Issues and Questions

Al-Istihza’bi al-Din: Mockery or Making Fun of Religion

By Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi

If you question them, they will surely say; "We were only having fun and playing." Say: "Was it at Allah, His Signs, and His Messenger, that you were mocking?"
(Al-Tawbah 9:65)
Ah! Alas for the servants! There comes not a Messenger to them but they make fun of him! See they not how many generations before them We destroyed? Not to them will they return; but each one of them all, will be brought before Us (for judgment). (Yasin 36:30-32)
Al-Istihza’ means “mockery, derision, ridicule, scorn and making fun.” The Qur’an has described this as a major evil and sin of humanity.
Allah’s Prophets and Messengers were often ridiculed by some of their contemporaries and others after them. The Qur’an has mentioned 28 times this curse of humanity. The Qur’an speaks about the sinful character of those who make mockery of God, His Prophets and His Books. It tells the believers that they must not indulge in this sin and they should not even associate with those who indulge in this sin. It also warns those who make mockery of God and His Prophets and has mentioned that many nations were destroyed in the past because of their ridicule and mockery.
Mockery and ridicule are different from humor, amusement, being happy and making others happy. Humor is called “al-Mizah” in Arabic. The Prophet – peace be upon him - was a very pleasant person. There are many books of Ahadith that have special chapters on the subject of Mizah and have mentioned some humorous sayings and episodes from the life of the Prophet – peace be upon him. Even in his humor he never told a lie and there was never any mockery of the sacred and holy matters.
Mizah or humor comes from the goodness of the heart, from thankfulness and from a desire to be happy and to make others happy. Istihza’ or mockery comes from arrogance of the self, contempt of others and its purpose is to scorn, disrespect and dishonor someone and something.
Islam teaches us that we should be happy and pleasant but should never make fun of others, especially of Allah, His Prophets, His Books and all things that are sacred and holy. Islam teaches us that when we talk about other people’s religion and religious figures we should also be polite and careful. Allah says in the Qur’an:
Do not insult those whom they worship besides Allah, lest they insult Allah in anger without knowing it. Thus We have made attractive to each people their action. Then to their Lord is their return and He shall tell them what they were doing. (Al-An’am 6:108)
Like the people of ignorance in the past, today those who pride themselves to be civilized have lost this important value of how to deal with each other’s religious symbols and sacred things. It is important that we Muslims respect our own religious symbols as well as those of others and also remind humanity about this etiquette. In the recent episode of the pejorative cartoons against the Prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him - that came out from Denmark, Muslims took a collective stand. Muslim Ummah reminded the whole world about this important principle of respect for the sacred figures. Most of the people in these demonstrations were quite peaceful. It is a shame that some lost control over themselves and committed acts of violence. We have condemned the cartoons; we also express our total disapproval and condemnation of the violence that happened in some areas. This is absolutely un-Islamic.
Western media is mostly focusing on the violence; but there are many non-Muslims, Christians and Jews, who have expressed appreciation of Muslims’ stand on this matter. We received many letters from around the country from people of other faiths who expressed their sorrow, apologies on these despicable cartoons as well as support for Muslims.

