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What is the criterion that determines the speech or action considered to be mockery of religion, knowing that I suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and that this OCD has affected my life, studies, and prayers? And what is the ruling on the following statements: 1) The statement that a gap between the teeth makes a person foolish, knowing that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had a gap between his teeth? 2) Dislike of white skin in men, knowing that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had white skin? 3) The public laughing at men who wear kohl and associating that with Bedouin culture? 4) My sister's agreement that a woman who does not wear high heels looks like a child? And must I inform my sister about the ruling on high heels despite her suffering from OCD?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

What you have mentioned regarding these issues is not considered mockery of the religion, its rulings, or the Messenger, peace be upon him, nor is it disbelief. Rather, it is blameworthy overthinking that harms its perpetrator and is a result of intrusive thoughts (waswasah), and it must be disregarded. Mockery of Allah, the Messenger, or the Quran is disbelief that expels one from the fold of Islam. As for mockery of the religion itself, there is a detailed explanation; mocking the religiosity of a specific person is not disbelief that expels one from the fold of Islam.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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