Speech that is derogatory to God. The qurʾānic terms that correspond most closely to blasphemy are takdhīb, “giving the lie, denial” and iftirāʾ, “invention” (cf. Izutsu, Concepts, 40, 99-101, 169-70). Inas-¶ much as God and his messages represent the ultimate truth (q.v.), blasphemy is denial of that truth or propagation of a falsehood in its place.

Blasphemy by denial (takdhīb) is the outright rejection of revealed religious truths, such as the revelations and warnings of God's messengers (q 54; see messenger; revelation and inspiration; warning), and the announcements of the day o…