Allaah has created the sons of Adam with inherent characteristics that are essential to maintain their well-being. Laughing and joking are natural dispositions that man needs, similar to his need for food and drink and interaction with others.
Since Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) is the Most Wise, He has sent down a complete religion with perfect legislation to reform our worldly and religious affairs. He has not left anything out that concerns our lives without teaching us about it, and He (Ta’ala) has given us an example (Sunnah) to follow.
The more the slave applies the knowledge that Allaah has sent to him and follows the Sunnah that Allaah recommended him to follow, the more Allaah will enlighten his heart. That light will shine for him in the darkness of ignorance, will widen his chest when he faces an affliction, and will guide him to the way of Allaah until he passes the Siraat (the Bridge) on the Day of Judgment, with the grace and mercy of Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala).
Of the manners that Allaah has taught us, is the correct way of acting relative to laughing and joking. It is just like food and drink; we can take what we need of it to get benefit from it. Yet, it is possible to take from it what could spoil our bodies, or we could take too much of it until it destroys us.
(1) The Manners of Laughing
First: What is laughter?
Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) says in Surat An-Najm (53:43):
وأنه أضحك وأبكى
“And that is He (Allaah) Who makes (whom He wills) laugh and makes (whom He wills) weep.”
Shaikh As-Sa’dee (Rahimahullaah) said in his Tafseer: “This means that Allaah is the One Who created the causes for laughing and weeping, of which are good and evil, happiness and grief (sorrow); and to Him (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) belongs the utmost wisdom in that.“
Ibn Katheer said in his Tafseer: “This means that Allaah created within His creatures, the ability to laugh and weep, and the causes for each of these opposites.”
Laughter in Arabic is of three degrees:
- To smile: showing or expressing something without sound, and it is the beginning of laughter. The cause of smiling is usually happiness, but it is also an expression used to show approval or encouragement.
Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) says in Surat ‘Abasa (80:38-39):
وجوه يومئذ مسفرة. ضاحكة مستبشرة
“Some faces that Day will be bright (true believers of Islamic Monotheism). Laughing, rejoicing at good news (of Paradise).”
So laughing is more general than smiling, and laughter is called smiling according to the Hadeeth that was narrated by ‘Abdullaah ibn al-Haarith who said: “The laughter of the Prophet – Salla-Allaahu’ alayhi wa sallam – was not but smiling.” [Saheeh At-Tirmidhi and authenticated by Al-Albaani]
- To laugh: showing emotion with facial expressions and sound, e.g. a funny story is usually accompanied with laughter. In addition, scorn or mockery may also be shown with facial expressions accompanied with laughter.
- To bellow, guffaw: showing one’s amusement with loud, boisterous laughter.
Second: What are the causes of Laughter?
Ibn Al-Qayyim (Rahimahullaah) said: “Laughter has many causes:
1. Wonderment at things that are rare events,
2. Happiness when one experiences a joyful occasion,
3. Anger, e.g. when a person wonders about what made him angry; or when one has defeated his opponent; or as a way of showing disregard to someone, like the Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did when he smiled out of anger at Ka’ab ibn Maalik (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) (as mentioned in the story of Ka’ab ibn Maalik when he did not join the Tabuk expedition),
