How has the custom of wearing the Jewish kippah become part of the devotional practices of Muslims, given the existence of religious texts that forbid imitating Jews, such as the Almighty’s saying: "O you who have believed, if you obey a party of those who were given the Scripture, they would turn you back to disbelief after your belief"?

Scholars and jurists have determined that clothing is a customary matter not subject to the rule of worship. Rather, it is among the permissible things in which Allah has given people wide latitude, and He did not command a specific type of clothing except in limited cases. Beyond that, reference is made to customs, within general Sharia guidelines. Imam Al-Shatibi mentioned that prevailing customs may change, and that the Sharia ruling varies with their variation. It was stated in the fatwas of the Permanent Committee that wearing a turban, ghutra, shmagh, and the like are permissible customary matters and not a Sunnah, and covering the head is not obligatory in prayer.

As for the "taqiyah," "ghutra," or "shmagh," it cannot be claimed that they are disconnected from the Arab-Islamic heritage or attributed to other nations, such as claiming they are Jewish. Proving the origin of a particular garment in one nation over another is difficult. Moreover, books of Arab heritage are full of acknowledgements of the "taqiyah" and its equivalents such as "qalansuwa," "wiqaya," "iraqiyya," "kufiyya," and "immar" as well-known and famous Arab garments. Jurists and imams have mentioned them in their rulings, and they were even narrated from some Companions.

Therefore, the upshot is that matters of clothing are shared among nations, and it is difficult to definitively determine the origin of head covering in any nation. One should not hasten to issue judgments and condemn others.