MUSLIM SERMON - DO NOT IMITATE THE CHRISTIANS AND JEWS
في التشبه بالكفار
Summary
1) A warning against the imitation of disbelievers
2) Forms of imitating the disbelievers
3) An appeal to return to the Qur’aan and Sunnah
4) The positive response of some Muslim women towards invitations by disbelievers to imitate them
First Khutbah
I advise you, as well as myself, to fear Allaah in times of prosperity
and misfortune, in secret and in public: "O mankind! Worship your Lord,
who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous."
(Al Baqarah: 21).
O people! When a person meditates upon the histories of past nations
and populations, he will be instantly amazed at the revolutions and
transformations they went through. For instance, there was a pioneering
nation (i.e., the Muslim nation) which led the world for many centuries
but then, it faltered and lost its leading role; it fell in the midst
of blind imitation and followed the paths of other nations in terms of
manners and beliefs. Once it was at the acme of development and reached
the highest level of power and glory, but it later fell to the lowest
point and was afflicted with misery. It died after it had been living,
deteriorated after it was once flourishing and withered after it was
blossoming. It was the nation that discovered the sources of knowledge
and developed the Islaamic civilization and sciences, which the West
later obtained significantly, without having to exert the least of
efforts. Thus it seems as if the gates towards progress had been shut
off for the Muslims as they turned into artificial consumers of the
Western civilization. They even began to adopt certain features of it,
which were originally theirs but had been stolen away from them.
O Muslims! When a Muslim blindly imitates the West, he turns into a
loyal supporter of their beliefs and customs; he is like one who tries
to reform something but spoils it while he is unaware. He is just like
a defeated follower, like a baby who bites and severs his mother's
breast while it is in his mouth. Such a person does not know that blind
copying of the West involves hidden hazards and that our rights, honor
and dignity are violated by such imitation and imbecilic pride.
O Muslims! The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "You will
imitate the nations before you very closely to the extent that if they
went into a lizard's hole, you would enter it as well” his companions,
may Allaah be pleased with them, inquired: “(Do you mean) the Jews and
Christians, O Messenger of Allaah?” He sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam
replied: "Who else?” (Bukhaari & Muslim). The Prophet sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam also said: "The Day of Judgment will not come until
my Nation closely imitates the nations before them.” It was asked:
“Like the Persians and Romans, Messenger of Allaah?” He sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam replied: "Who are the nations (I could mean) except
those?” (Bukhaari).
The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam foretold that some of his
nation will imitate the People of the Book, namely the Jews and
Christians, as well as other non-Arabs, namely the Persians and Romans.
Allaah says that which means: "[You disbelievers are] like those before
you; they were stronger than you in power and more abundant in wealth
and children. They enjoyed their portion [of worldly enjoyment], and
you have enjoyed your portion as those before you enjoyed their
portion, and you have engaged [in vanities] like that in which they
engaged…" (At-Tawbah: 69). Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him,
commented on this verse by saying: “These are the Children of Israel
that we will imitate.” Ibn Mas’ood, may Allaah be pleased with him,
also said in this regard: “You are closely similar to the Children of
Israel as far as outside appearance and manners are concerned, but I do
not know whether you will worship the calf (as they did) or not.”
O servants of Allaah! The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam used to
prohibit imitating other nations. It is worth mentioning that these
traditions do not indicate that the entire Muslim nation will commit
this sin as he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also foretold that a group
of his nation will continue to stick to the Straight Path until the Day
of Judgment.
The Muslims constitute the most guided and well-mannered nation in this
life; and on the Day of Judgment Allaah will make them witnesses over
all other nations as He says that which means: "And thus We have made
you a median [i.e., just] community that you will be witnesses over the
people and the Messenger will be a witness over you…" (Al-Baqarah:
143). Indeed, this is a very prestigious position. How is it, then,
that Muslims imitate others in their customs, traditions and feasts?
The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam even forbade the Muslims from
acquiring religious information from the People of the Book; once,
‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allaah be pleased with him, was reading some
parts of one of the scriptures of the People of the Book to the Prophet
sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, so he got angry and said: "I have
conveyed to you a clear religion. Do not ask them (the People of the
Book) about anything, for they may tell you the truth while you belie
them or they may lie and you might believe them. I swear by Him in
Whose Hands is my soul, if Moosaa was alive, he would not have any
choice but to follow me.” (Ahmad & Ibn Abi Shaybah).
