Is it haram to hate, ridicule, or belittle any of Allah's creations, like human beings, a specific gender, or animals?

1-8-2024 | IslamWeb

Question:

Is it haram to hate, ridicule or belittle a creation of Allah (swt) such as Humanity, a certain gender or an animal and be vocal about it?

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Answer:

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

Praise be to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, and his Companions. A believer aligns his likes and dislikes with what Allah and His Messenger like or dislike. He evaluates all issues according to the standards of the noble Shariah. One who is liked by Allah and His Messenger should not be ridiculed, hated, or diminished. Conversely, those who are hated by Allah and His Messenger should be similarly hated.

Therefore, it is correct and justifiable to detest enemies among the disbelievers and hypocrites, who are among humankind, and to deride them for their disbelief and hypocrisy. Likewise, harmful and vicious animals such as rats and rabid dogs are naturally and religiously hated. The noble Shariah mandates their killing inside or outside the sacred area of Ihram (Sanctuary), which is a stronger action than mere abhorrence or derision.

However, mocking any group of human beings, such as men deriding women in general, or women mocking men in general, or ridiculing those created by Allah as hermaphrodite, is not permissible. The standard for love and hatred must be aligned with that of Allah, the Exalted.

Whatever the criterion for love and hatred is that of Allah, the Almighty. So, what is loved and honored by Allah should also be loved and honored by you, and vice versa.

Allah knows best.