What is the ruling for those who mock the religion, for example, on Internet websites?

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.

Anyone who mocks the religion or the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, or ridicules ‘Aqeedah (creed) without being coerced to do so, is an apostate even if he does so in jest. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And if you ask them, they will surely say, "We were only conversing and playing." Say, "Is it Allaah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?" Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after your belief. If We pardon one faction of you - We will punish another faction because they were criminals.}[Quran 9:65-66]

We browsed the website that you mentioned and found it filled with falsehood, raising doubts and fabrication. It is a suitable place for those who have gone astray. The enemies of Islam have always raised the same doubts.

Allaah The Almighty pointed out that the struggle between truth and falsehood is one of the unchangeable customs of Allaah The Almighty, which will continue until He inherits the earth and everything on it. The advocates of falsehood will never stop until the Muslims have renounced their religion and followed their desires. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And never will the Jews or the Christians approve of you until you follow their religion.}[Quran 2:102] 

The confrontation between truth and falsehood; between good and evil is ageless. The messengers and their followers were oppressed by their enemies, and the messages were distorted and muddled. Islam suffered a great deal due to such oppressive campaigns even though it is the last religion that constitutes the last connection between man and revelation. These attacks then, have been launched solely on Islam. Nothing indicates this more than the alliance of the disbelievers against Islam; luring Muslims away from the teachings of their religion, and trying to shake belief in its most established facts.

The disbelievers have forgotten about their internal conflicts and animosities, and they are working together to fight Islam. Dissent between Judaism and Christianity about the accusation that the Jews killed ’Eesaa (Jesus) has been overcome. In 63 CE and 65 CE, the Ecumenical Council acquitted the Jews of the murder of ’Eesaa . Afterwards, Islam became the target of cunning plots even by those who claim to be Muslims.

One of the means of running these campaigns is Internet forums. Most of them are not based on sound principles and ethics. They are often based on falsity and misinformation, even if some members claim to be scholars. Most of the postings are made either by persons who belie the religion such as secularists and westernized persons, or dissolute Muslims who claim to be moderate trying to convince themselves that they are good Muslims. Unfortunately for them, they do not know that true moderation is to adhere to the Quran and the Sunnah (tradition).

Such forums have turned into active sites for evangelists and for calling people to falsehood. This is not strange, for Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Many of the People of the Scripture wish they could turn you back to disbelief after you have believed, out of envy from themselves [even] after the truth has become clear to them. So pardon and overlook until Allaah delivers His command. Indeed, Allaah is over all things competent.}[Quran 2:109]

Allaah The Almighty also Says (what means): {And they will continue to fight you until they turn you back from your religion if they are able.}[Quran 2:217]

The people who launch and visit these websites will reap the evil they sow. They are malicious, envious disbelievers. It is best to ignore such websites because replying to them makes them even more active. Only qualified Muslims should refute their allegations. It may be obligatory on those who are qualified to do so, for Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {For there should separate from every division of them a group [remaining] to obtain understanding in the religion and warn their people when they return to them that they might be cautious.}[Quran 10:122]

Not everything on these forums is said out of freedom of thought and expression. Rather, it is freedom of disbelief. It is not a true freedom to attribute false accusations to Islam, to mock the creed, to speak blasphemy, to speak ignorantly about Allaah The Almighty, to spread disbelief, to feign knowledge or to twist Shar'i texts in order to justify falsehood and distort the truth.

We supplicate Allaah The Almighty to guide those who have been misled and those who seek guidance. May peace and blessings of Allaah be upon the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and upon his Companions and kindred.