Is it Sunnah or is it permissible to buy new clothes for Eid, or does this spending on clothes for Eid come under the heading of imitating the disbelievers, as they buy new clothes for their celebrations?
The Muslim should dress for Eid in his best clothes, and go out to see his friends and visit his relatives looking and smelling good. This is something that is customary and well-known among people at all times, and this is their tradition; it is part of expressing joy and happiness on that day.
This is also indicated by the Sunnah.
Al-Bukhaari (948) and Muslim (2068) narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: ‘Umar found a suit of istabraq (a type of silk) being offered for sale in the market, so he took it and brought it to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah, buy this and adorn yourself with it for ‘Eid and for the delegations. The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “This is only a garment for the one who has no share in the Hereafter.” The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him did not object to adorning oneself for Eid; rather he told him that wearing this suit was haraam, because it was made of silk.
As-Sindi said in his commentary on an-Nasaa’i (3/181):
From this it is known that adorning oneself on the day of Eid was a tradition that was approved of among them, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not object to it, thus it is known that this tradition is valid and continued. End quote.
Shaykh Ibn Jibreen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
There are many Sunnahs and mustahabb actions in Eid prayer, one of which is adorn oneself for it and wear one’s best clothes. ‘Umar suggested to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) that he should buy the suit being offered for sale by ‘Utaarid and adorn himself with it for Eid and for the delegations, but he rejected it because it was made of silk, and he had a suit that he would wear on Eid and on Fridays. End quote.
Fataawa ash-Shaykh Ibn Jibreen (59/44)
Al-Haafiz Ibn Jareer (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Ibn Abi’d-Dunya and al-Bayhaqi narrated with a saheeh isnaad going back to Ibn ‘Umar that he used to wear his best clothes on the two Eids. End quote.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
It is Sunnah for men on Eid to adorn themselves and wear their best clothes. End quote.
Majmoo‘ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (13/2461)
So there is nothing wrong with a Muslim buying new clothes for the day of Eid, and that does not come under the heading of imitating the non-Muslims, even if they do that on their festivals and celebrations. With regard to everything that shar‘i evidence indicates is prescribed and recommended, doing it cannot come under the heading of imitation of the disbelievers that is prohibited.
With regard to good attitudes, for example, treating people kindly, being cheerful when meeting people, cleanliness, wearing perfume and other things that are prescribed, and there is shar‘i evidence to indicate that they are prescribed and recommended, the fact that some non-Muslims also do some of these things does not matter.
The imitation of disbelievers that is prohibited is doing things that are unique to them. As for things that are common to all people, and are not unique to the disbelievers, there is nothing wrong with the Muslims doing them.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about the guidelines on imitating or resembling the disbelievers.
He replied:
The guidelines on imitation refer to when the imitator does something that is unique to the one who is imitated. So imitating the disbelievers means that the Muslim does something that is unique to them. As for things that have become widespread among the Muslims, and are no longer unique to the disbelievers, that does not come under the heading of imitating or resembling others, so it is not haraam on the grounds that it is an imitation of the non-Muslims, unless it is haraam for some other reason. What we have said here is what is indicated by this word, and something similar was stated by the author of al-Fath when he said: Some of the early generations regarded it as makrooh to wear the burnoose, because it was the clothing of (Christian) monks. Maalik was asked about it and said: There is nothing wrong with it. It was said: But it is the clothing of the Christians. He said: It is worn here. End quote.
Majmoo‘ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (3/47-48)
See also the answers to questions no. 36442 and 108996
And Allah knows best.
