Question: It is spread between the women today to carry a handbag when they leave the house and sometimes there is nothing in it and there is no need for it. So what is the ruling of this and is it imitating the disbelieving women or not?
Answer: If this matter came from the enemies of Islaam, then it is imitating the enemies of Islaam. Whoever imitates a people is like one of them*.
And much of what deceives the women and youth is from the enemies of Islaam. As for the government [I.e. Yemeni government] then it has dissolved [i.e. from communism] and turned to Haawiyyah [I.e. followers of Zaydi beliefs]
[Taken from Ghaaritul Ashritah (1/102) as cited in Ahaam Fataawa li-Nisaa min masaail al-Imam al- mujadid Shaikh Muqbil pg 96]
* The Shaikh is referring to the Hadith:
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ ”
On the authority of Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet said:
He who copies any people is one of them
[Reported in Sunan Abu Dawood and Graded Saheeh by Al-Albani in Saheeh Sunan Abi Dawood no. 4031]
Translated by
Faisal ibn Abdul Qaadir ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
