It is highly essential that Muslims bedistinguished from the followers of otherreligions and cultures. Muslims should berecognizable from their externalappearances. External appearance isamong the salient features of Islam. Insuch external appearance, the identity ofthe nation is maintained and Muslims areguarded against assimilation into othernon-Muslim cultures. Islam thus stressesthe importance of external appearances.

Islam prohibits unnecessary adoption ofthe ways and appearances of other nations.Certain acts which eliminate a Muslim’sidentity are haraam even if they are notthe special characteristics of othercommunities. Thus, shaving or cutting thebeard, wearing shorts which expose partof the satr, etc., are completely forbidden.If a Muslim along with the adoption ofsuch haraam ways despises or mocks atsuch religious prohibitions, his act oftransgression progresses from sin to kufr.

Then there are certain things which arenot exclusive to any particular community.The adoption of such things will bepermissible. If a form of dress isparticular with a non-Muslim community,it will be sinful for Muslims to adopt suchdress even if the religious requirements in regard to satr concealment are fulfilledby such attire. Another example ofprohibited imitation is to eat sitting attables with knives and forks. This way ofconduct in eating is not encouraged inIslam. Therefore, it will not bepermissible to adopt the ways of non-Muslims in this regard even if such wayshave no religious undertones. If the waysadopted from kufr are of religious importas well, then it will amount to kufr, e.g.wearing a cross, etc.

Then there are such things which are ofneither religious nor cultural import. Suchthings are of real use and benefit. Even ifsuch things are the inventions of the kuffar(Disbelievers), there will be noting wrongin adopting them. This applies toinventions of transport, communications,weapons and other items of benefit.However, in such matters, the laymanshould not determine the permissibilityor prohibition of anything. He shouldobtain the advice and direction of theUlama who will properly inform him.

Adopting the ways of such Muslims whohappen to be fussaaq and bid’atis isprohibhited too. It is also prohibited formen to take on the attire and appearanceof women and vice versa.

Some Qur’anic verses and ahadith on thissubject will now be cited.

1. Allah mentions in the holy Qur’an thatShaitan said: ‘I will teach them to ruin theappearance made by Allah.” (SurahNisaa) Examples of ruining the appearancesbestowed onto us by Allah (swt) areshaving the beard, tattooing. Certainchanges pertain to adornment are wajib(compulsory), e.g. clipping of themoustache, cutting nails, removal of thehairs below the naval and under the arms.Other changes are permissible, e.g. for aman to shave the hair on his head, to cutthe beard after it had exceeded a fistlength,etc. Such permissible ways ofadornment are decided on by the Shariahand not by custom. Custom is not on parwith Shariah. Furthermore, customs aresubject to change with the times andattitudes of people, but not so the Shariah.

2. Allah (swt) says: “Do not incline tothe transgressors-for then the Fire willtouch you.” (Surah Hood)The Qur’an prohibits Muslims frominclining (or adopting) to the ways,cultures and customs of the kuffaar.Inclining towards them is punishable bythe Hellfire as is stated in the above verses.It is evident that if one adopts a culture orthe ways of a particular people, it will bebecause of one’s pleasure for such waysand customs. The heart having inclinedtowards the aliens, adopts their wayswhich it finds pleasing and attractive. But,Islam forbids its followers to inclinetowards the transgressors and the kuffaar.

3. Abdullah Bin Amr Bin A’s (ra) narratesthat once he had on him two garmentswhich were dyed a saffron colour. TheProphet of Allah (saws) commented:“These are among the attire of the kuffaar.Do not wear these.” (Muslim) Such bright coloured garments are notpermissible for men.

4. Hadrat Rukaanah (ra) narrates that theProphet of Allah (saws) said: “The turbantied on top of a topi is a differentiatingfactor between the mushrikeen and us.”(Tirmizi) Wearing of turbans is common to bothMuslims and non-Muslims. The Islamicaversion for imitation of non-Muslims isso great that it considered it necessary tocreate a difference in the wearing of theturban even if such difference was notvisibly discernable. Hence, the Prophet ofAllah (saws) ordered Muslims whodonned the turban to have a topi on as well.The turban will be tied on top of the topi.

