You would tread the same path as was trodden by those before you inch by inch and step by step so much so that if they had entered into the hole of the lizard, you would follow them in this also. We said: Allah's Messenger, do you mean Jews and Christians (by your words)" those before you"? He said: Who else (than those two religious groups)?
The Book of Knowledge - Sahih Muslim 2669a
This narration from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) serves as a profound warning against blind imitation of previous nations in their deviations and innovations. The Messenger of Allah draws a powerful analogy, indicating that the Muslim ummah would follow the footsteps of earlier communities with such precision that even if they entered a lizard's burrow—a metaphor for obscure and trivial matters—Muslims would imitate them therein.
Scholarly Commentary
The "inch by inch and step by step" progression indicates gradual deviation from the straight path, where small innovations accumulate until complete departure from authentic tradition occurs. This mirrors the historical pattern of earlier revelations being corrupted through human interpolation and cultural assimilation.
The lizard's hole represents following previous nations in their most insignificant and baseless practices. Just as a lizard's burrow is narrow, dark, and inconsequential, so too are many innovations that communities adopt without proper religious basis.
When the companions asked whether he referred to Jews and Christians, the Prophet's confirmation establishes that the primary warning concerns the People of the Book, whose religious practices underwent significant alteration from their original forms. This serves as a perpetual caution against uncritical adoption of foreign cultural and religious practices that contradict Islamic teachings.
Contemporary Application
Scholars throughout Islamic history have applied this hadith to warn against blind imitation of non-Islamic cultures in matters of belief, worship, and social conduct. The preservation of Islamic identity requires conscious adherence to Quran and Sunnah while avoiding unnecessary assimilation of practices that contradict Islamic principles.
This prophetic warning remains profoundly relevant today, reminding Muslims to evaluate all practices through the lens of authentic Islamic sources rather than following trends or traditions simply because they are popular or prevalent among other communities.