The Islamic stance on mocking the religion or the Sunnah

The Islamic stance on mocking the religion or the Sunnah

Undoubtedly, belief in Allah, His Messenger, and His religion cannot coexist with mockery of His religion, law, and the Sunnah of His Messenger, peace be upon him.

Allah Almighty has prohibited mocking His religion, as stated in the Quran:

وَلَا تَتَّخِذُوا آيَاتِ اللَّهِ هُزُوًا) [البقرة: 231])

.[ Do not take Allah’s revelations lightly.] 2:231

For this reason, Allah has decreed the judgment against those who mock Muhammad and his Companions by saying:

قُلْ أَبِاللَّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَسُولِهِ كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِئُونَ * لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا قَدْ كَفَرْتُمْ بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ) [التوبة: 65، 66])

[Say, “Was it Allah, His revelations, and His Messenger that you ridiculed?” Make no excuses! You have lost faith after your belief.] 9:65-66

The reason for the revelation of this verse is that during the Tabuk expedition, some hypocrites began conversing among themselves, saying: "We have not seen the likes of our reciters; gluttonous, liars, and those who display cowardice in the face of the enemy." By this, they meant the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and his reciter companions. It was on this occasion that Allah revealed this verse.

To mock Allah and the religion is a sin, both serious and grave, as those who indulged in mockery presented excuses, saying that:

إِنَّمَا كُنَّا نَخُوضُ وَنَلْعَبُ) [التوبة: 65])

[We were only talking idly and joking around.] 9:65

Mockery takes on many forms, such as when someone claims that Islamic Sharia is obsolete in today's age. It indicates that there is disdain and contempt for the divine law within the heart of such a speaker.

To ridicule the religion is to mock the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, whether it's dismissing the beard as unnecessary or deeming it a hindrance to work and productivity.

Mocking the religion extends to ridiculing the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ regarding the length of garments above the ankles, considering it an act of rigidity and arrogance.

Deriding the religion includes making a mockery of the hijab worn by Muslim women, portraying it as a restriction on their freedom and an obstacle to their professional life, labeling it regressive and backward.

Scorn for the religion is also evident in caricatures that belittle scholars and reformers, portraying them in ludicrous and hideous forms.

Mocking prophets and reformers has been a tactic of adversaries since ancient times, as stated in the Quran:

وَلَقَدِ اسْتُهْزِئَ بِرُسُلٍ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فَحَاقَ بِالَّذِينَ سَخِرُوا مِنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ)[الأنعام: 10])

[˹Other˺ messengers had already been ridiculed before you ˹O Prophet˺, but those who mocked them were overtaken by what they used to ridicule.] 21:41

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ أَجْرَمُوا كَانُوا مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يَضْحَكُونَ * وَإِذَا مَرُّوا بِهِمْ يَتَغَامَزُونَ) [المطففين: 29، 30])

[Indeed, the wicked used to laugh at the believers, wink to one another whenever they passed by] 83:29-30

As the undeniable truths materialize, ushering the residents of paradise into its blissful abode and consigning the denizens of hell to their destined inferno, the clear line between the defeated and the triumphant emerges. The Quran depicts it as follows:

ذَلِكَ جَزَاؤُهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ بِمَا كَفَرُوا وَاتَّخَذُوا آيَاتِي وَرُسُلِي هُزُوًا) [الكهف: 106])

[That is their reward: Hell, for their disbelief and mockery of My signs and messengers.] 18:106

For the conscientious Muslim, mindful of preserving their faith, it is incumbent to avoid the company of those who mock. The contentment of one's soul harmonizes with their actions, in line with the divine counsel:

وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ الَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّى يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ) [الأنعام: 68])

[And when you come across those who ridicule Our revelations, do not sit with them unless they engage in a different topic.] 6:68

With this, we conclude the twenty-first lesson, expressing gratitude to Allah.