Allaah made human beings and all other creatures accustomed to
interacting with their similar counterparts. When the degree of
similarity increases, such interaction and hence imitation in morals
and characteristics becomes more complete, until it is hardly possible
to distinguish between them. Accordingly, human beings are affected by
each other and acquire each other's traits through cohabitation and
imitation. It is also known that if a human being stays in the company
of a certain type of animal, he would pick up some of its features;
that is why, for example, those who tend camels are known for their
pride and arrogance, while shepherds are known to be humble and calm,
whereas those who raise both camels and mules acquire some of the bad
attributes of both. Similarly, a domestic animal acquires some human
characteristics, such as the ability to live with others.
Furthermore, when a person puts on the clothes usually worn by
scholars, he may feel himself as somehow closer to them, because
similarity and imitation in outward appearance leads to resemblance in
inward characteristics such as personal characteristics and morals, as
is witnessed in reality and is confirmed by Islaamic jurisprudence and
common sense. In the old times, it was said: ‘Birds of a feather flock
together’; this is a realistic proverb which conforms to the manner in
which Allaah has formed His creation. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam spoke the truth when he said: "Whoever imitates a people is
one of them." (Ahmad & Abu Dawood)
Shaykh Al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy on him, said: “We
have seen that the degree of polytheism is less in those Jews and
Christians who reside with Muslims, and that the degree of faith in the
Muslims who have dealt extensively with the Jews and Christians is
lesser than that of the pious Muslims.”
O servants of Allaah! Imitating polytheists and atheists in their
clothing, customs, rules, politics and economics has become widespread
among many Muslims to a very large extent, so much so that the one who
blindly imitates and tries to Westernize might even be respected by the
foolish masses and the youth, including the rich, intellectuals and
even the poor, who are attracted to such a person. Woe to imitation and
subordination! What weighty and oppressive constraints they have! What
a dark path theirs is! What a great loss for whoever follows them!
Yes, woe to imitating and following the West! It has trapped some
Muslim generations in the dark, narrow prisons of subordination and
dependence, and prevented them from thinking, meditating and heading
for glory. It has blocked the means to the real happiness of their
souls.
Woe to imitation and dependence! They are obstacles for the intellects and prevent everything that may revive them.
The Muslim Nation should lead, not be led; others should depend on us
and not the reverse. Our Nation should not be deceived by the
artificial adornments possessed by some devastated people, as Allaah
says that which means: "And do not extend your eyes toward that by
which We have given enjoyment to [some] categories of them, [its being
but] the splendor of worldly life by which We test them. And the
provision of your Lord is better and more lasting." (Taa-Haa: 131).
The Western civilization is like a mirage, which, when seen from a
distance is like a large sea, but it is as Allaah says which means:
"But the disbelievers – their deeds are like a mirage in a lowland
which a thirsty one thinks is water until, when he comes to it, he
finds it is nothing but finds Allaah before him, and He will pay him in
full his due; and Allaah is swift in account." (An-Noor: 39).
The weak and ignorant Muslims, who try to remodel the principles of our
nation through imitation, should know that even though such temporal
morals may ruin some of the deeply rooted ones, they will never remain
or become innate. If some people believe that our nation must change
its ways for development, then let it be known that our resorting to
the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam is the best means for change. Allaah says that which means:
"…Indeed, Allaah will not change the condition of a people until they
change what is in themselves. And when Allaah intends for a people ill,
there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any
patron." (Ar-Ra`d: 11).
