The Quran Says About Mockery
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَا یَسۡخَرۡ قَوۡمٌ مِّنۡ قَوۡمٍ عَسٰۤی اَنۡ یَّکُوۡنُوۡا خَیۡرًا مِّنۡہُمۡ وَلَا نِسَآءٌ مِّنۡ نِّسَآءٍ عَسٰۤی اَنۡ یَّکُنَّ خَیۡرًا مِّنۡہُنَّ ۚ وَلَا تَلۡمِزُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَکُمۡ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوۡا بِالۡاَلۡقَابِ ؕ بِئۡسَ الِاسۡمُ الۡفُسُوۡقُ بَعۡدَ الۡاِیۡمَانِ ۚ وَمَنۡ لَّمۡ یَتُبۡ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الظّٰلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱﴾
“O you who believe, let not a people ridicule another people, for they may be better than them. Nor let women ridicule other women, for they may be better than them. And do not insult one another, nor call one another by offensive nicknames. How evil is the name of wickedness after faith. And whoever does not repent, then it is they who are the wrongdoers.”
This verse from Surah Al-Hujuraat addresses the believers directly with a firm command against mockery, insults, and offensive nicknames. Allah forbids men from ridiculing other men and women from ridiculing other women, warning that the very people being mocked may in fact be better in the sight of Allah than those doing the mocking. It is a verse that strikes at the root of arrogance, bullying, and social cruelty, behaviours that damage communities and break the bonds between believers. For anyone seeking the Quran’s guidance on how to treat others with dignity and respect, this verse provides one of the most comprehensive and direct teachings on the subject.
What makes this verse so powerful is the way it dismantles the false sense of superiority that leads people to mock others in the first place. When a person ridicules someone, they are making a judgement based on outward appearance, status, or circumstances, yet Allah makes it clear that true worth is measured by what lies in the heart. The verse also highlights a behaviour that many take lightly: calling people by offensive or humiliating nicknames. What may seem like harmless banter can leave deep emotional scars and create lasting resentment. Allah describes such behaviour as wickedness after faith, showing that it is completely incompatible with being a true believer. The verse closes with a call to repentance, reminding those who engage in such behaviour that they must turn back to Allah or risk being counted among the wrongdoers. This is a serious warning that every Muslim should take to heart, especially in an age where mockery and public shaming have become normalised through social media and online interaction.
Allah says in Surah At-Tin of the Quran, “We have certainly created man in the best of form” (Quran 95:4), reminding us that every human being has been honoured by Allah and created with inherent dignity. To mock another person is to disrespect a creation that Allah Himself has honoured. When a believer guards their tongue and treats others with respect, they protect not only their relationships but also their own faith from the corruption that comes with arrogance and cruelty.
