Aslam

Praise be to Allah.

Firstly:

With regard to one who does not pray, we have explained the

ruling on that, and stated that some of the scholars – who expressed the

correct view – have ruled that such a person is a kaafir and it is not

permissible to marry such a person or to remain married to him, and that

meat slaughtered by him is haraam, and so on. We have discussed these

rulings in detail. Please see questions no.

34795 and

20059.

Secondly:

With regard to your brother’s wife making fun of those who

are religiously-committed and insulting them and mocking them, she should

understand that by doing these things she is in serious danger, and that

these actions may put her beyond the pale of Islam.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was

asked about the ruling on making fun of those who adhere to the commandments

of Allaah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon

him)?

He replied: Making fun of those who adhere to the

commandments of Allaah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah

be upon him) because of their commitment is haraam and is very dangerous and

serious, because there is the fear that his hatred for them may be based on

hatred of what they are adhering to, namely the religion of Allaah. In that

case mocking them is mocking the path that they are following. They are like

those of whom Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“If you ask them (about

this), they declare: ‘We were only talking idly and joking.’ Say: ‘Was it at

Allaah, and His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs,

revelations, etc.) and His Messenger that you were mocking?”

Make no excuse; you disbelieved after you had believed’”

[al-Tawbah 9:65-66]

These words were revealed concerning some of the hypocrites

who said: “We have never seen anything like these reciters – meaning the

Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his

companions – they are the most greedy, the most false of speech and the most

cowardly in battle.” Then Allaah revealed this verse concerning them.

Those who make fun of the followers of truth because they are

religiously-committed should beware, for Allaah says (interpretation of the

meaning):

“Verily, (during the worldly life) those who committed

crimes used to laugh at those who believed.

30. And, whenever they passed by them, used to wink one to

another (in mockery).

31. And when they returned to their own people, they would

return jesting;

32. And when they saw them, they said: ‘Verily, these have

indeed gone astray!’

33. But they (disbelievers, sinners) had not been sent as

watchers over them (the believers).

34. But this Day (the Day of Resurrection) those who

believe will laugh at the disbelievers

35. On (high) thrones, looking (at all things).

36. Are not the disbelievers paid (fully) for what they

used to do?”

[al-Mutaffifeen 83:29-36]

Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen,

2/question no. 236.

Insulting a Muslim is a

major sin, especially if one insults him for being religiously committed and

righteous. There is the fear that the one who does this may fall into

apostasy as stated above with regard to mocking them.

It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be

pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be

upon him) said: “Insulting a Muslim is immorality and killing him is kufr.”

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 48; Muslim, 64.

Al-Nawawi said:

In Arabic the word sabb (translated here as insulting)

means slandering a person and speaking of his honour in a disparaging

fashion. And fisq (translated here as immorality) means going out; in

sharee’ah terminology it means going out of obedience (i.e., transgressing

the bounds of obedience).

With regard to the meaning of the hadeeth: Insulting a Muslim

for no reason is haraam according to the consensus of the ummah, so the one

who does that is a faasiq as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah

be upon him) said.

Sharh Muslim, 2/53, 54.

We advise you to

continue advising her, and if that is via your brother, that will be better.

Tell him of the Islamic rulings on what she is doing, and encourage him to

guide her by whatever means he can.

We do not advise you to sit with her unless she repents and

turns back to her Lord. We fear that you may react towards her, and we fear

that she may increase in sin every time she sees you or sits with you.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And when you (Muhammad) see those who engage in a false

conversation about Our Verses (of the Qur’aan) by mocking at them, stay away

from them till they turn to another topic. And if Shaytaan (Satan) causes

you to forget, then after the remembrance sit not you in the company of

those people who are the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers)”

[al-An’aam 6:68]

But if you speak to her

and do not shun her, that may be more beneficial for her because it may

soften her heart. You can limit it to greeting and welcoming her, and asking

how she is, without indulging in any arguments with her that may lead her to

do something haraam.

Do not forget – as well as doing what you can to advise her –

to pray that she may be guided aright.

And Allaah knows best.