Insulting people

Q: We find many people broadcasting jokes about Julius Malema, Jacob Zuma, Barrack Obama, Blonde Jokes, Indian Jokes, etc. What is the status of these jokes in Shariah? If an article has been prepared on this topic I will indeed forward it to all my contacts Insha Allah.

A: It was not the way of the Ambiyaa the Sahabah and the pious predecessors to insult or make a mockery of people. Hence we should not insult and mock any person whether he is a believer or disbeliever. Allah Ta'ala states in the Holy Quraan: 

وَلَا تَسُبُّوا الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّـهِ فَيَسُبُّوا اللَّـهَ عَدْوًا بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ ﴿١٠٨﴾

And do not insult those they call unto other than Allah, lest they insult Allah in enmity ignorantly. 

 يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌ مِّن قَوْمٍ عَسَى أَن يَكُونُوا خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا نِسَاءٌ مِّن نِّسَاءٍ عَسَى أَن يَكُنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُنَّ

O you who believe! No men among you should mock at other men. It may be that the latter are better than the former. Nor should women among you mock at other women. It may be that the latter are better than the former. 

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)