Is he who says of a place that it was "transformed" [by God]—meaning, God changed it into another creature as a form of punishment—an infidel, and is this considered mockery?

Disbelief does not occur by what crosses one's mind as long as the person does not act upon it or speak of it, due to the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "Indeed, Allah has pardoned for my nation what their souls whisper to them or what they think to themselves, as long as they do not act upon it or speak of it." The questioner should discard obsessive thoughts and not dwell on them. They should also supplicate frequently, engage in remembrance of Allah, and occupy themselves with what benefits them.