According to the Hanafi madhhab, what is the ruling on laughing at statements of Shias that appear absurd or blasphemous (e.g., hearing a Rafidhi say “Hazrat-e-Shaytan radiyallahu ‘anhu”), or laughing at a Sunni mocking Shias by imitating their phrases or accents (e.g., “Ya Imowm-e-Zamaown”)? If the laughter is not at Islam or sacred matters, but at the absurdity or mockery itself, does this constitute kufr?

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 is His Slave and Messenger.

Mocking a Muslim, laughing at him, or imitating him in a manner of ridicule is prohibited.

Al-Khadimi al-Hanafi in Bariqah Mahmudiyyah, discussed mockery and stated that it is forbidden whether done verbally, through actions and imitation, or by gestures and signals. He cited as evidence the saying of Allah, the Most High:

{O you who believe, let not one people ridicule another people; perhaps they may be better than them.} [Qur'an 49:11]

However, such behavior does not amount to disbelief so long as one does not intend to belittle or show contempt for the religion. Ibn Nujaym stated in al-Bahr al-Ra’iq, a commentary of Kanz al-Daqa’iq:

“If one belittles a jurist or a descendant of the Prophet intending thereby to belittle the religion, he commits disbelief; but if he does not intend that, then he does not.” [End quote.]

Mulla ʿAli al-Qari said in Sharh al-Shifa’: “Our scholars have said: If there are ninety-nine aspects that indicate declaring a Muslim a disbeliever and one aspect that supports maintaining his Islam, then the mufti and the judge should act upon that one aspect. This is derived from his statement (peace be upon him): ‘Ward off prescribed punishments from the Muslims as much as you can. If you find a way out for a Muslim, then let him go, for it is better for the leader to err in pardon than to err in punishment.’” Reported by al-Tirmidhi and al-Hakim. [End quote.]

Allah Knows best.