What is mockery, and what is the ruling on mockery in terms of whether it constitutes disbelief or not?

Mockery is an act of belittling and disdain, and it has various rulings; it can be forbidden or encouraged. It is permissible to mock disbelievers, transgressors, innovators, and their falsehoods. Mocking Allah, His Messenger, His Books, the angels, or the religious rulings is considered apostasy from Islam, whether done in jest or seriously. As for the whispers (waswas) that are not embraced by the soul nor uttered by the tongue, they are from Satan and do not harm their owner; rather, they indicate pure faith. Allah has overlooked these as long as they are not spoken or acted upon.