Is the imāmah from the sunnah or is it from the customs of the ‘Arabs?

Answered by our Shaykh, the ‘Allaamah, the Sincere Adviser, Abu ‘Abdirrahman Yahya bin ‘Ali Al-Hajoori – may Allaah preserve him –

Question:

Is the imāmah from the sunnah or is it from the customs of the ‘Arabs?

Answer:

It’s from the customs of the ‘Arabs, and those that wear it with the intention of taking an example in the messenger of Allaah ﷺ are rewarded. It’s from the adornment which is befitting to be acted upon, due to the statement Allaah, the Most High:

“يَٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ خُذُوا۟ زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ”
“O Children of Adam! Take your adornment when ˹praying˺ in the masājid.” [Al-A’rāf:31]

And the hadith:

“إن الله جميل يحب الجمال”
“Indeed Allaah is beautiful and He loves beauty”
[Reported by Muslim]

And Az-Zuhri, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said : “The imāmah is the crown of the ‘Arabs”

Translated by : Abu ‘Abdirrahman ‘Abdullaah bin Ahmed Ash-Shingaani

Original Fatwa:
الكنز الثمين في الإجابة على أسئلة طلبة العلم والزائرين (4 (https://www.sh-yahia.net/show_books_39.html)
Under: كتاب اللّباس
Entitled: حكم العمامة