By Sh Aaidh Al Qarni

Do not transform yourself into someone who you are not: do not mimic others. Many are those that feign to forget their own voices, movements, idiosyncrasies, and habits, in order to imitate others in their ways. Among the consequences of such behaviour are artificiality, unhappiness, and a destruction of one's own entity.

From Adam AS to the last born baby, no two people are exactly the same in appearance. Why then should they be the same in mannerism and tastes?

You are unique – none had been like you in the past and none shall be like you in the future. You are totally different from X or Y, so do not force upon yourself the blind following and imitation of others. Go forth according to your own nature and disposition.

“Each group of people knew its own place for water.” (Quran 2: 60) – “For every nation there is a direction to which they face, so hasten towards all that is good. (Quran 2: 148)

Be as you were created and do not change your voice or modify your walk. Cultivate your personality by following what is found in revelation, but do not render your existence void by imitating others and by depriving yourself of your individuality.

Your tastes and preferences are specific to you and we want you to stay as you are, especially because that is the way you were created and that is how we know you to be. The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: “And let no one among you be an imitator of others."