Question
(#063)
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
This may sound like a stupid question but please dont mind me asking.My relatives( sibling, parents) and i like to tell clean jokes and laugh. Myhusband gets angry whenever we laugh and says to recite astagfar quotes the Hadith where our Nabi SAW said mafum: “dont laugh that you teeth shows and remember death” however i recently heard a hadith where our nabi used to have jokers in his gathering who would tell jokes. I dont think Islam is that hard, our Nabi SAW used to run races with his wife.
Could you please advise if it is not allowed to have fun in islam? Do we have to be serious all the time and cannot joke and laugh with your marham?
JazakALLAH
Answer
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
حامدا و مصليا و مسلما
Muhtaramah
We received your query regarding the concept of laughter in Islaam.
Our response is as follows:
Islam is not only a religion but rather it is a way of life. The word Deen which is loosely translated as religion is an inaccurate and imprecise translation. Rather Islam affects every facet of our lives, from which one aspect is to do with our character and the manner in which we deal with people.
For this reason, Allah Ta’ala had sent Nabi Sallallahu alai wa salam as a practical example to show a living example to the Sahabah, which in turn became an example for the entire mankind.
Now if we ponder over the life of Rasulullah Sallallahu-Alaihi-Wa-Sallam and the Sahabah Radiallahu-Anhum then we will notice that they smiled more often than they laughed.
The monumental masterpiece of Imam Abe Essa Muhammad bin Essa Tirmidhi “Shaamil Tirmidhi” mentions various Ahaadeth concerning the speech, actions and the physical description of Nabi Sallallahhu alai wa salam. In addition to this, he has dedicated a specific chapter concerning the laughter of Nabi Sallalahu alai wa salam. We would like to reproduce some of those narrations below.
Jaabir ibn Samurah radiyallahu anhu says his (Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam) laugh was only that of a smile.
Abdullah ibn Haarith radiyallahu anhu reports that I did not see anyone who smiled more than Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam.
Abu Dhar radiyallahu anhu says, Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam said, I know that person well who will enter Jannah first and also that person who will be the last one to be taken out of Jahannam. On the Day of Qiyaamah a person will be brought forward to the court of Almighty Allah. It shall be commanded that all the minor sins of that person be put forward to him and the major sign be concealed. When the minor sins are disclosed to that person, he will accept that he had committed them, as there will be no room for refuting them. (He will begin to tremble and say in his heart that these are only the minor sins, what will happen when the major sins are exposed.) During this happening it shall be commanded that for every sin of that person he be given the Thawaab (reward) of a good deed. Upon hearing this person himself will say I still have many sins left to account for, that are not seen here.
Abu Dhar radiyallahu anhu says, Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam while narrating the words of that person began laughing until his Mubarak (blessed) teeth began to show. (The reason being that the person himself disclosed the very sins he was frightened of).
Abdullah ibn Mas’ood radiyallahu anhu said that I know the person who will come out last from the fire. He will be such a man who will crawl out (due to the severity of the punishment of Jahannam he will not be able to walk). He will then be ordered to enter Jannah. He will go there and find that all the places therein are occupied. He will return and say, “O Allah the people have taken all the places.” It will be said to him “Do you remember the places in the world?” (That when a place gets filled, there remains no place for a newcomer. And a person that arrives first occupies as much as one pleases, there remains no place for the ones that arrive later. The elders have translated it in this manner. According to this humble servant, if the meaning of it is taken as follows, it seems more appropriate, that do you remember the vastness and ampleness of the world and how big the world was. He is being reminded because an announcement is going to be made that a place that is ten times greater than the world shall be given to him. After imagining the vastness of the world once it may be assessed how great this gift is. He will reply, “O my creator, I remember well” It will be commanded to him “Make your wish in whichever way your heart desires.” He will put forward his desires. It shall be commanded that all your desires are fulfilled and in addition to this ten times the size of the world is granted to you. He will reply “Are you jesting with me O my Allah and You are the King of the Kings?” (There is no place in Jannah and You are granting me a place ten times greater than the world). Sayyidina Ibn Mas’ood radiyallahu anhu said that I saw Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam laugh till his mubarak teeth showed (when he related this portion of the man’s reply).
Jabir ibn Abdullah radiyallahu anhu says, “After I accepted Islam, Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam never prohibited me from attending his assemblies. Whenever he saw me he laughed.” In another narration it is stated that he smiled.
