The Issue of Insulting a Sunni Alim

Besides an Aalim, one is not even permitted to insult an ordinary Muslim and to do so is considered as Haraam.

The Holy Prophet - May Allah send peace and blessings upon him - has stated that, “To insult (and swear) at a fellow Muslim is a major sin.”

[Muslim Shareef]

When this law is so severe on an ordinary Muslim imagine the law which is applicable upon an Aalim?

The Holy Prophet - May Allah send peace and blessings upon him - has also stated that, “no one will think lightly of the ‘Ulama except a munaafiq”.

In another Shareef, the Holy Prophet - May Allah send peace and blessings upon him - has stated that, “He who does not recognize the right of my Aalim, he is not from my ummah.”

[Musnad Imam Ahmed Radi Allahu ‘Anhu]

At the same time, if one insults an Aalim simply because he is an Aalim, then this is clear kufr.

If on the other hands, he considers it fard to respect his knowledge, but due to some wordily issue, he insults and swears at this Aalim, belittles him, ridicules him, then he is a Faasiq and a Faajir. If he continues to display scorn for this Aalim, then his heart is sick and his heart is full of filth and there is a danger that very soon he will be guilty of kufr.

In the book Khulaasah, it is mentioned that “If a person has enmity for an Aalim without any visible reason, there is a possibility that he has committed kufr.

[Khulaasatul Fataawah. 4/388] 

In the Minhur Roaudul Azhar it is mentioned that, “It is apparent, that he will become a Kaafir”. [Fatawah Ridawiyyah]