It is a widely held belief among the non-Muslims and unfortunately, some Muslims that Islaam is a religion of suppression and harshness, where laughing, joking, entertainment and fun are not permitted.
O Muslims! The Sunnah of our Prophet (Peace be Up On Him) has clarified this issue and he (Peace be Up On Him) has set a wonderful example for the Muslim’s life style, for those who wish to live according to this guidance. If we refer to the Sunnah, we will find that the Prophet (Peace be Up On Him) used to joke with his companions, Abu Daawood and Tirmidhi reported that a man came to the Prophet (Peace be Up On Him) and said:
“Give me an animal to ride on” the Prophet (Peace be Up On Him) replied: “I will give you the son of a female camel” the man said with astonishment: “What could I do with the son of a female camel?” (i.e., thinking that he would be given a camel too small to ride). Thereupon, the Messenger of Allaah (Peace be Up On Him) replied: “What do female camels deliver except camels?”(i.e., that every camel, even if it is fully grown, is the product of a female camel). (Abu Daawood & Tirmidhi).
Tabaraani reported that an old woman came to the Prophet (Peace be Up On Him) and said:
“O Messenger of Allaah! Supplicate that Allaah permits me into Paradise” he (Peace be Up On Him) replied: “Paradise will not be entered by old women” then he went off to pray. When he came back, his wife ‘Aa’ishah., may Allaah be pleased with her, said to him: “The old woman found what you said to be difficult” he replied: “Allaah will bring all the women of Paradise to a young age before allowing them enter.”
Imaam Bukhaari mentioned in his book, Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, “The companions used to play by throwing watermelon skins at each other, but when it was time for seriousness, they were real men.”
The Prophet (Peace be Up On Him) had the finest manners, so much so that he was always joking with and teasing children. Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated:
“The Prophet (Peace be Up On Him) used to joke with us; He would call out to my young brother:“O Abu ‘Umayr! (a playful nickname), what happened to your bird (a pet that he used to keep)?”” (Bukhaari).
Once, some of the companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, asked the Prophet (Peace be Up On Him): “Do you joke with us?” he (Peace be Up On Him) replied: “I do, but I only say that which is true” (Tirmidhi & Bukhaari in his book Al-Adab Al-Mufrad).
As you have heard, Islaam does not prohibit joking and teasing, but it sets criteria for it as our Prophet (Peace be Up On Him) instructed us, which are:
1) Saying only that which is true: If we look to the narrations mentioned above, he (Peace be Up On Him) never said a word which was not true, like in the story of the camel or the old woman. This is how joking should be, without lying, fabricating and concocting stories simply to people laugh. The Prophet (Peace be Up On Him)warned about this saying:
“Woe to the one who lies to people just to make them laugh. Woe to him, woe to him.” (Abu Daawood & Tirmidhi).
2) It should not involve verses from the Qur’aan, Prophetic sayings, or any of fundamentals of Islaam. Unfortunately, some people have fallen into this terrible practice, we ask Allaah to guide them. These people tell jokes about the angels, Prophets, Qur’aanic verses and Prophetic sayings. This is extremely dangerous as it is tantamount to disbelief. Shaikh Al-‘Uthaymeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “One who mocks Allaah, His verses, His signs or His Messengers is a disbeliever because this action nullifies belief.”
1) Another criterion for permissible joking is that it should not harm others, whether physically or emotionally. Allaah says what translates as,
“O You who have believed. Let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name [i.e. mention] of disobedience after [one’s] faith. And whoever does not repent – then it is those who are the wrongdoers.” (Al-Hujuraat: 12).
It is because these things hurt people’s feelings and may even lead to physical harm, that Allaah has prohibited it. Nowadays, people have transgressed all limits under the pretext of joking. It is sad to see that some people are eager to find out about a subject that would upset their brother and tease him about that; and this leads to their brother becoming offended, which is also prohibited.
2) The final criterion for permissible joking is that people should not do it excessively, as this leads them to commit errors and lose their dignity. One who reads through the history of the Prophet (Peace be Up On Him) will realise that he would joke but would never do so excessively. Therefore, based on this finest of examples, one should not joke excessively so that they do not become known for this trait.
