Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

is it right to make fun out of people and if someone does what kind of punishments will they get.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Make fun of people

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

It is not right or allowed in Islam, to make fun of other people. The underlying principle of someone making fun or playing a prank, is that the one playing the prank on his brother thinks himself to be arrogant and in his arrogance thinks the one the joke being played on is foolish and unwise. And arrogance is a trait that is absolutely hated by Allah Subhanah.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 49 Surah Hujuraat verse 11:O you who have believed! Neither should men mock other men, as it may be that these are better than they; nor should women mock other women, as it may be that these are better than they. Do not taunt one another among yourselves, nor call one another by nicknames. It is an evil thing to be called by a bad name after faith. Those who do not avoid this, are wrongdoers.

If the one making the fun out of people does not sincerely repent to Allah Subhanah, he will be held severely accountable in the Just Court of Allah on the Day of Judgement. On that Day, the person who made fun of his brother will have to recompense his deeds by either paying for his misdeeds from his own good deeds, and when that is not enough, he will take the burden of the person’s evil deeds. That would be a heavy reckoning indeed!!!

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan