Commentary:

Imitating Jews and Christians In this hadith the Prophet of Allah (saws) has given a clear prophecy that this Ummah will follow the past nations and imitate them in almost all of their actions even if he entered the iguanas hole there will be some people in this Ummah who will also enter it. And in the other hadith it has been foretold that if some people in those nations went unto their mothers then in this Ummah too there will be some people who will go unto their mothers, God forbid. When the companions of the Holy Prophet (saws) had asked him if he meant the Jews and Christians whom this Ummah will start to follow, then he confirmed this and answered in the affirmative.

This makes it clear to us that this Ummah will start to imitate the Jewish and Christian nations and at last will be ruined. They will follow them in their beliefs, actions, customs and traditions, manner and culture and in all other aspects. Today this prophecy might be clearly understood. If the Jews and Christians had raised their prophets and saints to the status of God and as a result they started to worship them by establishing tombs, the same is being done by the Muslims. Many Muslims consider these tombs and their dwellers as solvers of their problems as a result they visit them and beg their needs to be fulfilled over there. In the same way, they follow them in other matters.

As for the statement of the Prophet (saws) “if they entered an iguana’s hole, then you will follow them” in this the Prophet has particularly used the example of an iguana for the reason that its hole is extremely narrow. Its hole has openings from two sides. If it enters one opening, it comes out of the another and in this way it deceives the people. It means that if the Jews or Christians did something only with great difficulty in which there will be no benefit even then you will follow them. (Fath al-bari, 6:498)

When you will follow them in matters which will be of no benefit for you, then you will even more ardently and enthusiastically follow them in matters that will give you some obvious benefits. Today we see that a large group of this Ummah finds it to be proud to practice the fashion and style of those who are pervert, enemies of God, and great corruptors on this earth. Despite this fact many Muslims copy them and they think it to be a matter of great honor and respect for themselves.

Even in many Muslim circles, immodesty, nakedness, and immorality which are the hallmark of the Jewish and Christian nations are proudly welcomed. In the rich class especially those who are educated and especially in the women this curse is more widely practiced and this evil being more popular as an integral part of their lives. These people have even lost the sense whether it is of any benefit for them to imitate them in these things. But they do that though they have some difficulty. On the contrary, there is a lot of benefit and facility in following the Shariah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (saws). Sadly enough, this westernized group is unable to understand. May Allah guide them!