Let’s start off by looking at the definition of imitating. The word imitates means to 'take as model', 'to mimic/copy'. It also means 'to take example of'.   Here, the question arises regarding "What clothes should be worn according to Shari’ah"? Shari’ah says that anything which is worn to cover up the satr (prescribed areas of concealment for men and women) is permissible. (For men this is from the navel to beneath the knees and for women it is her whole body). This means a man could wear a 3 piece suit but it depends on the intention of the person. If he wears it with the intention to cover his satr, then it is deemed permissible but if it were worn to integrate amongst the people then that is imitation. Likewise, a person can wear jeans if he wears it with the intention to cover himself but for example if he bought a pair specifically that was torn near the knee as part of its design whereas he had the choice to buy a pair that was just plain, then that would be imitation. This means that we can wear shirts and jeans etc. so long as we have the correct intention, but why is it that we see so many scholars and religious people wearing the turban and the long dress.  

 

Think of the all the good effects that can happen to our afterlife if we imitate the Holy Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) of Allah Taa’la and take Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah  (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam)  as an example and make Him our role model. He was the best of creation and the perfect example of how to lead our lives. There is a Hadith of the Prophet that "a person will be with whom he loves the most". People tend to copy their idols and those they hold high in their eyes, therefore by copying the clothing that the prophet wore or that which has a close resemblance, this is a manner in which we can show our love for the prophet and be with him on the day of judgement. Like the Prophet said "whoever imitates a group he is from them" meaning that whoever imitates a group will be raised with them on the day of judgement. If we imitate the Prophet, the on the Day of Resurrection we will be raised with him and he will intercede on behalf of us to Allah Taa’la.

 

(VERILY, ALLAH TAA’LA IS ALL-KNOWING!)