Questioner:
What is the ruling on mocking the adherents of the Sunnah and those that grow their beards? There is someone who criticizes raising the garment to the shin and he says it scares the people away from the Da’wah.
Shaykh Muqbil bn Hādī al-Wādi’ee:
As for mocking the adherents, if the mockery is towards his personality, due to a flaw in him or a deficiency, this is prohibited and not permissible. However, if the mockery is done towards the religion, this is considered as disbelief.
“Say: “Was it at Allah, and His Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and His Messenger (ﷺ) that you were mocking?” Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after you had believed. If We pardon some of you, We will punish others amongst you” ¹
And if the mockery is about a muslim individual, then the Lord of Power and Might says in His Noble Book (what means):
“O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former; nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former.” ²
And it is proper for you to praise Allāh, the Exalted and Most High, if you see those deformed individuals mocking at you because it is an old custom, it is an old custom. Allāh, the Exalted and Most High says about the disbelievers (what means):
“And whenever they passed by them, used to wink one to another (in mockery).” ³
Meaning, whenever they passed by the Muslims, they used to wink to one another (in mockery). Then afterwards, this act of ridicule has been (in existence) since long ago, so if you see these lost, foolish individuals mocking at you, you should strengthen your morale and praise Allāh the Exalted and Most High that made you deserve this high status.
And afterwards, say to them: “Await! For we are surely awaiting (too).” After some days, Allāh willing, when the Sunnah becomes strengthened and the religion becomes strengthened, by Allāh the Most High’s leave, and all praise is due to Allāh, the Muslims are at alert, and all praise is due to Allāh.
O poor fellow, O poor fellow, America and Russia have started to shake from the Islāmic awakening. So do not be deceived, do not be deceived, O poor fellow. And you, who are you? Yes! If America and Russia are both shaking from the Islāmic awakening, so who are you my brother? Say what you want, say what you want. We will not be disturbed by you and we will not give you any consideration. And we know that this is from the way of Allāh, the Exalted and Most High.
As for the affair relating to the statement of some idiots about the callers to Allāh, that the garment, when it is at the shin level, it is considered scaring the people from the Da’wah.
We say: Verily, we are not rejectors of Allāh’s religion and I also say: (as for) opinions too, we are not disturbed by it. Opinions in the religion or in Da’wah, it has no scope with us. And you do not know whether wearing the garment below the ankles might be a reason for you being scorned at. And we have found many of the general folks mocking at some of the Azharīs when they saw their trimmed beards and their garments dragging on the ground.
They say: These ones are not amongst the people of knowledge. Even if he possesses knowledge, and we do not know whether adhering to the Sunnah is the reason for the spreading of the Sunnah and whether sinning is a reason for abandonment. Allāh, the Mighty and Majestic, says in His noble book (what means):
“Those who oppose Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad ﷺ), they will be among the lowest (most humiliated).” ⁴
And Allāh, the Exalted and Most High, says in His noble book (what means):
“And Allah did indeed fulfil His Promise to you when you were killing them (your enemy) with His Permission; until (the moment) you lost your courage and fell to disputing about the order, and disobeyed after He showed you (of the booty) which you love. Among you are some that desire this world and some that desire the Hereafter. Then He made you flee from them (your enemy), that He might test you.” ⁵
This is about the battle of Uḥud.
And He said about the battle of Ḥunain (what means):
“Truly Allah has given you victory on many battle fields, and on the Day of Hunain (battle) when you rejoiced at your great number but it availed you naught and the earth, vast as it is, was straitened for you, then you turned back in flight.” ⁶
Likewise, O gathering of brothers, sins might be a reason for abandonment, and the Lord of Power and Might said in His noble book (what means):
“O you who believe! If you obey and fear Allah, He will grant you Furqan, a criterion [(to judge between right and wrong), or (Makhraj, i.e. making a way for you to get out from every difficulty)].” ⁷
When we fear Allāh, the Exalted and Most High (as He deserves to be feared), we will be able to get liberated from these tribulations. Tribulations are pouring upon us from all angles and we will not be able to get liberated except when Allāh wills.
“And whoever holds firmly to Allah, (i.e. follows Islam Allah’s Religion, and obeys all that Allah has ordered, practically), then he is indeed guided to a Right Path.” ⁸
When Allāh the Exalted and Most High, safeguards us from these tribulations that have encompassed us; tribulations of temptations, tribulations of (seeking) posts, tribulations of displaying the beauty (of females), tribulations of free mixing (amongst males and females) and the tribulation of money and other than that from the tribulations that have poured upon us… No one can safeguard us from them except Allāh, the Exalted and Most High.
1. At-Tawbah:65,66
2. Al-Ḥujurāt:11
3. Al-Muṭaffifīn:30
4. Al-Mujādilah:20
5. Aal-e-Imrān:152
6. At-Tawbah:25
7. Al-Anfāl:29
8. Aal-e-Imrān:101
