Section Four
Fundamental Principles Concerning Imitation

By surveying the proofs from the Noble Qur’an and the purified Sunnah that forbid Muslims from imitating the disbelievers—and by citing the consensus of the early, virtuous generations—the author leads us to the following conclusions:

• Deliberate divergence from the ways of the unbelievers, foreigners, and the like is an objective of the Lawgiver. In principle, imitation of them is prohibited in most of their religious and worldly affairs.

• Certain practices have been expressly forbidden by name in the Sunnah: building over graves and turning them into places of prayer, shaving the beard while leaving the mustache, eating and drinking with the left hand, and similar matters.

• Contradicting them in their general customs is better for us—Muslims—in both our worldly life and our Hereafter.

• A group from within the Muslim community will inevitably imitate the disbelievers, as the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) foretold. Nevertheless, Allah has warned against this and commanded the believers to cling to the truth, remain steadfast, and be patient, even when some among them fall into the forbidden.

• Nothing in the practices of the disbelievers, whether religious or worldly, is free from eventual corruption or deficiency—even their celebrated mastery of worldly affairs. Following them in such matters can harm us, in our worldly life, our religion, or both, even if we do not immediately perceive that harm.