What is the religious ruling regarding Al-Mutanabbi’s saying: "We are a nation that nations have laughed at for its ignorance," and is it permissible for a Muslim to utter such words, given their contradiction to the Prophet’s — may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him — praise of this nation?

The Islamic Ummah is the best and most excellent of nations, as stated in the Quran and Sunnah. For example, Allah says: "You are the best nation produced for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah." And the Hadith says: "We are the last yet we will be the foremost on the Day of Resurrection." The verse by Al-Mutanabbi, "If souls are great, bodies tire in their pursuit," has no relation to this excellence. It is part of a poem in which Al-Mutanabbi disparages Kafur and incites his assassination or rebellion against him. A Muslim must not be abusive or obscene, for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "A believer is not a slanderer, nor a curser, nor an obscene speaker, nor a foul-mouthed one."