Regarding these Ahadeeth, Shaikhul Hadeeth Maulana Muhammad Zakariya Rahimahullah mentions that the second narration is mentioned in order for it to be known that by laughing (as mentioned in the first Hadith), it is meant that Sayyidina Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wa sallam smiled. This smile is to show happiness, because to meet one cheerfully makes one feel at ease. I have observed that my elders at times met visitors with such happiness and cheerfulness that the visitor may feel that happiness is being felt by our coming.
A question arises from this Hadith, that in that last Hadith of the previous chapter, it is stated that Sayyidina Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wa sallam always remained in deep thought and sorrow. This seems to contradict that Hadith. Two explanations are given to the Hadith. The first is that the meaning of the Hadith is that Sayyidina Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam smiled more than he laughed. No other person was seen whose smile was more than his laugh then Rasulullah Sallahu allai wa salam. In a further hadith which is reported from that same Sahaabi, this has been clearly elucidated. The second explanation is that Sayyidina Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam besides being naturally worried, smiled and appeared cheerful so that the Sahaabah radiyallahu anhum might feel at ease and comfortable. This is the pinnacle of humbleness and good character. In the Hadeeth of Sayyidina Jarir radiyallahu anhu in which he says that whenever Sayyidina Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam saw me, he met me with a cheerful smile. There now remains no contradiction with the first Hadith. Many times it so happens that a person is sad and worried, but to keep others happy, or for some other reason one has the opportunity to meet them cheerfully. Those who have in their hearts a mark of love, experience this many times.
Hereunder a few more narrations of the joking of Nabi Sallallahu alai wa salam:
Abu Hurairah radiyallahu anhu reports, The Sahaabah asked, “O Messenger of Allah, you joke with us?” Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam replied “Yes, I do not say but the truth.”
Anas ibn Malik radiyallahu anhu relates that a person requested Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam that he be given a conveyance. Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam replied that the baby of a camel shall be given to you.
The person said that what shall I do with the baby of a camel O Messenger of Allah? (I want one for a conveyance). Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam replied that every camel is the baby of a camel
Hasan Basri radiyallahu anhu says that an old woman came to Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam and made a request, O Messenger of Allah make Dua that Allah grants me entrance into Jannah.
Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam replied, O Mother an old woman cannot enter Jannah. That woman started crying and began to leave. Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam said to the Sahaba that say to the woman that one will not enter in a state of old age but Allah will make all the women of Jannah young virgins. Allah Ta’ala says, Lo! We have created them a (new) creation and made them virgins, lovers, equal in age. (Surah Waaqi’ah, 35-37).
From the above we come to know that it will not be correct to pass a blanket ruling that it is not at all permissible to laugh. Yes, it is mentioned that excessive laughing kills the heart.
Remember that Islaam is not a “dry” religion that does not allow joking and laughing at all. However, there are certain limits and boundaries when joking and laughing. The joking should be based on truth. Hence, when Rasulullah Sallallahu-Alaihi-Wa-Sallam and the Sahabah Radiallahu-Anhum used to joke, they always spoke the truth. When the time would come to be serious, they would stand up and tackle the matter like true and valiant men. Furthermore, their laughing was an occasional thing and not a pastime in which they regularly engaged in as they took heed of what Allah Ta’aala mentions in the Holy Quraan-e-Kareem “Let them laugh little and cry a lot.”
It is narrated in a Hadith Shareef that Rasulullah Sallallahu-Alaihi-Wa-Sallam said “If you knew that what I know, then verily you would have laughed little and cried a lot.”
{Tafseer-e-Mazhari (vol. 4 pg. 252)}, {Bukhari-Shareef (vol. 2 pg. 960)}, {Mishkaat-Shareef (pg. 406)}, {Mirqaat (vol. 9 pg. 101)}, {Jamul-Wasail (vol. 2 pg. 18)}
However, together with all of what has been mentioned above, one must always remember that one should take into consideration the Mizaaj (temperament) of everyone. Furthermore, extreme care should be taken with the temperament of one’s spouse. Therefore, if ones husband or anyone’s temperament is such that by excessively joking in front of him/her cause’s him/her to get upset and angry then one should rather refrain or reduce from joking in front of such people. One could also try to make an effort to please one’s spouse through some other avenue accepted by Shariah such as exchanging of gifts or some other permissible activity so that one does not end up with a dull marriage life. There is no need to force this issue on someone and thereby causing even more disputes and quarrels in ones marriage life. Each person should endeavor to live together with harmony by understanding each other’s particular behavior patterns and ways.
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Muhammad Irshad Motara
6th Feburary 2013
24th Rabeeul Awwal 1434
Checked and Approved :
Mufti Musayyab Sahib
