All such practices are entirely different from walking between al-Ṣafā and al-Marwah and the other rites of pilgrimage, for those are among the symbols ordained by Allah—even though, in a general sense, the people of the Age of Ignorance also used to perform them.

We have already quoted al-Bukhārī’s narration from ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb, who wrote to the Muslims residing in Persia: “Beware of adopting the dress of the idolaters.”(1) This is a blanket prohibition from him against wearing anything that constitutes the distinctive attire of the polytheists.

Imām Aḥmad likewise reports in the Musnad: Yazīd narrated to us; ʿĀṣim narrated to us; from Abū ʿUthmān al-Nahdī, from ʿUmar, who said:

“Wrap your waist-cloths, don your cloaks, put on your sandals, wear leather socks and trousers, steady your knees, vault quickly onto your mounts, keep to the Arab ways, practice shooting at targets, and abandon luxury and the dress of the non-Arabs. Beware of silk, for the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—has forbidden it and said, ‘Do not wear silk except something like this,’ whereupon he gestured with two fingers.”(4)