What Is a Muslim's Attitude Toward Those Who Mock the Religion?
ما هو موقف المسلم من الساخرين والمستهزئين؟
What is the Muslim's attitude towards cynics?
The answer gives three duties toward those who mock the religion: patience with their harm in calling to Allah (Hud 11:49), not taking them as allies (Al-Ma'idah 5:57), and turning away from them and not sitting with them while they mock Allah's verses (An-Nisa 4:140).
Islam teaches believers not to engage in petty arguments or lower their moral standards when faced with mockery. Instead, the Quran provides a clear, three step protocol for handling cynics with strength and dignity.
1. Patience Towards Harm
Being patient towards the harm done for the sake of Allah is one of the definite requirements when calling to Allah.
Allah Almighty says: (So be patient! Surely the ultimate outcome belongs only to the righteous.) Surah Hud 11: 49.
2. Refusing Guardianship and Alliance
Not taking as allies those who jest about, scoff at, and mock the religion.
Allah Almighty says: (O believers! Do not seek the guardianship of those given the Scripture before you and the disbelievers who have made your faith a mockery and amusement. And be mindful of Allah if you are truly believers.) Surah Al Ma'idah 5: 57.
3. Leaving Their Company
Turning away from them and not sitting with them.
Allah Almighty says: (He has already revealed to you in the Book that when you hear Allah's revelations being denied or ridiculed, then do not sit in that company unless they engage in a different topic) Surah An Nisa'a 4: 140.
ما هو موقف المسلم من الساخرين والمستهزئين؟
يذكر الجواب ثلاثة واجبات تجاه المستهزئين بالدين: الصبر على أذاهم في الدعوة إلى الله (هود 11:49)، وعدم موالاتهم (المائدة 5:57)، والإعراض عنهم وعدم مجالستهم حين يستهزئون بآيات الله (النساء 4:140).
يعلم الإسلام المؤمنين عدم الانخراط في نقاشات تافهة أو التنازل عن معاييرهم الأخلاقية عند مواجهة الاستهزاء. وبدلا من ذلك، يقدم القرآن بروتوكولا واضحا من ثلاث خطوات للتعامل مع الساخرين بقوة وكرامة.
الصبر على الأذى
الصبر على الأذى في سبيل الله أحد ثوابت الدعوة إلى الله.
قال الله تعالى: (فَاصْبِرْ ۖ إِنَّ الْعَاقِبَةَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ) هود 11: 49.
عدم الموالاة
عدم موالاة الهازلين الساخرين والمستهزئين.
قال الله تعالى: (يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا دِينَكُمْ هُزُوًا وَلَعِبًا مِّنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَالْكُفَّارَ أَوْلِيَاءَ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ) المائدة 5: 57.
الإعراض عنهم وعدم مجالستهم
الإعراض عنهم وعدم مجالستهم.
قال الله تعالى: (وَقَدْ نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الْكِتَابِ أَنْ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ يُكْفَرُ بِهَا وَيُسْتَهْزَأُ بِهَا فَلَا تَقْعُدُوا مَعَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ) النساء 4: 140.
1. Sitting With Them Means Sharing the Sin | المجالسة مشاركة في الإثم
Ibn Kathir explains you would then be like them (An-Nisa 4:140): if you commit what was forbidden after it reached you, accept to sit with them where Allah's verses are denied, mocked, and belittled, and let them go on, you share in what they are doing, in sin. He notes that the verse refers back to the earlier command in Al-An'am: when you see those who engage in mocking Our verses, turn away from them until they enter another topic (6:68).
وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ الَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ (سورة الأنعام: 68)
قال ابن كثير في قوله تعالى (إنكم إذا مثلهم): "أي: إذا ارتكبتم النهي بعد وصوله إليكم، ورضيتم بالجلوس معهم في المكان الذي يكفر فيه بآيات الله ويستهزأ وينتقص بها، وأقررتموهم على ذلك، فقد شاركتموهم في الذي هم فيه"، أي في المأثم، وبين أن النهي المحال عليه هو قوله تعالى في سورة الأنعام: وإذا رأيت الذين يخوضون في آياتنا فأعرض عنهم حتى يخوضوا في حديث غيره (الأنعام 6:68).
2. The Prophet's Patience After Ta'if | صبر النبي ﷺ بعد الطائف
Aisha asked the Prophet whether he had faced a day harder than Uhud. He described the day he offered himself to Ibn Abd Yalil and was rejected, then walked away in grief; the angel of the mountains came and offered to crush the people between the two mountains, and the Prophet said: Rather, I hope that Allah will bring from their descendants those who worship Allah alone, associating nothing with Him (Sahih al-Bukhari 3231). This is the patience in calling to Allah that the answer names first.
سألت عائشة النبي ﷺ: هل أتى عليك يوم كان أشد من يوم أحد؟ فذكر يوم عرض نفسه على ابن عبد ياليل فلم يجبه، فانطلق مهموما، فناداه ملك الجبال وعرض أن يطبق عليهم الأخشبين، فقال ﷺ: "بل أرجو أن يخرج الله من أصلابهم من يعبد الله وحده لا يشرك به شيئا" (صحيح البخاري 3231). وهذا هو الصبر على الأذى في الدعوة الذي ذكره الجواب أولا.
3. Hand, Tongue, Then Heart | باليد ثم اللسان ثم القلب
The Prophet said: Whoever among you sees a wrong, let him change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot, then with his heart, and that is the weakest of faith (Sahih Muslim 49). Hearing the religion mocked is such a wrong: a believer objects if he can, leaves the gathering, and never lets his heart accept it.
قال النبي ﷺ: "من رأى منكم منكرا فليغيره بيده، فإن لم يستطع فبلسانه، فإن لم يستطع فبقلبه، وذلك أضعف الإيمان" (صحيح مسلم 49). والاستهزاء بالدين من هذا المنكر: ينكره المؤمن إن استطاع، ويقوم من المجلس، ولا يرضى به قلبه.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Should a Muslim sit with people who are mocking the religion?
No. Allah forbids sitting with them until they turn to another topic (An-Nisa 4:140), and Ibn Kathir explains that whoever sits with them and lets them continue shares in their sin.
Can I take as close allies those who make fun of Islam?
No. Allah says: do not take as allies those who have taken your religion in mockery and play (Al-Ma'idah 5:57), as the answer states.
What if I cannot stop the mockery?
Do what you can. The Prophet said: whoever sees a wrong, let him change it with his hand, then his tongue, then his heart, and that is the weakest of faith (Sahih Muslim 49); leave the gathering if you cannot stop it.
How should a caller to Allah respond to people who mock him?
With patience, as the answer says: so be patient; the final outcome belongs to the righteous (Hud 11:49). After Ta'if the Prophet hoped for the guidance of those who rejected him (Sahih al-Bukhari 3231).