Referance:islamhouse.com
O Muslims! The Sunnah of our Prophet (Peace be Up On Him) has clarified this issue and he (Peace be Up On Him) has set a wonderful example for the Muslim’s life style, for those who wish to live according to this guidance. If we refer to the Sunnah, we will find that the Prophet (Peace be Up On Him) used to joke with his companions, Abu Daawood and Tirmidhi reported that a man came to the Prophet (Peace be Up On Him) and said:
“Give me an animal to ride on” the Prophet (Peace be Up On Him) replied: “I will give you the son of a female camel” the man said with astonishment: “What could I do with the son of a female camel?” (i.e., thinking that he would be given a camel too small to ride). Thereupon, the Messenger of Allaah (Peace be Up On Him) replied: “What do female camels deliver except camels?”(i.e., that every camel, even if it is fully grown, is the product of a female camel). (Abu Daawood & Tirmidhi).
Tabaraani reported that an old woman came to the Prophet (Peace be Up On Him) and said:
“O Messenger of Allaah! Supplicate that Allaah permits me into Paradise” he (Peace be Up On Him) replied: “Paradise will not be entered by old women” then he went off to pray. When he came back, his wife ‘Aa’ishah., may Allaah be pleased with her, said to him: “The old woman found what you said to be difficult” he replied: “Allaah will bring all the women of Paradise to a young age before allowing them enter.”
Imaam Bukhaari mentioned in his book, Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, “The companions used to play by throwing watermelon skins at each other, but when it was time for seriousness, they were real men.”
The Prophet (Peace be Up On Him) had the finest manners, so much so that he was always joking with and teasing children. Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated:
“The Prophet (Peace be Up On Him) used to joke with us; He would call out to my young brother:“O Abu ‘Umayr! (a playful nickname), what happened to your bird (a pet that he used to keep)?”” (Bukhaari).
Once, some of the companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, asked the Prophet (Peace be Up On Him): “Do you joke with us?” he (Peace be Up On Him) replied: “I do, but I only say that which is true” (Tirmidhi & Bukhaari in his book Al-Adab Al-Mufrad).
As you have heard, Islaam does not prohibit joking and teasing, but it sets criteria for it as our Prophet (Peace be Up On Him) instructed us, which are:
1) Saying only that which is true: If we look to the narrations mentioned above, he (Peace be Up On Him) never said a word which was not true, like in the story of the camel or the old woman. This is how joking should be, without lying, fabricating and concocting stories simply to people laugh. The Prophet (Peace be Up On Him)warned about this saying:
“Woe to the one who lies to people just to make them laugh. Woe to him, woe to him.” (Abu Daawood & Tirmidhi).
2) It should not involve verses from the Qur’aan, Prophetic sayings, or any of fundamentals of Islaam. Unfortunately, some people have fallen into this terrible practice, we ask Allaah to guide them. These people tell jokes about the angels, Prophets, Qur’aanic verses and Prophetic sayings. This is extremely dangerous as it is tantamount to disbelief. Shaikh Al-‘Uthaymeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “One who mocks Allaah, His verses, His signs or His Messengers is a disbeliever because this action nullifies belief.”
1) Another criterion for permissible joking is that it should not harm others, whether physically or emotionally. Allaah says what translates as,
“O You who have believed. Let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name [i.e. mention] of disobedience after [one’s] faith. And whoever does not repent – then it is those who are the wrongdoers.” (Al-Hujuraat: 12).
It is because these things hurt people’s feelings and may even lead to physical harm, that Allaah has prohibited it. Nowadays, people have transgressed all limits under the pretext of joking. It is sad to see that some people are eager to find out about a subject that would upset their brother and tease him about that; and this leads to their brother becoming offended, which is also prohibited.
2) The final criterion for permissible joking is that people should not do it excessively, as this leads them to commit errors and lose their dignity. One who reads through the history of the Prophet (Peace be Up On Him) will realise that he would joke but would never do so excessively. Therefore, based on this finest of examples, one should not joke excessively so that they do not become known for this trait.
Referance:islamhouse.com
