The tension between Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Dr Mahathir Mohamad has taken a divine twist with both making references to Prophet Muhammad.

And now their respective supporters have entered the ring.

In a Facebook post, Mahathir’s lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla launched a salvo against Rizal Mansor, the aide to the prime minister’s wife Rosmah Mansor.

Haniff accused Rizal of slander regarding the claim that Mahathir belittled Prophet Muhammad during his speech at the DAP convention over the weekend.

The lawyer also claimed Rizal lacked the intelligence to comprehend Mahathir’s remarks, or had deliberately twisted the matter.

Recalling Mahathir’s speech, Haniff said the former premier had noted how Najib purportedly compared himself to Prophet Muhammad.

“But the prophet of Islam as you know did not have 1MDB... He did not have RM2.6 billion in his account, that is why we look up to him ... but Najib, he should be placed in a court of law to answer for all the things that he has done...,” Mahathir had added.

Based on this, Haniff said it is clear Mahathir never insulted the prophet, and urged Malaysians to view the video recording of the speech.

“The truth, as you know, or pretend not to know, is that Mahathir’s speech is a stern criticism of the prime minister, your boss,” he added in the post addressed to Rizal.

Yesterday, Rizal claimed Mahathir wanted to outshine DAP, and therefore was willing to belittle the prophet.

"Belittling the prophet is nothing new for Mahathir," he alleged.

He claimed in 1997, Mahathir insulted Prophet Muhammad's beard, questioning if anyone had seen it and stating that there were no Gillette razors during that time.

Rizal further alleged that such remarks had cost BN the Arau seat in a 1998 by-election.

During his speech at the Umno meet last week, Najib said while some advised him to respond in the same harsh manner as his critics, he however preferred to adhere to the teachings of the prophet, who emphasised on being civil even with foes.

Najib has denied abusing public funds for personal gain and accused Mahathir, who insists that the prime minister is embroiled in corruption, of attempting to topple him from power.

Attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali has cleared the prime minister of any wrongdoing and the RM2.6 billion is described as a donation from a Saudi royalty.