This excerpt is taken from the book Aḥkām wa Masāʾil in the Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah by Shaykh Mubashshir Aḥmad Rabbānī.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ قُلْ أَبِاللَّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَسُولِهِ كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِئُونَ لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا قَدْ كَفَرْتُمْ بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ ﴾
“Say: Was it Allah, His verses, and His Messenger that you were mocking? Make no excuses; indeed, you have disbelieved after your belief.”
Anyone who mocks a religious person or one who is regular in prayer, because of his religiosity or adherence to prayer, is considered a mocking of religion itself. Such a person’s company and companionship are not permissible. Rather, it is obligatory to refute him and to strongly emphasize avoiding his company.
Similarly, a person who presents religious matters lightly or in a joking, mocking manner is also considered to have fallen into disbelief. Sitting with such a person and keeping his company is likewise impermissible. It is obligatory to refute him, to avoid him, and to persistently warn against him.
Such a person should be called towards sincere repentance. If he repents, then all praise is for Allah. But if he does not repent, then—after his evil actions are proven through the testimony of upright witnesses—his matter should be presented before the ruler of the time, so that Allah’s ruling may be enforced upon him through the Sharīʿah courts.
In any case, these are extremely dangerous matters. It is obligatory upon every student of knowledge and every Muslim to avoid them personally and to warn those who adopt a mocking or insulting approach toward religious matters, lest such behavior corrupt one’s very creed.
We supplicate that Allah Almighty protects all Muslims from everything that contradicts the Sharīʿah, safeguards them from their enemies (the disbelievers and polytheists), and grants them steadfastness upon the Qur’an and Sunnah in all circumstances. Indeed, He is Most Generous and Most Kind.
Question
I observe that many youths mock those young people who are committed to religion and punctual in prayer. Likewise, some youths speak about religion carelessly and in a derogatory, mocking manner. What is the Islamic ruling regarding such people? Is it permissible to sit with and associate with them?Answer
Mocking Islam or any part of it is the greatest form of disbelief (kufr).Allah Almighty says:
﴿ قُلْ أَبِاللَّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَسُولِهِ كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِئُونَ لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا قَدْ كَفَرْتُمْ بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ ﴾
Reference: at-Tawbah: 65–66
“Say: Was it Allah, His verses, and His Messenger that you were mocking? Make no excuses; indeed, you have disbelieved after your belief.”
Anyone who mocks a religious person or one who is regular in prayer, because of his religiosity or adherence to prayer, is considered a mocking of religion itself. Such a person’s company and companionship are not permissible. Rather, it is obligatory to refute him and to strongly emphasize avoiding his company.
Similarly, a person who presents religious matters lightly or in a joking, mocking manner is also considered to have fallen into disbelief. Sitting with such a person and keeping his company is likewise impermissible. It is obligatory to refute him, to avoid him, and to persistently warn against him.
Such a person should be called towards sincere repentance. If he repents, then all praise is for Allah. But if he does not repent, then—after his evil actions are proven through the testimony of upright witnesses—his matter should be presented before the ruler of the time, so that Allah’s ruling may be enforced upon him through the Sharīʿah courts.
In any case, these are extremely dangerous matters. It is obligatory upon every student of knowledge and every Muslim to avoid them personally and to warn those who adopt a mocking or insulting approach toward religious matters, lest such behavior corrupt one’s very creed.
We supplicate that Allah Almighty protects all Muslims from everything that contradicts the Sharīʿah, safeguards them from their enemies (the disbelievers and polytheists), and grants them steadfastness upon the Qur’an and Sunnah in all circumstances. Indeed, He is Most Generous and Most Kind.
