The Ruling on a Dhimmī Who Commits Blasphemy Against the Prophet ﷺ
Author: Imran Ayub Lahori
❖ Incident Reported by Ḥaḍrat Anas رضي الله عنه
Anas رضي الله عنه narrates:
A Jew once passed by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said:
«السام عليك»
"Death be upon you."
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
«وعليك»
"And upon you."
The Companions sought permission to kill him, but the Prophet ﷺ said:
«لا ، إذا سلم عليكم أهل الكتاب فقولوا وعليكم»
"No. Rather, when the People of the Book greet you with such words, reply only with 'Wa ʿalaikum'."
[Bukhārī: 6926, Kitāb Istitābat al-Murtaddīn: Bāb idhā ʿarraḍa alladhī aw ghayruhu bi sabb al-nabī walam yuṣarriḥ naḥwa qawlihi al-sām ʿalaik; Musnad Aḥmad 3/210; al-Nasā’ī fī ʿAmal al-Yawm wa-al-Laylah: 385]
❖ Scholarly Differences Regarding a Dhimmī Blasphemer
✔ Imām Aḥmad, Imām al-Shāfiʿī, Imām Mālik رحمهُم الله:
If a dhimmī (non-Muslim under Muslim protection) insults the Prophet ﷺ and does not accept Islam, he is to be executed.
✔ Ḥanafī Scholars:
If a dhimmī commits blasphemy, he should be beaten severely; if a Muslim does so, he is considered an apostate.
✔ al-Ṭaḥāwī رحمه الله:
If Jews commit such acts, their disbelief is in fact even worse than their insults.
✔ Ibn Ḥajar and al-Shawkānī رحمهما الله:
The Prophet ﷺ did not order the Jew’s execution either due to the maslahah (wisdom) of softening hearts (ta’līf al-qulūb), or because they did not use explicit words of abuse, or due to both reasons together—and this explanation is preferable.
[Nayl al-Awṭār 4/652; Ghāyat al-Muntahā 3/359; al-Qawānīn al-Fiqhiyyah, p.364]
❖ Preferred Opinion (Rājiḥ Qawl)
If the insult is not explicit but rather veiled, indirect, or in the form of hints and insinuations, then it is better not to kill them.
However, if they openly commit clear blasphemy, then execution becomes prescribed.
[Fatḥ al-Bārī 14/284]
❖ Conclusion
- There is scholarly consensus on the severity of insulting the Messenger ﷺ.
- Regarding dhimmīs, some scholars prescribe execution, others prescribe severe punishment.
- The stronger opinion is:
- Indirect insults → not killed.
- Explicit insults → executed.
