NULLIFIERS OF ISLAM -12

By

A. Haroun (Abu Imran)

*To Ridicule, Scorn or make Mockery of anything of Islaam; It's Reward or Punishment*

We would recall that the last nullifier we discussed was about hating any aspect of Islaam that has been authentically established, and this was a nullifier that stems from an action in the heart. To ridicule or make mockery of Islaam by a muslim is typically an action of the tongue! It is unfortunately one matter muslims take lightly today!

Ibn Jareer in his Tafseer narrates.... from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar, who said: “During the campaign of Tabook, a man said in a gathering, ‘We have never seen any people who love their stomachs more or tell more lies or are  more cowardly in battle than these Qur’aan-readers.’ Another man who was present (it was said that he is Awf bn Maalik) said, ‘You are lying, and you are a hypocrite. I will most certainly tell the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about this. He conveyed that to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and these verses were revealed:

“If you ask them (about this), they declare: ‘We were only talking idly and joking.’ Say: ‘Was it at Allaah, and His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and His Messenger that you were mocking?’ Make no excuse; you disbelieved after you had believed…”[al-Tawbah 9:65-66] 

(It is also said that the verses were revealed even before the incident got to the rasul, thus, Allaah informed him afore hand, wallaahu a'lam)

The statement of Allaah

" ...لا تعتذرو قد كفرتم بعد إيمانكم..."

(Make no excuse; you disbelieved after you had believed…) contains within it four things;

1. Refutation to those who claim that it is impossible for a believer to become a disbeliever irrespective of whatever action he does.

2. Establishment of the fact that belief, and by implication, Islaam may be nullified by an action.

3. That mocking Allaah, his verses (Qur'aan) and his messenger (sunnah) is one of the nullifiers of Islaam

4. That Islaam may be nullified even if the action is not deliberate, (like they said "we were only joking and playing.."

..and indeed speech is one of those things that nullifies a person's Islaam like Allaah pointed out in verse 74 of suratut tawbah 

"but indeed they uttered blasphemy, and they disbelieved after accepting Islam".

I have taken my time to explain this because it is common practice today to belittle our utterances, and we imitate the unbelievers in their care-free manner of speech. The messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه و سلم)is reported to have said "whatelse will be responsible for people being dragged on their faces in hell except the utterances of their tongues!"

It is in the nature of humans never to joke about or mock things they hold in high esteem! What is worthier to be held at higher esteem than Allaah, his verses and his messenger? So, our understanding of this should not by 'why should mere joke or jesting be considered a nullifier of Islaam. Rather, it should be why would someone take his Creator and his (Creator's) verses and his messenger as an object of mockery? Subhaanallaah!

Mockery, however may also come in  forms other than utterances. It may be by the eyes (winking), lips, or even fingers (gestures).

Lastly, it should be noted that, if for instance a muslim woman is mocked for wearing old, worn out hijaab;

1. If it is in her presence and she approves of the joke then this is just play between two people and has no  association with her using the hijaab as an Islamic injunction

2. If it is in her absence, then this is prohibited for it is backbiting (gheebah).

3. But if she is mocked for using the hijaab rather than using a scarf instead, or she is ridiculed for wearing the hijaab, by another muslim, then this is ' istihzaa' (mockery that nullifies Islaam).

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: If mockery nullifies Islaam, what more can be said for insulting Allaah, his verses and his messenger?

May Allaah protect us from the evil of our tongues.

TO BE CONTINUED IN SHA ALLAAH....