The Laughing and Joking of the Prophet

the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would be cheerful with the members of his family and his companions, may allaah be pleased with them. he would joke with his wives, hold friendly conversations with them and treat them nicely and kindly. he had a radiant cheerful smile on his face, thus, whenever anyone met the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, he immediately captivated their hearts and souls.

the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would joke but he would only speak the truth. his joking amused and entertained his companions, and it revived their souls and put a smile on their faces.

it was narrated that jareer ibn ‘abdullaah al-bajali, may allaah be pleased with him, said, “whenever the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, saw me, he would receive me with a smile.” [al-bukhaari and muslim]

the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, adopted a moderate manner of joking and laughing.

he never went to extremes or beyond what befitted his status.

the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would joke with his companions. it was narrated that anas, may allaah be pleased with him, said, “a man came to the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said, ‘give me an animal to ride on.’ the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: ‘i will give you the son of a female camel.’ the man said in astonishment, ‘what would i do with the son of a female camel?’ (thinking that he would be given a camel that was too small to ride). thereupon, the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: ‘what do female camels deliver except camels?’" [at-tirmithi and abu daawood; al-albaani: saheeh (authentic)] of course every camel, even if fully grown, is the product of a female camel!

in another incident, an old woman came to the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said, "o messenger of allaah, supplicate to allaah the almighty that i will enter paradise." he said jokingly: "o mother of so-and-so, no old women will enter paradise." the old woman went away crying, so the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "tell her that she will not enter paradise as an old woman, for allaah the almighty says (what means): {indeed, we have produced the women of paradise in a [new] creation. and made them virgins. devoted [to their husbands] and of equal age.} [quran 56: 35-37] [at-tirmithi; al-albaani: hasan]

it was narrated that abu hurayrah, may allaah be pleased with him, said, “people have said, ‘o messenger of allaah, you joke with us.’” he said, “i do, but i only say what is true.” [ahmad and at-tirmithi; al-albaani: saheeh (authentic)]

among the examples of the joking of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, are: anas narrated that once the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, addressed him as: "o you with two ears," (of course, everyone has two ears). [at-tirmithi and abu daawood; al-albaani: saheeh (authentic)]

it was also narrated that suhayb, may allaah be pleased with him, said, “i came to the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and he had some dates and bread. the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘eat.’ i began eating the dates. then the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘are you eating dates even though your eye is aching (eating much dates harms an aching eye)?’ suhayb was a quick-witted man, so he said, “o messenger of allaah, i am chewing on the side which does not ache.” at this answer, the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, smiled. [ibn maajah; al-albaani: hasan]

it was narrated that anas, may allaah be pleased with him, said, there was a man of the desert named zaahir ibn haraam. the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, loved him very much, and he (zaahir) was an unattractive man. one day the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, came to him whilst he was selling some goods. he embraced him from behind. the man could not see him, so he said, "let me go! who is this?" then he turned around and recognized the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, so he tried to move closer to him once he knew who he was. the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, started to say: "who will buy this slave?..." zaahir said, "o messenger of allaah you will find me unsellable." the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, "but in the sight of allaah the almighty you are not unsellable," or he said, "but in the sight of allaah the almighty you are valuable." [ahmad; al- albaani: saheeh (authentic)]

although he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would joke with his family and the people around him, his laughing had limits and he would smile only. it was narrated that ‘aa’ishah, may allaah be pleased with her, said, “i never saw the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, laughing to the extent that one could see his palate; rather, he would smile only.” [al-bukhaari and muslim]

allaah the almighty, the most truthful says (what means) describing him: {and indeed, you are of a great moral character.} [quran 68:4]

4 this was narrated by is-haaq ibn yasaar. it was narrated in the books of seerah. refer to as-seerah an-nabawiyyah by ibn

katheer (3/82) and the hadeeth of rukaanah in the sunan of abu daawood and al-albaani classified it as hasan.