Islam and the Scorn of the West

To be a Muslim living in the West today means to walk against the current—to endure mockery and abuse while holding firmly to a religion that is often viewed as backward and regressive. The issue is not merely about performing acts of worship, but about carrying an identity that is targeted and a belief that is mocked. No matter how much you try, you will not be safe anywhere!

But this religion began as something strange, and those who first believed in it were not spared from ridicule, mockery, and denial either.

Reasons for Mocking Muslims in the West

There are many reasons fueling the phenomenon of mocking Islam and Muslims in the West. Foremost among them is the profound ignorance of what Islam actually brings—light, guidance, and mercy. The West, in general, has only known Islam through distorted lenses that depict Muslims as extreme and regressive. This has contributed to the construction of deeply flawed perceptions about this great religion.

Several Western studies have revealed that most non-Muslims have never read the Quran and have never met a devout Muslim. Instead, their knowledge is derived from biased media outlets and films filled with extremism and hate.

Ignorance, however, is not the only reason. It is accompanied by a cultural arrogance rooted in a Eurocentric worldview that considers itself the ultimate standard for civilization and progress. It thus excludes any value system that differs and easily mocks it. Thus, ignorance and arrogance come together—just as they have throughout human history in various forms of rejection of the religion of Allah. This is what the Quran referred to when speaking of the disbelievers: “And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, those who disbelieve say of the truth when it has come to them, ‘This is obvious magic.’” (Al-Ahqaf: 7)

This description shows that when a disbeliever lacks an answer to the truth or fails to understand it, he resorts to mockery and belittling. This is what we see today in the ridicule of Islamic teachings like the hijab, prayer, the prohibition of alcohol, and the forbiddance of homosexuality. Many Westerners cannot comprehend that a religion could include a system that regulates desires and lifestyles—so they turn to mockery. Allah says, “But they have taken My verses and that of which they are warned in ridicule.” (Al-Kahf: 56)

This Western phenomenon cannot be separated from the causes that the Quran discussed when addressing the nature of those who mock. The same factors are repeated: disbelief, stubbornness, hypocrisy, ignorance, arrogance, and even envy.

Disbelief, in its essence, is not merely a lack of belief but a state of persistent defiance in the face of truth—not because the truth is flawed, but because it shakes the foundations of falsehood. “And they disputed by [using] falsehood to [attempt to] invalidate thereby the truth. So I seized them, and how [terrible] was My penalty.” (Ghafir :5)

Hypocrisy is the other face of arrogance and weakness combined. A hypocrite cannot confront Islam openly, so he resorts to whispering, sneering, and covert ridicule. The Quran describes this pattern precisely: “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.’” (Al-Baqarah: 14) Then Allah confirms that their punishment will be of the same nature as their actions: “Allah mocks them and prolongs them in their transgression [while] they wander blindly.” (Al-Baqarah: 15)

Ignorance is fertile ground for every deviation from natural disposition and for belittling what is sacred. One who does not know the reality of the Quran or the wisdom behind its laws is quick to mock rather than to seek understanding. The Quran portrays this condition: “And when our verses are recited to him, he turns away arrogantly as if he had not heard them, as if there was in his ears deafness. So give him tidings of a painful punishment.” (Luqman: 7) When ignorance is paired with envy, blindness and harm intensify. Many of those who mock Islam harbor hatred toward it simply because it still stands firm—its followers remain committed to it and uphold its values despite relentless smear campaigns. This is clearly stated in the Quran’s description of the Jews and hypocrites: “Many of the People of the Scripture wish they could turn you back to disbelief after you have believed, out of envy from themselves.” (Al-Baqarah: 109)

But You Are Not Alone

If the believer today feels the bitterness of media or societal mockery toward his religion, he should remember that he is walking the same path as the prophets and the righteous before him. Mockery has always been a weapon used by deniers whenever they are unable to counter the message of the prophets with logic or evidence.

Nuh, peace be upon him, when Allah commanded him to build the ark in a barren land, followed the command with full certainty. Meanwhile, his people never stopped mocking him: “And he constructed the ship, and whenever an assembly of the eminent of his people passed by him, they ridiculed him.” (Hud: 38)

They did not stop at denying his message—they made his obedience to Allah a subject of ridicule. But he and those who believed with him were saved, while the mockers became fuel for the flood.

Ibrahim, peace be upon him, when he debated them with reason and invalidated idol worship with logic, they resorted to burning and mocking him: “They said, ‘Construct for him a furnace and throw him into the burning fire.’” (As-Saffat: 97) Unable to destroy the argument, they attempted to destroy the person.

