Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: "Let not a people mock another people," and the warning against mockery.

The Shaykh : The noble verse indicates that mockery is contrary to faith, for if a person were truly a believer, he would not mock people. The meaning of mockery is making fun of the physical appearance, the character, or the deeds. Listen: making fun of what? The physical appearance, the character, the deeds. Some people mock a man when they see him as very short. They mock a man when they see his face as ugly. They mock a man when they see him as lame. They mock a man when they see him as cross-eyed, and so on, regarding the physical attributes people mock. Is this lawful or forbidden? It is forbidden because Allah has prohibited it. Moreover, the one who mocks the physical appearance is actually mocking the Creator. The one who mocks the creation is, in reality, mocking the Creator. Does a person create himself and shape himself? If he wishes, does he make himself beautiful, and if he wishes, make himself ugly?
The student: No.

The Shaykh : Answer, my brothers.
The student: No.

The Shaykh : By the Creator?
The student: Allah

The Shaykh : Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Have you seen a wall? Do you know what plastering is? It is smoothing, smoothing the wall with clay or cement. If you see a crookedness in it and then you criticize the wall, who are you actually criticizing? The one who built it and the one who plastered it. Your criticism of this wall returns to the one who plastered it. So, if you criticize a person in his physical appearance, you have criticized the Creator. Therefore, one must look at this matter. This is the first point.
Second, you might criticize him in his physical appearance, and Allah may return you to that state while you are the beautiful one. You may be struck by an accident that disfigures your face. You may be struck by a fire. You may be struck by an illness. And if you escape from this, and there is no escape from the divine decree, your offspring may be struck. The offspring may be struck. How many people have criticized their brother and were then struck by what they had criticized their brother for? Among the recorded wisdom is: "Do not show schadenfreude over your brother, for Allah may cure him and afflict you." Now, this is mockery regarding physical appearance.
Mockery regarding character. Do you know, O people, that people differ in character? Is that not so? Some are broad-chested, cheerful, gentle, and kind-hearted. Just looking at them makes you love them, is that not so? And some are the opposite: bad-tempered, frowning, with a furrowed brow. If you greet them with eloquent speech and audible pronunciation, they respond with their nose, giving no proper reply. Some people mock this man for his bad character and say: "By Allah, if you were so-and-so," when they want to make a comparison with mockery. This is not permissible. If you are sincere, contact this man and say: "My brother, the most perfect of believers in faith are the best of them in character. My brother, improve your character." Then look at the difference between improving your character and worsening it. You will find that if you improve your character, your chest opens up and you are always in a state of ease, and you do not regret. If you are bad-tempered, you must regret. Now, some people are slow to anger and quick to be pleased, is that not so, my brother? Some people are slow to anger and quick to be pleased, meaning if they get angry, they are pleased quickly, like this. Now, sit down.
Is this good or not good? Good. Everyone praises it because it is necessary. Every person gets angry. What do you say about the one who is quick to anger and slow to be pleased? Is he bad or good?
The student: Bad.

The Shaykh : Bad. Some people come and criticize this man in his character, saying: "This is a man who is angry, quick to anger, and slow to be pleased." They mock him. This is not permissible. If you are sincere, advise him and say: "Our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: Anger is a coal that Satan throws into the heart of a man until his blood boils, his neck veins swell, his face turns red, and his hair stands on end, until he seems not to know what he is saying. Advise this man and say: "My brother, do not get angry. What is its cure? That he seeks refuge in Allah from Satan, and what he feels will go away. If he is standing, he should sit. If he is sitting, he should lie down, because this change of direction causes the anger to cool."
The important thing is that bad morals are many. It is not permissible for a person to mock someone because of his character. Rather, he should praise Allah who has spared him from what he has afflicted this person with, and he should improve his character. The third?
The student: Deeds.

The Shaykh : The third is deeds. We are all not free from sin. We all make mistakes and hit the mark, is that not so? The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: O Allah, accept our repentance. A person is not free from mistakes in his speech, his actions, and his state. Every person. So, do you seize the opportunity to see a flaw in your brother's deeds so that you mock him, or do you say: "Praise be to Allah who has spared me from what He has afflicted him with"? Say this. Do not mock. How many people have mocked someone in their deeds and were then afflicted by it? I found a person mocking, yes, backbiting people whenever he sits in a gathering, yes, eating the flesh of people. Is this a bad deed or a good one?
The student: Bad.

The Shaykh : Bad, without a doubt. Do not mock him. If you are sincere, advise him and warn him of Allah. Bad deeds are many, some of which are violating a prohibition, and some of which are neglecting an obligation. So, do not mock your brother.