4. Laughter of ridicule and mockery,
5. Laughter without reason, and that is considered impoliteness.”
Third: The Laughter of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) with his Companions:
(1) ‘Abdullaah ibn al-Haarith (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated: “I have never seen anyone that smiles more than the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).” [Saheeh At-Tirmidhi and authenticated by Al-Albaani]
Shaikh ‘Abdur-Razzaq al-Badr (Hafidhahullaah) said: “This indicates his perfect character, humbleness and his good accompaniment with people. He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was meeting the people with a cheerful and smiling face. And the smiling of the person in the face of his brother is charity. This is because it brings joy to the heart of the Muslim and encourages one to sit with him and listen to him.” [Explanation of Ash-Shamaa’il]
(2) ‘Aishah, the mother of the believers (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) narrated in the story of the Ifk (the forged statement-the slander):
“When that state of Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was over (i.e. of his receiving Revelation), he was smiling, showing his relief. The first words he said were: ‘’Aishah, Allaah has declared your innocence.’” [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari]
(3) Anas (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu) narrated: “One day while the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was sitting amongst us, he dozed off. Then he raised his head smiling. We said: ‘What makes you smile, O Messenger of Allaah?’ He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘A Surah has just been revealed to me,’ and then he recited: (In the Name of Allaah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Verily, We have granted you [O Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)] al-Kawthar (a river in Paradise). Therefore, turn in prayer to your Lord and offer sacrifice (to Him only), for he who hates you [O Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)] will be cut off (from any good in this life and the Hereafter).) Then he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Do you know what al-Kawthar is?’ We said: ‘Allaah and His Messenger know best.’ The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘It (al–Kawthar) is a river which my Lord, the Exalted and Glorious has promised me, and there is an abundance of good in it, besides a cistern where my people will come (to it) on the Day of Resurrection. Its vessels will be equal to the number of stars. A servant would be turned away from it (among the people gathered there).’ Upon this I would say: ‘My Lord, he is one of my people,’ and He (the Lord) will say: ‘You do not know what he innovated (new things) in the religion of Islam after you.’” [Muslim]
(4) Az-Zuhri narrated: “Anas ibn Maalik al-Ansaari (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu) told me that Abu Bakr (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu) used to lead the people in Salaat (prayer) during the fatal illness of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) till it was Monday. When the people aligned (in rows) for offering the Salaat (prayer), the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) lifted the curtain of his house and started looking at us and he was standing at that time. His face was (glittering) like a page of the Qur’an and he smiled cheerfully. We were about to be put to trial for the pleasure of seeing the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Abu Bakr (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu) retreated to join the row, as he thought that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would lead the Salaat. The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) beckoned us to complete the Salaat and he let the curtain fall. On the same day he died.” [Al-Bukhaari]
(5) Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu) narrated: “Once the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was narrating (a story) while a bedouin was sitting with him, (saying) that one of the inhabitants of Paradise will ask Allaah to allow him to cultivate the land. Allaah will ask him: ‘Are you not living in the pleasures you like?’ He will say: ‘Yes, but I like to cultivate the land.’” The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) added: “When the man (will be permitted he) will sow the seeds and the plants will grow up and ripen, ready for reaping (harvesting) and so on till it will be as huge as mountains within a blink (of an eye). Allaah will then say to him: ‘O son of Adam! Take it and gather (the yield); nothing satisfies you.’ On that, the bedouin said: ‘The man must either be from Quraish (i.e. an emigrant) or an Ansaari, for they are farmers, whereas we are not farmers.’ The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) laughed (at this).” [Al-Bukhaari]
(6) Buraidah ibn Husaib al-Aslami (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu) narrated: “When Ja’far ibn Abi Taalib [the cousin of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)] came from the land of Abyssinia (Ethiopia), Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) met him and said to him: ‘Tell me about the most wondrous thing you’ve seen in the land of Abyssinia.’ He said: ‘A woman passed by with a basket on her head containing food, then a man passed by her on his horse and hit her.’ She kept looking at him while putting the food back in the basket saying: ‘Woe to you on the day when the King (Allaah) will put His chair and take for the oppressed from the oppressor!’” Then Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) laughed until his premolar teeth showed. Then he said: “How would Allaah honor a nation that does not take for the weak from the strong!?” [Takhreej Kitab as-Sunnah by Al-Albaani]
(7) Abu Dharr (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “I know the last of the inhabitants of Paradise to enter it and the last of the inhabitants of Hell to come out of it. He is a man who would be brought on the Day of Resurrection and it will be said: ‘Present his minor sins to him and withhold from him his serious sins.’ Then the minor sins would be placed before him, and it would be said: ‘On such and such a day you did so and so and on such and such a day you did so and so.’ He would say: ‘Yes.’ It will not be possible for him to deny, while he would be afraid lest serious sins should be presented before him. It would be said to him: ‘In place of every evil deed you will have a good deed.’ He will say: ‘My Lord! I have done things I do not see here.’ I indeed saw the Messenger of Allaah laugh till his front teeth were exposed.” [Muslim no. 190]
(8) Jarir (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated: “Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did not screen himself from me since my embracing Islam, and whenever he saw me he would receive me with a smile.” [Al-Bukhaari no. 3035]
Fourth: Laughter is one of Allaah’s (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) Attributes
Allaah laughs when He wills and as He wills. We believe in that and affirm it, but we do not know how it happens, nor are we required to know that. There are several authentic and sound Ahadeeth concerning that:
‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’oud (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The last to enter Jannah will be a man who alternately walks, stumbles and is scorched by the Fire. Then, when he makes it to the other end, he will turn to it (the Fire) and say: ‘Blessed is He Who has saved me from you. Allaah has given me something which He has not given the former nor later (i.e. generations).’ Then a tree will be raised for him and he will say: ‘O my Rabb! Bring me near to this tree so that I may sit in its shade and drink from its water.’ Allaah will say: ‘O son of Adam, if I grant you this, you will probably ask Me for something else.’ He will say: ‘No, my Rabb’. And he would promise Him (Ta’ala) that he will not ask for anything else. His Rabb will excuse him because He sees that he does not have patience for it. So He (Ta’ala) brings him near it, and he takes shelter in its shade and drinks its water. Then a more beautiful tree than the first appears to him and he says: ‘O my Rabb! Bring me closer to this tree to drink from its water and sit in its shade, and I will not ask You for anything else.’ He (Allaah) says: ‘O son of Adam! Did you not promise Me that you will not ask Me for anything else.’ He says: ‘Certainly, my Rabb, but I will not ask You for anything else.’ He (Ta’ala) says: ‘If I bring you near it, you might ask Me for something else.’ He promises Him that he will not ask for anything else.
