The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "You will follow the ways of those nations who were before you, span by span and cubit by cubit (i.e., inch by inch) so much so that even if they entered a hole of a mastigure, you would follow them." We said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! (Do you mean) the Jews and the Christians?" He said, "Whom else?"
Holding Fast to the Qur'an and Sunnah
Sahih al-Bukhari 7320
Thematic Analysis
This profound hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari serves as a stern warning against blind imitation of non-Muslim nations in matters of religion, worldview, and cultural practices that contradict Islamic teachings.
The phrase "span by span and cubit by cubit" indicates gradual assimilation, where Muslims initially adopt minor foreign practices until they eventually embrace major deviations from Islamic principles.
Scholarly Commentary
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains in Fath al-Bari that this prophecy describes how Muslims will gradually abandon their distinctive Islamic identity by imitating previous nations in their religious innovations, moral corruptions, and worldly customs.
Al-Qurtubi notes that the "hole of a mastigure" symbolizes following others into the most insignificant and contemptible matters, indicating complete spiritual and cultural submission.
The Prophet's confirmation that he meant Jews and Christians emphasizes that imitation of People of the Book in their religious innovations and deviations constitutes a grave danger to Muslim identity.
Practical Implications
This hadith obliges Muslims to maintain their religious distinctiveness while permitting beneficial worldly knowledge from other civilizations.
Scholars distinguish between permissible adoption of useful worldly technologies and impermissible imitation in religious matters, moral values, and identity markers that contradict Islamic teachings.
The preservation of Islamic identity requires conscious adherence to Qur'an and Sunnah while critically evaluating foreign cultural influences.