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Fatwa CenterImitation of disbelievers is dispraised
Question
What is the ruling on shaving the beard? What is the ‘Awrah (parts of the body that must be covered according to Islam) of men and women? What is imitation of disbelievers? What is its ruling? What is the ruling on eating or drinking from silver or gold pots?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
The ruling on shaving the beard was previously mentioned in Fataawa 87648 and 84474. The ‘Awrah of men and women was previously defined in Fataawa 84062 and 90940.
Imitating disbelievers is forbidden, whether in dress or in any other way. According to scholars, the criterion of this imitation is that the person who imitates does something that is particular to the one who is being imitated. Thus, any kind of clothing that is particular to disbelievers would not be permissible for Muslims to wear like, for instance, certain hats and the garments worn by priests and monks. However, clothes that have become popular among Muslims and are no longer particular to disbelievers, such as pants and jackets, are permissible to wear. This is provided that they are not prohibited for other reasons; such as being tight, not covering the ‘Awrah or if they are made of silk, which is prohibited for men.
Al-Haafith Ibn Hajar 
said that if a certain dress once symbolized disbelievers then afterwards it ceased to be so, it would no longer be disliked to wear. Ibn Hajar quoted evidence that this was also the opinion adopted by Imaam Maalik, .
It is dispraised to imitate the things that are characteristic of disbelievers; and it is this kind of imitation that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam , was referring to when he told us that anyone who imitated a certain group of people would be considered one of them. [Ahmad & Abu-Daawood]
It is prohibited to eat from pots (utensils) that are made of silver or gold. It was narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that whoever drinks from utensils made of silver or gold is swallowing fire and pouring it into his stomach. He added that these things are for the disbelievers to enjoy in the worldly life and for Muslims to enjoy in the Hereafter. [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]
Allaah Knows best.
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