Thumbnail Picture by KamranAydinov on FreepikDo Sarcastic Remarks about the Prophet’s Eating Behavior Constitute Kufr?
Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question
I would like to know if I’m still a Muslim as I am pretty worried.
I told my friend that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) didn’t eat much meat, and she made a joke saying he was an “eating disorder legend” because she thought I meant he only ate once a month.
I felt uncomfortable by her comment, but I’m not confrontational, so I said, “he doesn’t just eat once a month, you idiot, and by the way, I can’t make jokes about the Prophet, so please stop,” I said it in a joking manner, but I was serious. Am I sinful?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate. May Allah guide us to that which pleases Him and forgive us for our shortcomings, Amin.
From your description, your statement about the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) about not eating much meat was true. Your statement to your friend was unkind, and you should apologize and repent to Allah for that.
Your friend’s statement about the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) was a major crime (kabira) and potentially a statement of apostasy, Allah forbid. You should advise your friend to retract and repent to Allah, even if he/she intended it as a joke.
However, your asking this question is resultant from your love of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace), and we pray that Allah increases you and all of us in our love for him, so right the wrongs, turn to Allah in repentance and always guard your tongue. Allah knows best.
Insulting Others and Calling Them Bad Names
Allah says: “O believers! Do not let some ˹men˺ ridicule others, they may be better than them, nor let ˹some˺ women ridicule other women, they may be better than them. Do not defame one another, nor call each other by offensive nicknames. How evil it is to act rebelliously after having faith! And whoever does not repent, it is they who are the ˹true˺ wrongdoers.” [Quran, 49:11]
On the Day of Judgment, a person’s book of deeds will be given into his hands [and he will not see therein any of the good deeds he did, for Allah’s sake]. He will ask Allah: “Why are my good deeds not recorded in here?” and Allah Ta’ala will answer: “They have been given to the ones you hurt and insulted by talking against them.” [Mundhiri, Al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib]
Believers should, therefore, never insult others and should repent if they had done so before.
Statements Tantamount to Apostasy
Among the causes of apostasy is reviling Allah (the Majestic and the Supreme) and His Messenger (may Allah bless him and give him peace). [Misri, ʿUmda Al-Salik]
Believers should guard their tongues and even their thoughts about Allah and His Messenger and avoid risking their faith. May Allah protect and guide us all.
I pray this is of benefit.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar, Shaykh Taha Karaan.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and pursuing his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.
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Thumbnail Picture by KamranAydinov on Freepik