5 Hadrat Ibn Umar (ra) narrates that theProphet of Allah (saws) said: “Whoeverimitates a nation (in its way and culture)becomes one of them.” (Ahmad, AbuDawood)If a Muslim adopts the appearance of thekaafir and faasiq, he will be associated withthem in the sin.6. Hadhrat Abu Raihanah (ra) narratesthat once the Prophet of Allah (saws)prohibited ten things. Among these tenthings prohibited was to line garmentswith silk in the style of the non-Muslims(of that time). (Abu awood, Nisaai)

7. Hadhrat Ibn Abbas (ra) narrates thatthe Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “Allahcurses those men who adopt theappearances of women and those womenwho adopt the appearances of men.”(Bukhari)

8. Hadhrat Ibn Abi Mulaikah (ra) narratesthat it was said to Aishah (ra) that a certainwoman wears shoes which resemble theshoes of men. Hadhrat Aishah (ra)commented: “The Prophet of Allah (saws)has cursed women who imitate men.”(Abu Dawood)Such imitation is greatly in vogue in ourday. In such imitation is a double sin. Onesin is the imitation of the opposite sex which in itself is prohibited. The other sinis the imitation of the kuffaar by adoptingtheir styles and fashions of dress.

9. Hadrat Hajjaj Bin Hassaan (ra)narrates: “We went to meet Hadrat Anas(the prominent Sahaabi; on this occasionHajjaaj was a little boy). My sisterMugheerah told me that at that time I wasa little kid and I had two plaits on my head,Hadrat Anas (ra) rubbed his hand over myhead, made dua for barkat and said: ‘Cutoff these plaits because this is the styleof the Jews.’ (Abu Dawood)

10. Hadrat Aamir Bin Sa’d (ra) narratingfrom his father says that the Prophet ofAllah (saws) said: “Maintain cleanlinessin front of your houses and do not imitatethe Jews.” (Tirmizi)

11. Hadrat Ibn Umr (ra) narrates that theProphet of Allah (saws) said: “Allahcurses the woman who adorns the hair (ofothers by means of adding hair) and theone who desires such adornment of hair,those who tattoo and who are tattooed.”(Bukhari, Muslim)Adorning hair by the addition of hairs forwomen is mentioned in this hadith. If thehair added is human hair, such adornmentwill be haram in all cases. If the hair isartificial and has not been made fromsome haram or impure substances, it willbe permissible for a married woman toresort to such adornment with thepermission of her husband and for the sakeof her husband. But such adornment willnot be permissible for unmarried womenbecause in presenting an artificialappearance with long hair is deception.She will be deceiving others. Tattooing isforbidden in all circumstances.

13. Hadrat Ali (ra) narrates that once theProphet of Allah (saws) had an Arabiancross-bow in his hand. On this occasionthe Prophet of Allah (saws) saw a crossbowof Persian origin in the hands of aMuslim. The Prophet of Allah (saws)commented: “Throw it (the Persian bow)away and take one like this (Arabian bow)….” (Ibn Majah)From this command of the Prophet ofAllah (saws) it is apparent that the objectsof use of other nations should notunnecessarily be adopted. This applies toweapons and all other items of use and benefit. If Muslims have their own equivalent, they should make use of their own products and not give preference to the products of the non-Muslims.

14. Hadrat Huzaifah (ra) narrates that theProphet of Allah (saws) said: “Recite theQur’an in Arabic style and tone (i.e.correct and with simplicity) and refrainfrom the style and tone of the People ofthe Book (Jews and Christians…..)”(Baihaqi)Even in reciting, the ways of othernations and of people who do not followthe Shariah should not be imitated.

16. Hadrat Abdullah Bin Amr Ibn A’s (ra)narrates that he heard the Prophet of Allah(saws) say: “A woman who imitates menand a man who imitates women are not ofus.” (Targheeb)It is very essential that Muslims adoptIslamic ways and methods in all theiraffairs, whether worldly or religious.There is great benefit in Muslimsmaintaining their Islamic identity in alltheir affairs and not only in matterspertaining to worship. The Qur’an and theHadith emphasise this. Hadrat AbdullahBin Umar (ra) narrates that the Prophetof Allah (saws) said: “My Ummah will besplit into seventy three sects of which all,save one, will be in the Fire.”People enquired: “Which group will besaved (from fire)?”The Prophet of Allah (saws) replied:“That group which will be on my path andthe path of my Sahabah.” (Tirmizi) ‘Path’ in the context of this hadith refers to the way which has to be followed.Following a way in opposition to it leadsto Hellfire. The Prophet of Allah (saws)did not restrict his ‘Path’ to any specificdepartment of the Shariah. This hadithcovers both mundane and spiritual matters.Affairs pertaining to our worldly life aswell as religious life are included in thePath of the Prophet of Allah (saws) andhis Sahabah. What actually constitutes the Path of the Prophet of Allah (saws)? Thisis not a question which everyone canexpound on the basis of his opinion. Inthis matter, the masses have no optionother than enquiring from the Ulama whounderstand these issues. They have tofollow the Ulama. Without following thedirection given by the Ulama, the religionof the masses will not be safe.