Whoever jokes about anything that Allah has mentioned, the Quran, or the Messenger

Allah said, “But if you were to ask them they would say, ‘We were o­nly joking and playing.” (Sura Al-Tawbah 9:65)

From Ibn Umar, Muhammad bin Ka’ab, Zayd bin Aslam, and Qatadah- each of them narrated similar-that during the battle of Tabuk a man said, “We have not seen of our reciters similar to these people, none more greedy in appetite, nor false speech, nor cowardly in battle.” He was referring to the reciting of the companions of Allah’s Messenger (alyahee salatul wasalaam). ‘Awf bin Malik said to him, “You have lied. Rather, you are a munafiq. We will tell Allah’s Messenger (alayhee salatul wasalaam).” So ‘Awf went to Allah’s Messenger (alayhee salatul wasalaam), but some Qura’an [revealed about this incident it] preceded him. That man came to Allah’s Messenger (alayhee salatul wasalaam), while he (alayhee salatul wasalaam) was mounted upon his camel. He said “O Messenger of Allah! we were o­nly joking and we were saying things to pass the time for us o­n the road.” Ibn Umar said, “It is as if I am looking at him; clinging to the saddle of the Messenger of Allah (alayhee salatul wasalaam) camel, stones battering his feet, saying, ‘We were o­nly joking and playing!’ So Allah’s Messenger (alayhee salatul wasalaam) said, ‘Is it w/ Allah, His ayat, and His Messenger that you are amused? They are not excused, they have disbelieved after their faith.’ He did not say anymore nor any less to him."***

***Recorded by Ibn Abu Hatim, Ibn Jarir Al-Tabari and similar w/others. Shaykh Muqbi Ibn Hadee included it in Sahih al-Musnad min Asbab al-Nuzul (pg.122), grading it hasan (good)***

Important Issues (Ibn Abdul Wahaab)

1. An extremely important point, that whoever jokes like this, then he is a kaafir.
2. That this is the explaination of the ayah, so whoever does it then it applies.
3. The difference between gossip, and between naseehah to Allah and His Nabi (alayhee salatul wasalaam).
4. The difference between pardoning which Allah loves, and between being severe w/Allah’s enemies.
5. That it is not necessary to accept some excuses.

Commentary by Shaykh Al-Sa’dee

Whoever jokes about anything that Allah has mentioned, the Quran, or the Messenger

Meaning that this is something that entirely negates faith, and removes o­ne from the religion, b/c the basis of the religion is faith in Allah, His Books, and His Messengers. And faith requries honouring this and it is well known that mocking and joking about something of these matters is among the worse kinds of sheer disbelief. Because this disbelief increases disdain and contempt. The disbelievers are of 2 types; passive and antagonistic. The antagonistic is the o­ne @ war w/Allah and his Nabi (alayhee salatul wasalaam), attacking Allah, His Deen, and His Nabi w/the sternest rejection and the worst falshood. And mockery is a tactic from this category.