His Rabb will excuse him because he sees something he cannot help desiring. So He (Ta’ala) brings him near it and he enjoys its shade and drinks from its water. Then a tree will be raised for him at the gate of Jannah, more beautiful than the first two. He says: ‘O my Rabb! Bring me near this (tree) so that I may enjoy its shade and drink from its water. I shall not ask You for anything else.’ He [Allaah (Ta’ala)] says: ‘O son of Adam! Did you not promise Me that you will not ask Me for anything else?’ He says: ‘Certainly, my Rabb, but I shall not ask You for anything else.’ His Rabb would excuse him for he sees something which he does not have the patience to obtain. He (Allaah) brings him near it. When He brings him near it, he hears the voices of the inhabitants of Jannah. He says: ‘O my Rabb! Admit me to it.’ Thereupon, Allaah says: ‘O son of Adam, what will make you stop asking me? Will you be content if I give you the world and similar to it with it?’ He says: ‘O my Rabb! are You mocking me, though You are the Rabb of the worlds?’”
Ibn Mas’oud (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu) laughed and asked (the listeners): “Why don’t you ask me why I am laughing?” They asked: “Why do you laugh?” He said: “It is in this way that the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) laughed.” They [the Companions (Radia-Allaahu ‘annhum) of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alayhi wa sallam)] asked: “Why do you laugh, ‘O Messenger of Allaah?” He said: “On account of the laugh of the Rabb of the worlds, when the man said: ‘Are You mocking me though You are the Rabb of the worlds?’ Allaah says: ‘I am not mocking you, but I have the power to do whatever I wish.’” [Al-Bukhaari no. 6571]
Al-Bukhaari recorded that Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said: “A man came to the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and said: ‘O Allaah’s Messenger, poverty has stuck me.’ The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) sent a messenger to his wives (to bring something for that man to eat) but they said that they had nothing. Then Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Who will invite this person or entertain him as a guest tonight; may Allaah grant His mercy to him who does so.’ An Ansaari man said: ‘I, O Allaah’s Messenger!’ So he took him to his wife and said to her: ‘Entertain the guest of Allaah’s Messenger generously.’ She said: ‘By Allaah! We have nothing except the meal for my children.’ He said: ‘Let your children sleep if they ask for supper. Then turn off the lamp and we will go to bed tonight while hungry.’ She did what he asked her to do. In the morning the Ansaari went to Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) who said: ‘Allaah wondered (favorably) or laughed at the action of so-and-so and his wife.’ Then Allaah revealed [Surat Al-Hashr (59:9)]:
ويؤثرون على أنفسهم ولو كان بهم خصاصة ‘
‘And they give them preference over themselves even though they were in need of that.’” [Al-Bukhaari no. 3798]
Abu Musa al-Ash’aari (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Our Lord, the Exalted and Great, will appear to us on the Day of Judgment, laughing.” [As-Silsilah as-Saheeha no. 755]
Laughter with regards to Allaah indicates His Pleasure, but laughter itself is not interpreted as pleasure. It is one of Allaah’s intrinsic (i.e. Attributes of Essence (Self) – Essential Attributes) which we believe in. We affirm it truly to Allaah without giving it a description or resemblance, and one should not deny it.
No one knows the true nature of Allaah’s Attributes, as it is impossible for the human mind to encompass (comprehend) the Attributes of the Lord of the heavens and the earth. His laughter befits His Majesty and Perfection, just as the laughter of humans is suited to them.
Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Allaah laughs at two men, one of whom killed the other, but they will both enter Paradise. They asked: “How can that happen O Messenger of Allaah?” He said: “One of them kills the other, so the one who is killed goes to Paradise (a martyr) and then the man who killed embraces Islam and goes to fight in the Path of Allaah and is killed as a Shaheed and he goes to Paradise.” [Al-Bukhaari]
Fifth: The Description of the Laugh of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam):
Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) sent His Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) as a guidance to the whole world. Throughout his 23 years, a few stories and reports have reached us regarding his laughter and smiling. One of these quotations is the Hadeeth narrated by Jaabir ibn Samurah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu), who said [about the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)]: “He was often silent, and rarely laughed.” [Saheeh Al-Jamie’, and Al-Albaani graded it Hasan no. 4822]
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu’ alayhi wa sallam) used to be staid (relaxed), sedate, sober and quiet, and he was one of the most smiling among the people and the most cheerful to others, and his laughter was smiling.
‘Abdullaah ibn al-Haarith (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said: “The laughter of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was not but smiling.” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh At-Tirmidhi]
‘Abdullaah ibn al-Haarith (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) also narrated: “I have never seen anyone smile more than the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh At-Tirmidhi]
‘Aishah, the mother of the believers (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) narrated: “I never saw the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) laughing to an extent that one could see his palate, he used to smile only.” [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari]
Every once in a while (i.e. rarely), if something came up that prompted laughter, he used to laugh, but that was not his habit or character. Still, it was not forbidden to do so, but he would avoid it.
Sixth: The Verdict of Laughing
In general, laughing a lot is disliked in Islam, since we were not created for mere laughter, amusement, and play. The Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) used to say: “O nation of Muhammad (followers of Muhammad), if you knew that which I know, you would laugh little and weep much.” [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari]
Laughter is divided into three types:
1. The forbidden (Haraam) laugh, which is divided into three levels:
- Kufr: There are some kinds of laughter which are considered to be Kufr, which includes mocking the religion of Allaah, the Qur’an, the Sunnah, or the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), or making fun of any of the believers because of his belief and his following the religion.
- Major sin: This is a kind of laugh which includes telling lies, i.e. telling untrue things to make the people laugh, like in the Hadeeth narrated by Mu’awiyah ibn Hayda al-Qurashi (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Woe to the one who tells lies to make the people laugh, woe to him, woe to him.” [Saheeh Al-Jamie’ no. 7136]
This includes comedy, by which one lies to make people laugh, and even if it does not include lies, it makes the people laugh continually, and that hardens the heart. It is not quoted about the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) or his Companions that they would sit in an assembly just for laughing from the beginning to the end.
- Minor sin: This is laughing profusely especially without reason. It causes the death of the heart, occupies one from the important issues in this life, reduces one’s sedateness (calm, relaxed manner), and makes others disrespect him. This is based on the Hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu), that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “O Abu Hurairah, be pious, then you will be the most worshipping person to Allaah. Be content, then you will be the most thankful to Allaah. Love for the people what you love for yourself, then you will be a believer. Be a good neighbor, then you will be a Muslim (true one). And reduce laughter, since laughing too much kills the heart.” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah]
- The allowed (Mubaah) laugh. It should have the following conditions:
- To be little, not continuous. The proof for it is the previous Hadeeth.
- To be for a reason.
- Not to be because of someone passing wind (gas), for the Hadeeth narrated by ‘Abdullaah ibn Zam’ah who said that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) preached to them and he advised them not to laugh when somebody breaks wind saying: “Why would one of you laugh at what he himself does?” [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari]
- Not to laugh when offering the prayer. Smiling during the prayer does not nullify it, but laughing does. Also, renewing the Wudu’ after laughing (without having lost one’s Wudu’) is not confirmed by the action of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).
- The recommended (Mustahab) laugh is of three kinds:
- Smiling: Smiling at the face of your brother in Islam is a charity (i.e. considered a good deed).
Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Your smiling at the face of your brother (in Islam) is charity; advising others to do good deeds or to leave sins is charity; your guidance for a man in a land of misguidance (delusion) is charity; your removal of harm or thorns or bones from the way is charity; your pouring from your pail to your brother’s pail is charity.” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh At-Targheeb no. 2685]
- Laughing and dalliance (teasing) with the wife, especially the virgin, like in the story of Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) when he said: “My father died and left seven – or nine – girls and I married a matron. Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said to me: ‘O Jaabir! Have you gotten married?’ I said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘A virgin or a matron?’ I replied: ‘A matron.’ He said: ‘Why not a virgin, so that you might play with her and she may play with you, and you might laugh with her and she laugh with you?’ I said: ‘‘Abdullaah (my father) died and left girls, and I dislike to marry a girl like them, so I married a lady (matron) so that she may look after them.’ On that he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘May Allaah bless you’ or ‘That is good.’” [Al-Bukhaari]
- Entertaining (bringing joy to) the person who needs cheering up
Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu) narrated that Abu Bakr (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu) came and sought permission to see the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). He found people sitting at his door and none was granted permission, but it was granted to Abu Bakr (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu) and he went in. Then ‘Umar (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu) came and he sought permission and it was granted to him, and he found the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) sitting sad and silent with his wives around him. ‘Umar (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu) said: “I wanted to say something which would make the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) laugh,” so I said: “O Messenger of Allaah, I wish you had seen the treatment I gave to the daughter of Kharijah (i.e. ‘Umar’s wife), when she asked me for some money, and I got up and poked her neck.” The Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) smiled so broadly that his molars could be seen and said: “They are around me as you see, asking for extra money, too.” Abu Bakr (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu) then got up, went to ‘Aishah (Radia-Allaahu ’anha) and poked her neck, and ‘Umar (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu) stood up before Hafsah (Radia-Allaahu ’anha) and poked her saying: “You are asking the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) for that which he does not possess.” They said: “By Allaah, after this, we will not ask the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) for anything which he does not possess.” Then he withdrew from them for a month or for twenty-nine days. Then this verse was revealed to him (interpretation of the meaning): “O Prophet [Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)]! Say to your wives: ‘If you desire the life of this world and its glitter, then come! I will make a provision for you and set you free in a handsome manner (divorce). But if you desire Allaah and His Messenger, and the Home of the Hereafter, then verily, Allaah has prepared for the doers of good among you, an enormous reward.’” [Surat Al-Ahzaab (33:28-29)]. [Muslim no. 1478]
Seventh: Some Sayings of the Salaf about Laughter:
Al-Maawardi said: “Getting used to laughing occupies one from the important issues, and one who laughs too much shall have no sedateness (dignity).” Therefore, the people may dare to offend him. Accordingly, the preacher should not be of those who laughs a lot and he should follow the manner and wisdom to bring joy to the hearts of others.
Ibn ‘Abbaas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) narrated, when interpreting the following verse in Surat Al-Kahf (18:49):
مال هذا الكتاب لا يغادر صغيرة ولا كبيرة إلا أحصاها
“What sort of Book is this that leaves neither a small thing nor a big thing but has recorded it with numbers!”
He (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) said: “The small thing is the laugh, and the big is laughing loudly.”
‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu) said: “When the scholar laughs, he throws out (discards) part of his knowledge.”
Eighth: Conclusion:
Smiling and meeting people with a cheerful face is a Sunnah act. As for laughing, if one avoids it completely he will turn the people’s hearts away from him, and maybe his heart will become constricted too. If he gets used to it such that it becomes a habit, it will kill his heart, and cause him to be disrespected. So, deviation from moderateness to either side is blameworthy and our Nafs (selves) need continuous struggle and refinement.
The highest level and status of that is being a weeper in the night (while praying and worshipping Allaah) and smiling in the morning (while meeting the people).
Ninth: How to treat excessive Laughter?
- Seek refuge with Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala), invoke Him and pray to Him with humbleness and humility to refine oneself and keep firm on what He likes of obedience.
- Remember and mention Allaah continually and profusely.
- Remember the greatness of Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala).
- Remember the Hereafter.
- Strive against the self occasionally, to suppress the laugh, until one gets used to not laughing so much.
- Avoid comics / jokes as much as possible.
- Get help from good friends, by not asking a person to make them laugh, or tell the latest joke, etc.
- Remember death and what comes after of its dread and horrors.
Advice: For someone who is humorous by nature, he should reduce laughing (be moderate in his laughter) so that the people will not discard him, and the advice for someone who is grouchy (gloomy) by nature, is that he should smile more, and that he should hate himself for his bad character.
Sources:
Al-Adaab Ashar’iyyah by Ibn Muflih
Audio tapes of Al-Adaab by Shaikh Al-Munajjid
Tayseer Al-Kareem by Shaikh As-Sa’dee
Saheeh Al-Bukhaari and Muslim by Darus-Salaam