“And never will the Jews and the Christians approve of you until you follow their religion. Say: ‘Indeed, the guidance of Allah is the (only) guidance.’ If you were to follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, you would have against Allah no protector or helper.” (2:120)
• When a person meditates upon the histories of past nations, one will be amazed at the revolutions and transformations they went through. For instance, there was the Muslim pioneering 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. It was the nation that discovered the sources of knowledge and developed the Islamic civilization and sciences, which the West later obtained significantly, without having to exert the least of efforts.
• Rasulullah sallallaahu alayhi wasallam 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 inquired, ‘Do you mean the Jews and Christians, O Messenger of Allah?’ Rasulullah sallallaahu alayhi wasallam replied: ‘Who else?’ (Bukhari & Muslim) Rasulullah sallallaahu alayhi wasallam 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, O Messenger of Allah?’ Rasulullah sallallaahu alayhi wasallam replied: ‘Who are the nations (I could mean) except those?’ (Bukhari)
• The Muslims constitute the most guided nation in this life, and on the Day of Judgment Allah will make them witnesses over all other nations, as Allah says, "And thus We have made you a moderate community that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you…" (2:143). Indeed, this is a very prestigious position. How is it then that Muslims imitate others in their customs, traditions and feasts? Rasulullah sallallaahu alayhi wasallam also even forbade the Muslims from acquiring religious information from the People of the Book.
• Allah 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. It is also known that if a human being stays in the company of a certain type of animal, he would acquire 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.
• Furthermore, when a person adorns 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. Rasulullah sallallaahu alayhi wasallam said: ‘Whoever imitates a people is one of them.’ (Abu Dawood)
• The Muslim Nation should lead, not be led; others should depend on them and not the reverse. Western civilization is like a mirage, which when seen from a distance is like a large sea, but it is as Allah says, “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 Allah before him, and He (Allah) will pay him in full his due; and Allah is swift in account.” (24:39)
• If some people believe that the Muslim nation must change its ways for development, then let it be known that resorting to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of Rasulullah sallallaahu alayhi wasallam is the best means for change. Allah says, “…Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allah intends for a people ill, there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any patron.” (13:11)
• 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 Allah says, “…And whoever transgresses the limits of Allah – it is those who are the wrongdoers.” (2:229) and also, “…And who is more astray than one who follows his desire without guidance from Allah? Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.” (28:50)
• It is plainly evident that some people who imitate the polytheists in their clothes, manners, traditions or speak their language, harbour love and admiration for them. In this way, the polytheists succeed in disseminating ideas such as globalization and a universal religion which affect some poor-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.
Source:http://www.jamiat.co.za/newsletter/online_newsletter_0520.htm
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