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Does ridiculing religion due to waswas (obsessive whispering) expel one from the fold of Islam and necessitate ghusl (ritual bathing), tashahhud (reciting the declaration of faith), and making up for the days during which this occurred?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

If ridicule occurs involuntarily due to severe obsessive whispers (waswasa), it is forgivable. However, if it is by one's own choice and will, with the awareness that it is ridicule of the religion, then it is disbelief (kufr) and apostasy (riddah), and the following consequences apply:

1. One must repent and pronounce the Shahada to return to Islam. According to the Hanbalis, prayer alone suffices. 2. Ghusl (ritual bath) is not a condition for the validity of Islam; it is, however, recommended by the Hanafis and Shafi'is. 3. One must make up for the fast of the day on which the apostasy occurred and subsequent days until returning to Islam. There is no need to make up for fasts prior to the apostasy.

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

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