Question:

Many people—though not all—publicly curse the religion, claiming that they do not specifically intend to curse the religion itself, but rather the person standing in front of them. What is the ruling on this?

Answer:

Cursing the religion is apostasy from Islam, as Allah the Almighty says: “Say: ‘Was it at Allah, and His Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and His Messenger (ﷺ) that you were mocking?’ Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after you had believed.” [At-Tawbah: 65-66].

As for cursing a Muslim individual, it is forbidden (haram) but not apostasy, based on the saying of Allah the Almighty: “O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former;…“ [Al-Hujurat: 11] up to His statement: “…nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad is it, to insult one’s brother after having Faith [i.e. to call your Muslim brother (a faithful believer) as: “O sinner”, or “O wicked”, etc.].” [Al-Hujurat: 11].

And with Allah is all success, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.