Hadith: By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, you will follow the ways of those before you

عَنْ أَبِي وَاقِدٍ اللَّيْثِيِّ رضي الله عنه:
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَمَّا خَرَجَ إِلَى حُنَيْنٍ مَرَّ بِشَجَرَةٍ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ يُقَالُ لَهَا: ذَاتُ أَنْوَاطٍ يُعَلِّقُونَ عَلَيْهَا أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ، فَقَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، اجْعَلْ لَنَا ذَاتَ أَنْوَاطٍ كَمَا لَهُمْ ذَاتُ أَنْوَاطٍ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «سُبْحَانَ اللهِ! هَذَا كَمَا قَالَ قَوْمُ مُوسَى {اجْعَلْ لَنَا إِلَهًا كَمَا لَهُمْ آلِهَةٌ} [الأعراف: 138] وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَتَرْكَبُنَّ سُنَّةَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ».
[صحيح] - [رواه الترمذي وأحمد] - [سنن الترمذي: 2180]

Abu Wāqid al-Laythi (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) set out for Hunayn, he passed by a tree of the polytheists called Dhāt Anwāt, upon which they used to hang their weapons. They said: O Messenger of Allah, make for us a Dhāt Anwāt just as they have a Dhāt Anwāt. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Glory be to Allah! This is like what the Children of Israel said to Mūsa (Moses): {Make for us a god just as they have gods.} [Sūrat al-A'rāf: 138] By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, you will follow the ways of those before you."
[Authentic hadith] - [Narrated by At-Termedhy & Ahmad] - [Sunan At-Termedhy - 2180]

Explanation

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) set out for Hunayn, a valley between Tā’if and Makkah, and he was accompanied by some of the Companions who had recently embraced Islam. They passed by a tree called Dhāt Anwāt, i.e., on which things were hung. The polytheists used to revere it and hang their weapons and other things upon it to seek blessing. Thinking it was permissible, they asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to make them a tree like this one upon which they could hang their weapons to seek blessing. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) exalted Allah by way of disapproval of such a request and by way of extolling Allah. He informed them that their statement was similar to that which the people of Moses had said to him: {Make for us a god just as they have gods} When they saw those who were worshipping idols and asked to have idols like those of the polytheists, he clarified to them that by this, they were indeed following their ways. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed by way of warning that this Ummah will follow the ways of the Jews and Christians and will copy their acts.