Is someone who jokingly calls a Muslim a "disbeliever" for delaying prayer – while unaware of the hadith "whoever calls a Muslim a disbeliever is himself a disbeliever" and intending to reprimand and warn the Muslim – considered a disbeliever?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is not permissible to joke by saying "O disbeliever" to a Muslim, and disbelief does not occur by this statement. Rather, its meaning is that the accusation of disbelief has returned upon the speaker, as if he has disbelieved himself. The admonishes a Muslim from saying that to his Muslim brother. The verified position is that whoever says that to someone whose Islam is known without doubt, disbelieves by it. So the meaning is that the accusation of disbelief has returned upon the speaker, not disbelief itself. This is supported by the fact that in some narrations: "Disbelief has become incumbent upon one of them."
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/159617
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 159617
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy