The Maulana who comes to visit us in prison in Bloemfontein, says that it is not necessary to wear a topi and kurtah.

Answer

The character who visits you is a moron. He is not a Maulana. He is a deceit masquerading as a Maulana. The fake 'maulana' who claims that topis and kurtahs are not a dress-code of Islam is astray. He appears to be a modernist. He lacks in Islamic understanding. Every Muslim nation, be they African, Arab, Indian, Chinese, etc., has its own form of Islamic dress, and all Muslim nations have a kurtah which differs somewhat in style. The Kurtah which the Indian and Pakistani Ulama wear was the type of kurtah which our Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and the Sahaabah wore. There may be a slight difference, but it is basically the same style.

You will always find that those so -called learned persons who advocate against the Islamic dress code are liberals and modernists. They lack in Islamic morals. They prefer the dress style of the western kuffaar. Western dress is very appealing to them. They imitate American and European styles to satisfy their desire (nafs). He displays an attitude of kufr, hence he inclines to kuffaar styles and ways of the unbelievers.