10 Dangers of Bullying

Societies have been afflicted by individuals who deliberately mock and ridicule others. This is known as bullying, which means belittling others, despising them, and intentionally harming them. Bullying has severe consequences and multiple dangers, including:

First: Spreading Enmity and Hatred Among People

A bully makes light of others and ridicules them, which leads to hatred, resentment, and plotting against the mocker. When an opportunity for revenge arises, the ridiculed person will seize it without hesitation, leading to conflict and discord becoming prevalent among people.

Second: The Bully Will Inevitably Be Bullied

It is well-known that recompense is of the same kind as the deed, and as you judge, so shall you be judged. Whoever shames someone with something will be shamed with it. A bully will eventually find someone to bully them, even if it's after some time. In fact, everyone observes the mocker in all their states to find flaws, which they can use to defend themselves when ridiculed. This makes their flaws and shortcomings more apparent than others, as everyone is eager to discover them. In this regard, Imam Al-Shafi'i said:

If you wish to live safe from ruin

 With your faith complete and your honor preserved,

Do not mention another's fault with your tongue,

For you are full of faults, and people have tongues.

And if your eyes show you defects,

Leave them and say, "O eyes, people have eyes too."

Third: Bullies Are the Worst of People

Imam Muslim narrated in his Sahih from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "It is enough evil for a man to despise his Muslim brother. Every Muslim's blood, wealth, and honor are sacred to another Muslim."

Fourth: Mockers Forget the Remembrance of Allah

Allah Almighty explained that mockers ridicule believers and forget the remembrance of Allah, Lord of the Worlds. This is evident from the dialogue between them and Allah Almighty when they asked to be released from Hellfire:

"They will say, 'Our Lord, our wretchedness overcame us, and we were a people astray. (106) Our Lord, remove us from it; if we return [to evil], then indeed, we will be wrongdoers.' (107) He will say, 'Remain humiliated therein and do not speak to Me. (108) Indeed, there was a party of My servants who said, 'Our Lord, we have believed, so forgive us and have mercy upon us, and You are the best of the merciful.' (109) But you took them in ridicule until they made you forget My remembrance, and you used to laugh at them. (110) Indeed, I have rewarded them this Day for their patient endurance – that they are the attainers [of success]." (Quran, Surah Al-Mu'minun)

Fifth: A Bully Disobeys Allah and His Messenger

Allah Almighty forbade bullying, mocking, and ridiculing people, saying:

"O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name of disobedience after [one's] faith. And whoever does not repent – then it is those who are the wrongdoers." (Quran, Surah Al-Hujurat: 11)

Similarly, the Prophet (PBUH) forbade despising people. In Sahih Muslim, from Abu Hurairah, the Prophet (PBUH) said: "A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He does not wrong him, nor does he abandon him, nor does he despise him. Piety is here [pointing to his chest]." If the prohibition of bullying is mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah, then the one who commits it is considered disobedient to Allah and His Messenger.

Sixth: The Bully Resembles the Hypocrites

Hypocrites are described in the Quran as those who mock and ridicule others. Allah Almighty said about the hypocrites:

"And when they meet those who believe, they say, 'We believe'; but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say, 'Indeed, we are with you; we were only mockers.'" (Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah: 14)

And He (Glorified and Exalted be He) said:

"The hypocrites are apprehensive lest a surah be revealed to them exposing what is in their hearts. Say, 'Mock as you wish; indeed, Allah will expose that which you fear.'" (Quran, Surah At-Tawbah: 64)

Seventh: The Bully Is Counted Among the Criminals

Allah Almighty spoke about criminals in the Quran and confirmed that one of their characteristics is ridiculing believers. He (Glorified and Exalted be He) said:

"Indeed, those who committed crimes used to laugh at those who believed. (29) And when they passed by them, they would wink at each other. (30) And when they returned to their people, they would return jesting. (31) And when they saw them, they would say, 'Indeed, these are astray.' (32) But they had not been sent as guardians over them." (Quran, Surah Al-Mutaffifin)

Eighth: Bullying Is a Behavior of the Ignorant

In Sahih Al-Bukhari, from Abu Dharr Al-Ghifari, he said: "I insulted a man and shamed him by mentioning his mother." The Prophet (PBUH) then said to me: "O Abu Dharr, did you shame him by his mother? Indeed, you are a person who still has [traces of] ignorance."

Ninth: Bullying Is a Behavior of the Disbelievers

Allah Almighty said:

"Beautified for those who disbelieve is the life of this world, and they ridicule those who believe. But those who fear Allah are above them on the Day of Resurrection." (Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah: 212)

The Holy Quran also recounts the story of Prophet Noah (PBUH) and confirmed that the disbelievers used to mock him. Allah Almighty said:

"And he constructed the ark, and whenever an eminent group of his people passed by him, they ridiculed him. He said, 'If you ridicule us, then we will ridicule you just as you ridicule.'" (Quran, Surah Hud: 38)

And He (Glorified and Exalted be He) clarified that the disbelievers used to ridicule all the messengers. Allah Almighty said:

"And already were messengers ridiculed before you, but those who mocked them were encompassed by that which they used to ridicule." (Quran, Surah Al-An'am: 10)

He (Glorified and Exalted be He) also explained that whoever ridicules Allah and His Messenger has committed disbelief. In this regard, He (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:

"The hypocrites are apprehensive lest a surah be revealed to them exposing what is in their hearts. Say, 'Mock as you wish; indeed, Allah will expose that which you fear.' (64) And if you ask them, they will surely say, 'We were only indulging in idle talk and play.' Say, 'Is it in Allah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?' (65) Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after your belief. If We pardon a party of you, We will punish another party because they were criminals." (Quran, Surah At-Tawbah)

Tenth: The Bully Is Promised Woe and Humiliating Torment

A bully is a slanderer, a backbiter; that is, one who mocks people by gesture or word. Allah Almighty has forbidden this, saying:

"And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name of disobedience after [one's] faith." (Quran, Surah Al-Hujurat: 11)

Furthermore, Allah Almighty has promised woe to the one who does this, saying:

"Woe to every slanderer and backbiter." (Quran, Surah Al-Humazah: 1)