What Is the Ruling on Mocking the Religion?
ما حكم الاستهزاء بالدين؟
What is the ruling for mockery of religion?
The answer rules that mocking Allah, the Quran, or the Prophet is disbelief that takes a person out of Islam, citing At-Tawbah 9:65-66: Say, was it Allah, His verses, and His Messenger that you were mocking? Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after your belief.
Islam teaches that absolute respect for the Creator, His words, and His messengers is the core of faith. Mockery destroys this reverence completely.
The Islamic Ruling
If it is a mockery of Allah, the Quran, or the Prophet, it is considered infidelity and the one who does it is considered a disbeliever.
The Quranic Proof
This strict ruling is directly established by the words of Allah Almighty:
(If you question them, they will certainly say, "We were only talking idly and joking around." Say, "Was it Allah, His revelations, and His Messenger that you ridiculed?" Make no excuses! You have lost faith after your belief.) Surah Al Tawbah 9: 65 to 66.
ما حكم الاستهزاء بالدين؟
يبين الجواب أن الاستهزاء بالله تعالى أو بالقرآن أو بالرسول ﷺ كفر مخرج من الملة، ويستدل بقوله تعالى (التوبة 9:65-66): قل أبالله وآياته ورسوله كنتم تستهزئون، لا تعتذروا قد كفرتم بعد إيمانكم.
يعلمنا الإسلام أن الاحترام المطلق للخالق وكلماته ورسله هو جوهر الإيمان. والاستهزاء يدمر هذا التعظيم تماما.
الحكم الشرعي
إذا كان الاستهزاء بالله تعالى أو بالقرآن أو بالرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم: فهو كفر مخرج من الملة.
الدليل القرآني
وقد دل على هذا قول الله تعالى:
(وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّمَا كُنَّا نَخُوضُ وَنَلْعَبُ ۚ قُلْ أَبِاللَّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَسُولِهِ كُنتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِئُونَ * لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا قَدْ كَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ) التوبة 9: 65 إلى 66.
1. The Occasion of the Verses | سبب نزول الآيات
Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir report that these verses were revealed during the expedition to Tabuk. A group of hypocrites mocked the Prophet and the Quran reciters among his Companions; one said: We have not seen anyone like these reciters of ours, greedier in appetite, more lying in tongue, or more cowardly in battle. When the Prophet confronted them, one came clinging to the saddle of his camel, saying: We were only chatting and playing; and the Prophet answered only with the verse.
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّمَا كُنَّا نَخُوضُ وَنَلْعَبُ ۚ قُلْ أَبِاللَّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَسُولِهِ كُنتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِئُونَ (سورة التوبة: 65)
ذكر القرطبي وابن كثير أن هذه الآيات نزلت في غزوة تبوك، حين استهزأ ركب من المنافقين بالنبي ﷺ وبالقراء من أصحابه، فقال قائلهم: "ما رأيت مثل قرائنا هؤلاء، أرغب بطونا، ولا أكذب ألسنا، ولا أجبن عند اللقاء"، فلما بلغ ذلك النبي ﷺ جاءه أحدهم متعلقا بناقته يقول: إنما كنا نخوض ونلعب، فلم يزده على تلاوة الآية.
2. Joking With Disbelief Is Disbelief | الهزل بالكفر كفر
Al-Qurtubi quotes Ibn al-Arabi: whether what they said was serious or in jest, it is disbelief either way, for joking with disbelief is disbelief, and there is no disagreement about this in the Ummah. He adds that earnestness is the brother of knowledge and truth, and jesting is the brother of falsehood and ignorance.
قال القرطبي: "قال القاضي أبو بكر بن العربي: لا يخلو أن يكون ما قالوه من ذلك جدا أو هزلا، وهو كيفما كان كفر، فإن الهزل بالكفر كفر لا خلاف فيه بين الأمة. فإن التحقيق أخو العلم والحق، والهزل أخو الباطل والجهل".
3. Do Not Sit With Those Who Mock | لا تقعدوا مع المستهزئين
Allah says: He has revealed to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah being denied and mocked, do not sit with them until they turn to another topic; otherwise you would be like them (An-Nisa 4:140). A believer who hears the religion mocked must object or leave.
وَقَدْ نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الْكِتَابِ أَنْ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ يُكْفَرُ بِهَا وَيُسْتَهْزَأُ بِهَا فَلَا تَقْعُدُوا مَعَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ (سورة النساء: 140)
قال الله تعالى: وقد نزل عليكم في الكتاب أن إذا سمعتم آيات الله يكفر بها ويستهزأ بها فلا تقعدوا معهم حتى يخوضوا في حديث غيره إنكم إذا مثلهم (النساء 4:140). فعلى المؤمن إذا سمع الاستهزاء بالدين أن ينكره أو يقوم.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What is the ruling on mocking the religion?
The answer rules that mocking Allah, the Quran, or the Prophet is disbelief that takes a person out of Islam, because Allah said to those who mocked: make no excuse; you have disbelieved after your belief (At-Tawbah 9:66).
Does saying it was just a joke excuse it?
No. The hypocrites of Tabuk said: we were only chatting and playing, and Allah rejected their excuse (At-Tawbah 9:65-66). Ibn al-Arabi states that joking with disbelief is disbelief without disagreement in the Ummah.
When were these verses revealed?
During the expedition to Tabuk, about hypocrites who mocked the Prophet and the Quran reciters among his Companions, as al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir report.
What should I do if I hear people mocking the religion?
Object or leave. Allah forbids sitting with those who deny and mock His verses until they turn to another topic (An-Nisa 4:140).