the extent that this impermissible matter became familiar among people.
- Categories: Education and the Muslim family - Contemporary Islamic Issues -
All praise is due to Allah and prayers and peace upon the last Prophet.
The phenomenon of imitating non-Muslims has spread extensively among Muslim youth from boys to girls. It even went to the extent that this impermissible matter became familiar among people.
Him wearing gold necklaces and bracelets!
The other wearing western hats and short shorts in the streets with no shame!
Another wears a t-shirt with pictures of celebrities and football stars.
The later cuts his hair in a western style which includes religious prohibitions.
This girl is an expert in western dancing on the tunes of disco, rock and other types of music.
Another girl wears tight jeans that describe every detail of her body.
This one posing naked with garments that barely covers anything.
Other imitating men, in her walk, speech, joke etc… Moreover she cuts her hair in a masculine way where you couldn’t differentiate either she’s a boy or a girl except by tremendous effort!
The later adds some English or French words to her conversations, more over bragging over it while she is in no need to use such words.
Such imitation didn’t stop to the apparent following; it extended to greater things like goals, interests, picturing their own lives. This is natural result as apparent imitation leads to total submission either internally or apparently.
Imitation in the Qur’an and Sunnah
The Qur`an has warned from imitating the infidels and prohibited following any way except the way of the believers showing that it is the way of loss and remorse. Allah Almighty said:{ Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) to be affected by Allâh’s Reminder (this Qur’ân), and that which has been revealed of the truth, lest they become as those who received the Scripture [the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] before (i.e. Jews and Christians), and the term was prolonged for them and so their hearts were hardened} [Surat Al-Hadîd 57:16]
{أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَلا يَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الأَمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ} الحديد: 16
Transliteration: 'Alam Ya'ni Lilladhīna 'Āmanū 'An Takhsha`a Qulūbuhum Lidhikri Al-Lahi Wa Mā Nazala Mina Al-Ĥaqqi Wa Lā Yakūnū Kālladhīna 'Ūtū Al-Kitāba Min Qablu Faţāla `Alayhimu Al-'Amadu Faqasat Qulūbuhum Wa Kathīrun Minhum Fāsiqūna
{And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers’ way, We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell - what an evil destination!} [Surat An-Nisâ` 4:115]
{وَمَنْ يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَى وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّى وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًا} النِّساء: 115
Transliteration: Wa Man Yushāqiqi Ar-Rasūla Min Ba`di Mā Tabayyana Lahu Al-Huda Wa Yattabi` Ghayra Sabīli Al-Mu'uminīna Nuwallihi Mā Tawalla Wa Nuşlihi Jahannama Wa Sā'at Maşīrāan
The Prophet - prayers and peace of Allah be upon him- said: “You will surely follow the ways of whom preceded you, span by span and cubit by cubit. Even if they entered a lizard’s hole you will follow them. They (the companions) asked “O messenger of Allah the Jews and Christians?” He replied: “then whom” (meaning yes them).” [Reported by Al-Bukhari: 7320]
«لتتبعنَّ سنن من كان قبلكم، شبرًا بشبرٍ وذراعًا بذراعً، حتَّى لو دخلوا جحر ضبٍّ تبعتموهم. قلنا: يا رسول الله، اليهود والنَّصارى؟ قال: فمن» رواه البخاري 7320
What is the result of this act?
The prophet - prayers and peace of Allah be upon him – said: “Whoever imitates a group people is one of them.” [Reported by Abu Dâwûd: 4031, authenticated by Al-Albani]
«من تشبه بقومٍ؛ فهو منهم» رواه أبو داود 4031 وقال الألباني: حسنٌ صحيحٌ
That’s because imitation implies tendency and admiration, love and magnifying so it is rational to say that he who imitates is one of those imitated.
The Prophet -prayers and peace of Allah be upon him- said: “He’s not from amongst us whom imitates other than us, don’t imitate the Jews or the Christians.” [Reported by At-Tirmidhi 2695 and declared good by Al-Albani]
«ليس منَّا من تشبه بغيرنا، لا تشبهوا باليهود ولا بالنَّصارى» رواه التِّرمذي 2695 وحسَّنه الألباني
O dear brother ponder on his saying (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) “He’s not from amongst us.”
i.e not from amongst the true believers who find honor in their religion and pride in being a follower to it.
Would you like to be like this brother?
Would you like to be like this sister?
Would you like to be gathered on the day of Resurrection with those who earned Allah’s Anger or of those who went astray?
Do you want to be in loss as they did? And fall in the ditch of remorse as they fell?
Would any sane person want that? Then way take this route leading to this mischievous end?
Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) said: “The Messenger of Allah -prayers and peace of Allah be upon him- cursed men whom imitate women and cursed women who imitate men.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari 5885]
«لعن رسول الله -صلّى الله عليه وسلّم- المتشبهين من الرِّجال بالنِّساء، والمتشبهات من النِّساء بالرِّجال» رواه البخاري 5885
Knowing of this curse while imitating and not caring about being cursed, as if it doesn’t affect him!
Why do we imitate them?
Imitation is a sign of weak personality, inferiority complex and low self-esteem.
Imitation is a reason for losing our identity and deviation of religious understanding, thus mutating the Islamic personality, which would probably lead to infidelity and atheism; we ask Allah refuge in him from that.
It is the weirdest despised thing that the higher would imitate the lower, the virtuous holding principles following the steps of the one without morals, and the good imitating the evil and dissolute.
You O young men and women, you are the ones with lofty virtues by the help of Allah….you are the good people with high principles and morals where the east and west envy you for that.
