If someone mocks something of the religion while forgetful, and then remembers and seeks forgiveness and repents, what is upon him now?
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The questioner : He says: If someone mocks something of the religion while forgetful, and then remembers and seeks forgiveness and repents, what is upon him now?
The Shaykh : He should praise Allah (Mighty and Majestic) for the repentance, and his repentance is valid. However, if he mocks something of the religion in jest and says, "I did not intend to blame or disparage, but I am joking, laughing, and speaking in jest," then he is a disbeliever and an apostate, may Allah protect us from that. If he repents, he must consider himself to have renewed his Islam. And according to the majority of scholars, he must perform the ghusl of the disbeliever who becomes a Muslim, because mocking the religion, or mocking Allah, or the Qur'an, or the Messenger is disbelief that expels one from the religion, whether the person said it seriously or in jest. The matter is serious. When a group of hypocrites were traveling and they were talking, saying, "We have not seen people like these our reciters"—meaning the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions—"who are more greedy in their bellies"—meaning: who eat more—"and more lying in their tongues, and more cowardly at the time of meeting than Muhammad and his reciters," Allah the Exalted revealed, Allah the Exalted revealed in Surat al-Tawbah:[At-Tawbah 9:65-66]. Yes.
The Shaykh : He should praise Allah (Mighty and Majestic) for the repentance, and his repentance is valid. However, if he mocks something of the religion in jest and says, "I did not intend to blame or disparage, but I am joking, laughing, and speaking in jest," then he is a disbeliever and an apostate, may Allah protect us from that. If he repents, he must consider himself to have renewed his Islam. And according to the majority of scholars, he must perform the ghusl of the disbeliever who becomes a Muslim, because mocking the religion, or mocking Allah, or the Qur'an, or the Messenger is disbelief that expels one from the religion, whether the person said it seriously or in jest. The matter is serious. When a group of hypocrites were traveling and they were talking, saying, "We have not seen people like these our reciters"—meaning the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions—"who are more greedy in their bellies"—meaning: who eat more—"and more lying in their tongues, and more cowardly at the time of meeting than Muhammad and his reciters," Allah the Exalted revealed, Allah the Exalted revealed in Surat al-Tawbah: