❖ Source: Extracted from the book Aḥkām wa Masā’il: Kitāb wa Sunnat kī Roshnī Mein by Shaykh Mubashshir Ahmad Rabbānī
Nowadays, some preachers and speakers in their sermons use jokes involving verses of the Qur’ān. For example, a well-known story is circulated: A certain "mawlawi" was leading ṣalāh while a sweet dish (ḥalwah) was in front of him. A cat approached it, and during his recitation of the verse:
﴿وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ﴾
he intentionally elongated the letter “ش” in "الشجرة" to scare the cat away.
Similarly, some say jokingly that due to hunger, even one’s intestines start reciting:
﴿قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ﴾
What is the ruling on such speech?
Speakers and preachers must avoid telling lies or making jokes in their sermons merely to make people laugh. Instead, preaching should be delivered with seriousness and dignity.
Those who lie to entertain people through jokes—particularly involving religion—are warned with destruction and ruin.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
ويل للذي يحدث فيكذب ليضحك به القوم، ويل له، ويل له
“Woe to the one who speaks lies to make people laugh—woe to him, woe to him!”
Sunan Abī Dāwūd – Book of Manners, ḥadīth 4990
Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī – Book of Asceticism, ḥadīth 2315
This ṣaḥīḥ ḥadīth clearly warns three times of wretchedness and destruction for the one who lies in speech to make others laugh.
Making jokes using Qur’ānic verses, or fabricating stories around them for humor, is a grave sin and can reach the level of disbelief (kufr). Participating in gatherings where Allah, His signs, or His Messenger ﷺ are mocked is strictly forbidden.
Allah Taʿālā says:
﴿قُلْ أَبِاللَّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَسُولِهِ كُنتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِئُونَ﴾
“Say: Was it Allah, His verses, and His Messenger that you were mocking?”
[Surah al-Tawbah: 65]
Then He said:
﴿لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا قَدْ كَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ﴾
“Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after your belief.”
[Surah al-Tawbah: 66]
✔ Making jokes with Qur’ānic verses is ḥarām (forbidden).
✔ It is an act that falls under mockery (istihzā’) of the religion.
✔ Such people may be deemed guilty of kufr and must repent sincerely.
✔ Participation in such gatherings is impermissible.
❖ Question:
Nowadays, some preachers and speakers in their sermons use jokes involving verses of the Qur’ān. For example, a well-known story is circulated: A certain "mawlawi" was leading ṣalāh while a sweet dish (ḥalwah) was in front of him. A cat approached it, and during his recitation of the verse:
﴿وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ﴾
he intentionally elongated the letter “ش” in "الشجرة" to scare the cat away.
Similarly, some say jokingly that due to hunger, even one’s intestines start reciting:
﴿قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ﴾
What is the ruling on such speech?
❖ Answer:
Speakers and preachers must avoid telling lies or making jokes in their sermons merely to make people laugh. Instead, preaching should be delivered with seriousness and dignity.
Those who lie to entertain people through jokes—particularly involving religion—are warned with destruction and ruin.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
ويل للذي يحدث فيكذب ليضحك به القوم، ويل له، ويل له
“Woe to the one who speaks lies to make people laugh—woe to him, woe to him!”
Sunan Abī Dāwūd – Book of Manners, ḥadīth 4990 Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī – Book of Asceticism, ḥadīth 2315This ṣaḥīḥ ḥadīth clearly warns three times of wretchedness and destruction for the one who lies in speech to make others laugh.
❖ Mockery of Qur’ānic Verses
Making jokes using Qur’ānic verses, or fabricating stories around them for humor, is a grave sin and can reach the level of disbelief (kufr). Participating in gatherings where Allah, His signs, or His Messenger ﷺ are mocked is strictly forbidden.
Allah Taʿālā says:
﴿قُلْ أَبِاللَّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَسُولِهِ كُنتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِئُونَ﴾
“Say: Was it Allah, His verses, and His Messenger that you were mocking?”
[Surah al-Tawbah: 65]
Then He said:
﴿لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا قَدْ كَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ﴾
“Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after your belief.”
[Surah al-Tawbah: 66]
❖ Final Verdict:
✔ Making jokes with Qur’ānic verses is ḥarām (forbidden).
✔ It is an act that falls under mockery (istihzā’) of the religion.
✔ Such people may be deemed guilty of kufr and must repent sincerely.
✔ Participation in such gatherings is impermissible.
