Topic Seven
When is it permissible to imitate non-Muslims?

Because the Islamic Sharīʿah has been sent down for the welfare and rectification of humankind, and is marked by ease, leniency, the weighing of benefits, and the removal of harm, it has provided rulings for cases of necessity that lift hardship from a Muslim when he is faced with it. The author therefore points to an important matter regarding the prohibition of imitating the disbelievers, foreigners, and the like. After establishing the general rule, he states that an exception exists: if a Muslim encounters a situation in which he is compelled to imitate the disbelievers, doing so is permissible—yet only to the extent required by the necessity.

He illustrates this with the following example:

“Similarly today, were a Muslim to be living in a land of war (dār ḥarb) or in a non-belligerent land of unbelief (dār kufr ghayr ḥarb), he would not be obliged to differ from them in outward appearance, for doing so would bring him harm. In fact, it may even be recommended, or at times obligatory, for him to share in their outward customs when a religious benefit is thereby obtained—such as inviting them to Islam, gaining insight into their inner affairs in order to inform the Muslims, warding off harm from the Muslims, and other worthy objectives.”(1)

He then adds that in Muslim lands none of this is allowed, because in those lands the Sharīʿah has prescribed that we manifest our distinction from them.(2)