He insults Islam – should he be friends with him? How should he deal with him?

 

I have a friend who insults Islam and says bad things to me in Ramadaan. How should I deal with him? He is always with me and is always saying these insulting things.

Praise be to Allaah.

Insulting Allaah or Islam is major kufr which puts a person
beyond the pale of Islam. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Say: Was it at Allaah
and His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.)
and His Messenger that you were mocking?”

66. Make no excuse; you disbelieved after you had
believed”

[al-Tawbah 9:65,66] 

What you have to do is to remind this slanderer and advise
him, and warn him that all his good deeds are to no avail, and that if he
does not repent, he will meet Allaah when he is guilty of major kufr. 

Tell him that the punishment that he deserves in this world
is execution, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: “Whoever changes his religion, execute him.” Narrated by
al-Bukhaari, 3017. 

Tell him that he must come back to Islam, and that if he
comes back and repents, Allaah will accept his repentance. 

If he responds, then all well and good, but if he does not
respond, it is not permissible for you to stay with him when he is insulting
Islam. 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen was asked about the ruling on staying
among people who insult Allaah, may He be glorified. 

He replied: 

It is not permissible to stay with people who are insulting
Allaah, may He be glorified, because Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning): 

“And it has already been
revealed to you in the Book (this Qur’aan) that when you hear the Verses of
Allaah being denied and mocked at, then sit not with them, until they engage
in a talk other than that; (but if you stayed with them) certainly in that
case you would be like them. Surely, Allaah will collect the hypocrites and
disbelievers all together in Hell”

[al-Nisa’ 4:140] 

And Allaah is the Source of strength. End quote. 

Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen,
2/question no. 238 

It should be noted that bad company will bring nothing but
evil, so protect yourself against that. The Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) likened a bad companion to the one who
operates the bellows: either he will burn your clothes, or you will notice a
foul smell from him. 

It was narrated from Abu Moosa (may Allaah be pleased with
him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“The likeness of a good companion and a bad companion is that of one who
carries musk and one who works the bellows. With the carrier of musk, either
he will give you some or you will buy some from him, or you will notice a
good smell from him; as for the one who works the bellows, either he will
burn your clothes or you will notice a bad smell from him.” Narrated by
al-Bukhaari, 5543; Muslim, 2628. 

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 

In this hadeeth the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) likened a good companion to the one who carries musk,
and the bad companion to one who works the bellows. It points to the virtue
of sitting with righteous, good and honourable people, people of good
attitude, awareness, knowledge and manners, and indicates that it is not
allowed to sit with evil people and followers of innovation, those who
backbite about people or who are foul-mouthed and have nothing better to do,
and other blameworthy things. End quote. 

Sharh Muslim, 16/178 

In conclusion: You have to advise this person who lives with
you, who has fallen into major kufr because of his insulting Islam, and who
has committed a major sin by insulting you. If he responds to your advice
and mends his ways, then stay with him and help him to discipline himself,
but if he does not respond, then there is nothing good for you in remaining
friends with him. 

And Allaah knows best.