There's a word in the Quran for mockery that people often misunderstand. The word is 'سخرية' (sukhria) and it doesn't just mean making jokes about someone. The root of the word comes from the verb meaning to subdue an animal, to break its pride, to domesticate it, to deprive it of its spirit.
"O you who believe, let not a people ridicule another people..." (49:11) يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌۭ مِّن قَوْمٍ
This teaches us something important; making fun of someone isn't always innocent. Mockery can be a tool of control. Consider a father who continuously makes jokes at his son's expense. Over the years, these jokes chip away at the son's self-worth. The father may not think he's doing anything wrong, but he's working to keep his son small, to make him feel unworthy of living his own life. That's sukhria.
Think about a spouse who constantly undermines their partner's confidence, who comments on their appearance or abilities in a way that seems playful but is actually calculated to keep them dependent and afraid. These people may not even realize what they're doing, but the effect is the same: they're trying to domesticate another human being.
The classical scholars define sukhria more precisely. It means to consider another person so completely beneath you, so utterly unworthy, that you don't even bother to point out their actual shortcomings. They're not worth mentioning; they're a joke. Even a roll of the eyes can be sukhria. That subtle, wordless expression that communicates: you're beneath my serious consideration.
This reflection is from the latest installment in the Deeper Look series on Surah Al-Hujurat with Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan. Follow along at https://byna.tv/342
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