further. Whether people realize itor not, believing otherwise would
imply one or more of the following dangerous conclusions:
1. that Allaah (T) was not truthful in declaring this completeness (I
seek refuge in Allaah from such a blasphemous thought.)
2. that Allaah (T) has forgotten or missed some details needed to
complete the Deen (again, I seek refuge in Allaah from such a
blasphemous thought.)
3. that Muhammad (S) hasneglected or forgotten to convey to us some
matters needed to complete the Deen (andagain, I seek refuge in Allaah
from such a blasphemous thought.)
This shows why Islaam warned so strongly against introducing bid'ahs
into the Deen. Wehave cited in the Introduction above the Prophet's
(S) words warning of bid'ahs. Imaam Maalik (r) said, Whoever innovates
in Islaam what he believes to be a good bid'ah would be [implicitly]
claiming that Muhammad(S) has betrayed the trust (of delivering the
full Message) He then recited the above aayah (8) from al-Maaidah.
Distinct Muslim Identity - Is there a Choice?
To some people, the universality of Islaam means that Muslims have the
full choice to resemble and behave in coherence with other people in
their localities (or in other locations as well). You continue to hear
questions like the following: Is it all that important for a Muslim
tohave a clear distinctive identity? Is it not sufficient to have a
strong belief within the heart and to perform Islaam fully but
privately?
Based on simple Islaamic principles, we can immediately conclude that
the answer to the first question is, simply, yes! And the answer to
the second question is, simply, no!
A true Muslim is always eager to associate with his fellow believers:
If anyone contends with the Messenger even after the Guidance has been
plainly conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that of the
believers, We shall leave him in the path he has chosen, and land him
in Hell: What an evil abode! [An-Nisaa (4:115)].
And a true Muslim is very anxious to be distinctive and different from
the non-believers. This attitude follows from the repeated
instructions of the Messenger (S): Be different from the Jews and the
Christians [Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim], Be different from the
disbelievers [Al- Bukhaaree and Muslim], and: Whoever imitates a
people is one of them. [Authentic; narrated by Ahmad]
Why is it so important to be distinctive and different from the
disbelievers? For the following reasons:
1. a) We Muslims are blessed with the best guidance. The Guidancefrom
the Lord of lords, from Allaah (T). This gives us true dignity and
pride that no one else has a claim to: Honor belongs to Allaah, to the
Messenger, and to the Believers . [Al- Munaafiqoon (63) 8]
2. b) The disbelievers are misguided, and their ways are based on sick
or deviant views concerning their societies, the universe, and their
very existence. Their actions frequently reflect their deviant
opinions. Why then would anyone ever think of imitating them? Yet
Muslims sometimes do just that -they imitate them in their most
unintelligible acts! The Messenger (S): You [Muslims] will [in
futuretimes] follow the ways of those [disbelieving] nations who
preceded you very closely; even ifthey enter into the holeof a lizard
you would follow them into it. [Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]
3. c) There is a substantial amount of evidence in Islaam leading to
the important rule: externalagreement or similarityresults in real
similarity and agreement of the hearts. Thus, resembling
disbelieversis Satan's first step in leading Muslims to behave and
believe likethe kuffaar (9) .
Differing from the kuffaar is of different levels or types, some of
which are more important than others. They can be broadly classified
as follows:
1. Islaam requires us to bedifferent from non-Muslims in matters which
are particular to their beliefs or worships, such as: wearing a cross,
attending their religious services, wearing monks' attires,displaying
or valuing their idols, etc. Imitating the kuffaar insuch matters
constitutes a major sin which is most possibly aform of disbelief that
leads to permanent abode in the Hell Fire (may Allaah (T) save us).
2. Islaam requires us to bedifferent from the kuffaar in matters which
are representative of them or are characteristic of their identity,
even if the religious aspect were not apparant in such matters.
Examples of this type of requirements: growing beards and trimming
moustaches, dying white hair, not to totally abandon womenin their
menses, etc.
3. Matters which can be classified under the above two types shouldbe
treated similarly, even if there is no specific text to require such
treatment. Examples: wearing the Western hat or wedding bands,
carrying pictures of family members, walking dogs, wasting time in
watching sportsgames and soap operas, etc.
4. As for other matters which are done by the kuffaar but are not
specific to them, the above texts inform us that we should still try
to be distinctive from them as much as possible.
5. What is stated above should not be taken to mean, for instance,
thatwe should not learn thesciences or use technology because
thekuffaar are currently itsleaders. Islaam requiresus to learn and
benefit from such forms knowledge, and this does not have to do with
the subject of being different from the disbelievers.
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