Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah preserve him and benefit us by him)
To what degree should we be assimilated into Western society?
We can be assimilated as long as everything we do is condoned by the Sacred Law and as long as that assimilation brings benefit to Allah’s servants whether they are Muslim or non-Muslim. One of the blessings of Allah is His saying: Allah has made faith beloved to you and has made it beautiful in your hearts; and He has made disbelief, corruption, and disobedience hateful to you; such are those who are rightly guided – a grace and favour from Allah, and Allah is All-Knowing, Wise (49:7-8).