Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
Mocking Allah, His Messenger ﷺ, His Book (the Qur’ān), or the religion of Islam—whether done jokingly or merely to make people laugh—is an act of kufr (disbelief) and nifāq (hypocrisy).
During the time of the Prophet ﷺ, some hypocrites mocked the noble Companions (رضي الله عنهم), saying:
"We have never seen people more greedy for food, more lying in speech, and more cowardly in battle than these reciters of ours."
They meant the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his Companions. Allah ﷻ revealed:
﴿وَلَئِن سَأَلتَهُم لَيَقولُنَّ إِنَّما كُنّا نَخوضُ وَنَلعَبُ﴾ [al-Tawbah: 65]
"If you ask them, they will surely say, ‘We were only conversing and playing.’"
When they tried to excuse themselves as joking to pass the time, Allah commanded the Prophet ﷺ to respond:
﴿أَبِاللَّهِ وَءَايـتِهِ وَرَسولِهِ كُنتُم تَستَهزِءونَ • لا تَعتَذِروا قَد كَفَرتُم بَعدَ إيمـنِكُم﴾ [al-Tawbah: 65–66]
"Was it Allah, His verses, and His Messenger that you were mocking? Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after your belief."
All are sacred and must be held in utmost respect. Mocking them—even in jest—is:
Whoever commits such an act must:
① Repent sincerely to Allah.
② Seek forgiveness for the sin.
③ Regret deeply and reform his conduct.
④ Instill fear, reverence, and love for Allah in his heart.
The Ruling
Mocking Allah, His Messenger ﷺ, His Book (the Qur’ān), or the religion of Islam—whether done jokingly or merely to make people laugh—is an act of kufr (disbelief) and nifāq (hypocrisy).
Evidence from the Qur’ān
During the time of the Prophet ﷺ, some hypocrites mocked the noble Companions (رضي الله عنهم), saying:
"We have never seen people more greedy for food, more lying in speech, and more cowardly in battle than these reciters of ours."
They meant the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his Companions. Allah ﷻ revealed:
﴿وَلَئِن سَأَلتَهُم لَيَقولُنَّ إِنَّما كُنّا نَخوضُ وَنَلعَبُ﴾ [al-Tawbah: 65]
"If you ask them, they will surely say, ‘We were only conversing and playing.’"
When they tried to excuse themselves as joking to pass the time, Allah commanded the Prophet ﷺ to respond:
﴿أَبِاللَّهِ وَءَايـتِهِ وَرَسولِهِ كُنتُم تَستَهزِءونَ • لا تَعتَذِروا قَد كَفَرتُم بَعدَ إيمـنِكُم﴾ [al-Tawbah: 65–66]
"Was it Allah, His verses, and His Messenger that you were mocking? Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after your belief."
Why This Is So Serious
- Rubūbiyyah – The Lordship and Divinity of Allah
- Risālah – The station and honor of the Messenger ﷺ
- Waḥy – The revelation of Qur’ān and Sunnah
- Dīn al-Islām – The religion as a whole
All are sacred and must be held in utmost respect. Mocking them—even in jest—is:
- Kufr because it belittles Allah, His Messenger, His Book, or His Sharīʿah.
- Nifāq as explicitly described by Allah in the Qur’ān.
Required Action for the One Who Falls into This Sin
Whoever commits such an act must:
① Repent sincerely to Allah.
② Seek forgiveness for the sin.
③ Regret deeply and reform his conduct.
④ Instill fear, reverence, and love for Allah in his heart.