Allah Almighty said: {So do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory) if you are indeed (true) believers.} [Surat Al-‘Imrân 3:139]
{وَلا تَهِنُوا وَلا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَنْتُمُ الأَعْلَوْنَ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ} آل عمران: 139
Transliteration: Wa Lā Tahinū Wa Lā Taĥzanū Wa 'Antumu Al-'A`lawna 'In Kuntum Mu'uminīna
He Almighty also said: {But honour, power and glory belong to Allâh, and to His Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), and to the believers} [Surat Al-Munafiqûn 63:8]
{وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ} المنافقون: 8
Transliteration: Wa Lillahi Al-`Izzatu Wa Lirasūlihi Wa Lilmu'uminīna
He Almighty also said: {You [true believers in Islâmic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) and his Sunnah] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma‘rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden), and you believe in Allâh} [Surat Surat Al-‘Imrân 3:110]
{كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ} آل عمران: 110
Transliteration: Kuntum Khayra 'Ummatin 'Ukhrijat Lilnnāsi Ta'murūna Bil-Ma`rūfi Wa Tanhawna `Ani Al-Munkari Wa Tu'uminūna Bil-Lahi
Then why do we get the feeling of humility, disgrace and shame, and we are pleased with being only a repeated mutated copy for a group of people who find tranquility and contentment with this worldly life, even more, seeking more from it.
Blind Following!
Some say: “But they are advanced and we are way behind, so why don’t we imitate them so we could be advanced like them”.
The answer is: “We imitate them in what they do in their leisure and free time not in what they do in their work time and seriousness”.
We imitate them in their dissolute and impudence, not in their experimenting, scientific research and inventions.
We imitate them in their times of their weakness and defeat towards their lusts, not in their times of patience, strength and thinking in the fields of research, pondering and contemplation!
How are we supposed to reach the sought advancement, desired up rise and colorful civilized society while this is our approach to get to what they got to from power and prevalence?!
On the other hand, it will lead us to more weakness, dropping behind, poverty, collapse and retreat.
Did you, gentle men and women, hear that dancing and singing lead a nation to advancement?
Did you hear that the femininity of men, mannish women and running after lust is an introduction to development?
Did you ever Hear that abandoning virtues and morals, rejecting principles and morals is the start that the nation will reach with the era of science and technology?
Did anyone come with a new scientific invention and we said to him/her “don’t, this is a dispraised imitation”?
Did anybody solve an old mystery and we said to him “leave this foolishness that you are in”?
The Way to the Sought Advancement
We call upon our generation to follow what is good and keenness on the up rise of this nation, seek all ways that will lead to this, while adhering to our Islamic identity and everlasting principles.
Science, knowledge, inventions and discovering isn’t restricted to a group of people while excluding others. That’s why excerpting of science and technology, advancement in all scientific field is not considered imitating others, but it is among our rights and duty that Allah Had imposed on this nation. This nation is obligated to deliver the message, in order to do that, it has to be of power and status among other nations, that’s why Allah Almighty said: {And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war (tanks, planes, missiles, artillery) to threaten the enemy of Allâh and your enemy} [Surat Al-Anfâl 8:60]
{وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُمْ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ قُوَّةٍ وَمِنْ رِبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ} الأنفال: 60
Transliteration: Wa 'A`iddū Lahum Mā Astaţa`tum Min Qūwatin Wa Min Ribāţi Al-Khayli Turhibūna Bihi `Adūwa Al-Lahi Wa `Adūwakum
This power is not meant to be used in aggression, because our religion forbids us from aggression, treachery and injustice. Rather, this power is used to cease war and stop aggression against others. That’s why there was no real war between the USA and the Soviet Union in what was called the cold war because of the equality in power between both sides.
The Prophet -prayer and peace of Allah be upon him- said: “Allah Folded earth for me, so I saw its east and west, and my nations rule will reach what Allah folded for me from it (its corners).” [Reported by Muslim 2889]
«إنَّ الله زوى لي الأرض، فرأيت مشارقها ومغاربها، وإنَّ أمَّتي سيبلغ ملكها ما زوى لي منها» رواه مسلم 2889
Then how is this Nation’s Rule will reach the corners of earth from east to west?
With music, singing, men acting like women and mannish women?
With killing time through committing sins and staying up at night following forbidden matters?
We will not achieve this rank except with adhering to our religion that teaches us responsibility, science, knowledge and using the tools of advancement in every field.
We were the leaders of this world for long centuries, and the bases of Europe from knowledge, observation and creativity goes back to its past learning from the Islamic civilization. Therefore, they woke up from their deep sleep taking as much as they could from knowledge flourishing in the Islamic civilization and we were very kind to them. We didn’t hold back from them any of our knowledge, culture and research until they copied everything from our civilization.
As for them, they deny any kind of precedence on our side and they meet the kindness we treated them with denial, and they work on making us ignorant and weaken us with all their powers and using every mean so we would remain a consuming market for their goods.
O young men and women!
You are the hope of this nation and the sign of its uprising, so don’t throw away this hope and lose with it all wishes and dreams. We are in need of your effort, brains, enthusiasm….. your dedication to serve your religion, society and nation.
Let us all head to serious production, continuous research, bright thinking and fruitful creativity after we get rid of inferiority complex, Humility and the feeling of frustration.
Let us arm ourselves with faith, certainty and total reliance on Allah. This is the weapon that Prophet Muhammad -prayer and peace of Allah be upon him- awakened the companions (may Allah be pleased with them) with, who upheld the message of Islam and opened through it the east and west until the Muslims had a state that the sun never sets on.
Allah won’t reestablish this nation except with what He established the beginning of it. Let’s start the journey of work and building and take the companions’ youth as role models. We would work with the obedience of Allah, by the light of Allah, seeking the reward of Allah and abandoning sins lit by the light of Allah fearing his punishment; this is the reality of piety and steadfastness.
Prepared by the scholarly department in Madar Al-Wattan