When Musa, peace be upon him, was sent to Pharaoh and his chiefs, he too was met with accusations and slander. Despite clear miracles, they accused him of sorcery and blamed him for their misfortunes: “But when good [times] came to them, they said, ‘This is ours [by right]’; and if a bad [condition] struck them, they saw an evil omen in Moses and those with him.” (Al-A’raf: 131)

As for Muhammad ﷺ, the seal of the prophets, he endured even harsher forms of mockery. They directed at him every possible insult, despite knowing his truthfulness and trustworthiness. “And they say, ‘O you upon whom the message has been sent down, indeed you are mad.’” (Al-Hijr: 6)

Allah said describing them: “There did not come to them any messenger except that they used to ridicule him.” (Ya-Sin: 30) They accused him of madness, sorcery, and lies—not because they misunderstood who he was, but because they despised the truth he brought, which threatened their interests.

The Consequences of Mocking Islam

This rejection was not merely passive; it was accompanied by mockery and ridicule. Thus, they deserved the consequences that befell them in this world—and await them in the Hereafter. As Allah said: “For they have already denied, but there will come to them the news of that which they used to ridicule.” (Ash-Shu'ara: 6)

First: The Worldly Consequences

1-     Being Branded with the Worst Attributes: Whoever mocks the ayahs of Allah deserves to be described as a disbeliever, a hypocrite, or ignorant—just as stated in His saying: “And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them.” (An-Nisa: 140) And when Musa (peace be upon him) thought his people assumed he was mocking them, he said: “I seek refuge in Allah from being among the ignorant.” (Al-Baqarah: 67)

2-    Anxiety and Psychological Disturbance: The mockers live in constant fear of being exposed, as Allah says, “They think that every shout is against them.” (Al-Munafiqun: 4)

3-    Annihilation and Destruction: Just as Allah punished previous mockers of His messengers: “And already were [other] messengers ridiculed before you, and I extended the time of those who disbelieved; then I seized them, and how [terrible] was My penalty.” (Ar-Ra’d: 32)

Secondly: The Consequences in the Hereafter

As for the Hereafter, people will either be honored or punished. Those who made a mockery of the signs of Allah will face disgrace and torment: “Then the end of those who did evil was the worst [consequence] because they denied the signs of Allah and used to ridicule them.” (Ar-Rum: 10)

But alas, the light of Allah cannot be extinguished, nor can His religion be defeated. Those who mock today will, tomorrow, witness the great reward and honor on the faces of the believers. Allah says, “So today those who believed are laughing at the disbelievers, on adorned couches, observing. Have the disbelievers [not] been rewarded [this Day] for what they used to do?” (Al-Mutaffifin: 34–36) So have beautiful patience.

Righteous Salaf’s Sayings about Patience

How Should Muslims Respond to Mockery?

Allah revealed the Qur’an as a healing and a mercy for our hearts, and clarified that mockery of the religion is not an inherent disease, but rather a symptom arising from intellectual or psychological disorders that can be treated if their causes are correctly diagnosed. The Book of Allah has guided us to three noble approaches to confront this phenomenon, the first of which is to address its root causes. Some of those who mock are driven by heedlessness, ignorance, or environmental influence; but when the reason behind their mockery is revealed to them and its consequences in this life and the next are explained, those who still hold goodness in their hearts may return. Therefore, Allah did not cut them off from the hope of His pardon and mercy. He said: “Is it Allah 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.” (At-Tawbah: 65–66)

He also set an example for us in exposing the mockers, by revealing their actions and uncovering their intentions, which serves as a deterrent and breaks their arrogance—especially when they are certain that Allah will expose what lies within their hearts. As He said: “Or do those in whose hearts is disease think that Allah would never expose their [feelings of] hatred?” (Muhammad: 29)

From this, we understand that the Muslim community has a responsibility to reject such behavior and not normalize it. The Qur’an also directed us to boycott their gatherings. Allah has commanded us to abandon places where mockery and wickedness occur, and even considered sitting with them without objecting to be a shared sin. He said: “And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah [recited] they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them.” (An-Nisa: 140)

These steps are wise methods that preserve the dignity of the religion, champion the truth, and call upon us to rise to the awareness that mockery of the verses of Allah must only be met with either conscious disregard, wise response, or decisive boycott—depending on what the situation demands.

-----------------------------------------------------------

•                Mahasin al-Islam Encyclopedia. 

•                Tafsir Modoee Encyclopedia.