I heard someone saying: "Imagine that there is a frog and a fisherman wants to catch fish. The frog gets down into the water and tells the fish about the presence of the fisherman. The frog represents the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam – of course with a huge difference – and the fisherman is Satan." When I told this person that he could not liken the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to a frog, he said that he would not bear a sin as long as he admitted there is a huge difference. Is this permissible?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Likening the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in this manner involves belittling and ridiculing him. The one who invents such a similitude for the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is feared to have committed disbelief. Admitting that there is a huge difference between the example and the one given to then cannot serve as a valid excuse for him. Had this man observed due respect for the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in his heart, he would not have struck this example for him and would have looked for another simile which demonstrates the great status of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

This man must repent to Allaah The Almighty of this heinous act instead of arguing in falsehood. That is because returning to the truth is better than persisting on falsehood. We ask Allaah The Almighty to grant us proper etiquette with regard to His noble Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

Allaah Knows best.