If we embrace the means to be powerful, stick to deep-rooted principles
such as strong will, piety, courage and Islaamic zeal and adhere to our
distinctive code of life which indicates that we are religious and
ethical people, what harm would we get from it? Are these not the true
Islaamic morals? Are there any other solid foundations for progress
besides them? Allaah says that which means: "[And say, ‘Ours is] the
religion of Allaah. And who is better than Allaah in [ordaining]
religion? And we are worshippers of Him’” (Al-Baqarah: 138) and also:
"[Say], ‘Then is it other than Allaah I should seek as judge while it
is He who has revealed to you the Book [i.e., the Qur’aan] explained in
detail?’…" (Al-An’aam: 114)
However, if we are to adopt foreign customs and traditions alien to our
religion, from the West, we should remember that Islaam is Islaam and
polytheism is polytheism, and that they live in one hemisphere and we
live in another. We were the masters before we assumed these Western
traditions that ruined the free Muslim nation – its men and especially
its women, who have rushed after the unknown in a breathless attempt to
imitate the West. They are amazed by the eye-catching products of its
industries and have followed its disgraceful women to the extent that
their clothes became almost the same as those of Western models. When
you see any Muslim woman wearing a dress barely covering her private
parts, you should know that this is an example of their kind of
clothing. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said about such
women: "I have seen none lacking in common sense and failing in
religion and (at the same time) robbing the wisdom of wise men, besides
you (women).” (Bukhaari & Muslim).
This is why when Allaah says that which means: "…and amended for him
[i.e., Zakariyya] his wife…” (Al-Anbiyaa’: 90) it denotes that He
thereby bestowed much grace upon Zakariyya, peace be upon him: He also
says which means, "…So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding
in [the husband's] absence what Allaah would have them guard…"
(An-Nisaa’: 34)
O Muslims! The restrictions imposed by our religion on the human being
are not meant to torture or deprive him from the pleasures of this
life. Rather, their aim is to elevate him from mere animalism to
complete humanity. Thus, a Muslim will become capable of overcoming
subservience and dependence, and his faith and piety will overpower
animalistic lusts.
Whenever a society ignores such restrictions or belittles them, it
jeopardizes and opens itself to serious problems and positions itself
on the brink of destruction, as Allaah says that which means: "…And
whoever transgresses the limits of Allaah – it is those who are the
wrongdoers [i.e., the unjust]” (Al-Baqarah: 229) and also: "…And who is
more astray than one who follows his desire without guidance from
Allaah? Indeed, Allaah does not guide the wrongdoing people."
(Al-Qasas: 50).
Second Khutbah
Our Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam prohibited whatever acts lead
to the imitation of the polytheists to such an extent that one of the
Jews said about him: "This man does not wish to set aside any of our
affairs until he acts in nonconformity with it." (Muslim).
It is also reported that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
forbade Muslims from offering prayers after dawn until the sun rises
and following the afternoon prayer until sunset. He explained that the
sun rises and sets between the horns of the devil and at this time, the
polytheists prostrate before it. It is well-known that a believer never
prostrates himself to anything except Allaah; most people may not even
be aware that the sun rises and sets between the horns of the devil and
that the polytheists prostrate before it, yet, the Prophet sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam commanded Muslims not to pray at this time so as not
to imitate the polytheists in any way.
Imitating the People of the Book and the non-Arab polytheists will
surely lead to some degree of affection towards them. For this reason
also, imitation is prohibited in order to block the way before such
love transpires and to prevent allegiance to them; this is aside from
the legal evidences that prohibit such imitation.
It is plainly evident that some people who copy the polytheists in
their clothes, manners, traditions or speak their language, harbor love
and admiration for them. In this way, the polytheists succeed in
disseminating ideas such as globalization and a universal religion
which affect some sick-hearted Muslims; all of these aim at weakening
the Muslim character and identity. Whenever a person objects to such
ideas, he is labeled as an introvert, an isolationist and even a
narrow-minded person alienated from this world and who should have died
in his cradle.
Such people seem to ask why the bells of churches do not chime along
with the minarets reverberating "Allaah is the Greatest." They ask why
there are not many religions being practiced in the Arabian Peninsula,
but they forget or seem to forget that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam said: "There must not be two religions in the Arabian
Peninsula.” (Maalik & Ahmad).
Allaah says that which means: “And never will the Jews and the
Christians approve of you until you follow their religion. Say:
‘Indeed, the guidance of Allaah is the [only] guidance.’ If you were to
follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, you would
have against Allaah no protector or helper.” (Al-Baqarah: 120). He also
says that which means: "They wish you would disbelieve as they
disbelieved so you would be alike…” (An-Nisaa’: 89).