Fr. Francis Tiso from the Catholic Church wrote from Washington, DC:
“I hope that Muslims will understand that the Catholic Church, and other Christians as well, have had to endure the most horrible blasphemies and bloodshed ever since the so-called “Enlightenment” in Europe in the 18th century, when non-believers fought for the right to vilify religious faith in every way imaginable. We have a common cause in urging upon all people to respect one another and not to use the mass media or the arts to denigrate others, whether believers or not. Just because we have freedom does not mean that it is always right and just to use freedom.”
Edward Miller, a Jewish attorney wrote:
“For Muslims, the mere rendering of an image of Muhammad is sacrilege. The portrayal of Muhammad in a pejorative fashion is to them an inconceivably offensive desecration, on the level of what would be for us the defilement of a Torah scroll. Because it was done in newspapers across Europe, it was a slap in the face repeated thousands of times. Perhaps it is a question of respect, not freedom. Freedom of expression theoretically protects the right of a non-Jew to desecrate a Torah scroll. Yet we would all view freedom of expression as a hollow defense to such a vile act.”
A woman called Norma wrote from New York:
“Hello, my name is Norma. I live in New York. I wanted to extend an apology to all my dear Muslim brothers and sisters around the world. This is a sincere apology for disrespecting your beliefs, your sacred names and religion. The issue is not one of democracy but of understanding and caring about your fellowman’s heart and soul. Please don’t think that everyone in the western world is anti-Muslim. We are all children of God. I have always believed in One Humanity, on One Planet, under One God. I hope someday that humanity will evolve and learn to love all its many and varied forms. You are my brothers and sisters, although I am not of your faith, and I am sorry you have been disrespected. Let us not give up in trying to restore peace. Please help me by passing this message to many more, and have them pass it on as a soothing wave of God’s love for us all. I ask this of you. Pass this around the world and let us defeat those who seek to disturb life. God bless. (Norma)”
(Khutbah at ISOC – Muharram 11, 1427/February 10, 2006)
-DrSiddiqi@aol.com

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The Month of Muharram

Muharram is the first month of the Islamic, Hijrah calendar. It is one of the four sanctified months about which Allah says, “The number of months in the sight of Allah are twelve (in a year). So ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; Of them four are sacred: That is the right religion. So wrong not yourselves therein.” (At-Tawbah: 36)
The four months, according to authentic Hadith, are the months of Dul-Qa`dah, Dhu-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. The sanctity of these four months was observed in the Shari’ah of all the Prophets.
Muslim scholars have stated that the actions performed in these months have an effect on what a person does in the remaining months of the year.
The Month of Muharram
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is reported to have said, “The best of fasts besides the month of Ramadan is the fast during Allah’s month of Muharram and the best of prayer besides the obligatory prayers is the Tahajjud prayer.”
The 10th Day of Muharram known as the day of `Ashura’, is a very significant day in the Islamic calendar. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, has exhorted the Ummah to fast on this day. He is reported to have said, “Fasting the day of `Ashura’, I hope that Allah will accept it as expiation for the previous year.” (Reported by Muslim)
The Fast of `Ashura’
It is reported in the Sahih of Imam Bukhari and other authentic collections of Hadith that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions used to fast on the 10th day of Muharram while they were in Makkah (before the Hijrah).
Ibn `Abbas says, ‘I did not see the Prophet anxiously awaiting the fast of any day, which he gave preference to over other days, but this day (of `Ashura’) and the month of Ramadan.’
It was a day on which people of Makkah used to change the covering (Kiswah) of the Ka`bah. Quraysh also used to fast on this day. (Reported by Al-Bukhari)
After the Hijrah when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to Madinah, he found that the Jews of Madinah also used to observe this day with fasting. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked them the reason of their fasting on this day. They said, “This is a blessed day. On this day Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy (in Egypt) and so Prophet Musa fasted on this day giving thanks to Allah.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “We are closer to Musa than you are.” He fasted on that day and commanded Muslims to fast on this day. (Reported by Al-Bukhari)
In another report it is mentioned that Jews of Madinah used to hold feast on this day. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) told his Companions to fast instead. (Reported by Al-Bukhari)
`Ashura' fasting was obligatory (Fard) in the beginning. In the second year of Hijrah (624 CE) when Allah’s command came that Muslims should fast the whole month of Ramadan, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) then sent someone to announce to people that fasting of `Ashura' had become voluntary (Nafl). This indicates that whosoever wishes to fast, may fast and whosoever does not want to fast, there will be no blame on him/her.
Imam At-Tirmidhi mentions that Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to say that we should fast on two days: the 9th and 10th of Muharram to distinguish ourselves from the Jewish community. (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)
Ibn `Abbas also quotes the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying, “If I live next year, I shall also fast on the 9th day.” (Reported by Ahmad)
There is a great reward in fasting the `Ashura'. There are many Hadiths that mention its blessings and virtues. It is good to fast on this day, although it is not obligatory.
Courtesy islamonline

Editor: Akhtar M. Faruqui
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