What is the ruling on studying Western (classical) architecture and building houses in the Western style? Is this considered imitating the disbelievers, taking into account that the early Muslims built mosques in the Roman and Persian styles? Is it permissible to combine Western and Islamic architecture and ornamentation to create a distinct Islamic style?

There is no objection to studying Western architecture or building houses in the Western architectural style. This falls under the category of beneficial customs that are permissible to adopt from non-Muslims, similar to how Muslims adopted ideas such as the trench (khandaq), administrative offices (dawawin), and the use of Roman dirhams and dinars, as well as the tools and weapons of disbelievers.

The prohibited imitation (tashabbuh) of disbelievers is limited to their false acts of worship, or their distinctive clothing and appearances that make a Muslim appear as a disbeliever. As for sciences, industries, and means of civilizational advancement, these are taken from any source, for "Wisdom is the lost property of the believer; wherever he finds it, he has a greater right to it."

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen clarifies that imitating disbelievers does not mean refraining from using their products; rather, it refers to imitating their clothing, ornaments, and specific customs, not merely riding what they ride or wearing what they wear.

Shaykh Muhammad Rashid Rida believes that borrowing from others is divided into three categories: 1. Beneficial arts and crafts: This type of borrowing may reach the level of legal obligation, such as arts related to military strength and physical health. 2. That which has neither benefit nor harm: It is preferable to abandon it, even if it is permissible, and it should not be intended as imitation. 3. That which contains harm: Its ruling is prohibition if the harm is certain, and dislike (karahah) if it is probable.

Building houses in the Western style falls under the second category; it is permissible, but it is preferable to abandon it if it can be dispensed with and there is no need for it.