What is the ruling on facial muscles twitching or feeling a smile or suppressed laughter when seeing something that might be considered mockery of religion, knowing that it is accompanied by intrusive thoughts (waswasa) regarding creed and a feeling of remorse and seeking forgiveness? And will a person be held accountable for that? And is this considered mockery that expels one from the fold of Islam? And what is the way to get rid of these thoughts and intrusive whispers?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
These are whisperings from Satan, and a Muslim should not obey him. These thoughts and whisperings do not affect one's faith, nor do they expel the person from the fold of Islam. What happened is not considered mockery of religion. Mockery is ridicule and belittling, and not every laugh or smile is considered disbelief. What happened falls under what is forgiven, because it was not intentional. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Indeed, Allah has pardoned for my Ummah their mistakes, their forgetfulness, and what they are coerced into."
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/153994
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 153994
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy