What is the ruling on a young man who jokingly said, "Christians are not disbelievers," and then clarified that he intended to anger another person? Does the statement of Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab apply to him: "Whoever does not declare the polytheists disbelievers, or doubts their disbelief, is a disbeliever," especially since the Imam said: "And there is no difference concerning all these nullifiers between one who is joking, one who is serious, and one who is fearful, except for one who is coerced"?

The statement that the People of the Book are not disbelievers is a serious and explicit act of disbelief (kufr), because it negates the ruling of Allah and His Messenger regarding their disbelief. The one who utters it is not excused by claiming to merely wish to annoy someone, for joking about disbelief is disbelief. The texts of the Qur'an and Sunnah (definition) have clearly indicated their disbelief, and whoever does not consider them disbelievers is a disbeliever himself, for he has denied these texts. The one who makes this statement must be advised to repent and regret.