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Etiquettes of Joking….According to Islamic Shariah
Posted By:jasmin On 6/15/2008

Etiquettes of Joking….According to Islamic Shariah

Some people think that there is no place in Islaam for laughs and jokes like these, that Islaam is  all about seriousness and harshness, and the one who does joke or ‘lightens up’ a bit, is crossing bounds. And on the other hand, there are some, especially our youth, who actually DO go beyond bounds in their joking and having ‘fun’. They cross all limits, carry things too far and don’t know what is appropriate and what is not.
Alhamdulillaah, our religion is perfect and it has set guidelines for everything, in every walk of life. Following the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (Salalaaho Alehe Wa Aalehe Wasalam) is the key to everything and it shows us that the Prophet Muhammad (Salalaaho Alehe Wa Aalehe Wasalam) used to smile and joke with his companions: 
A man came to the Prophet Muhammad (Salalaaho Alehe Wa Aalehe Wasalam) and said:
“Give me an animal to ride on” the Prophet Muhammad (Salalaaho Alehe Wa Aalehe Wasalam) 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?” (Thinking that he would be given a camel too small to ride). Thereupon, the  Prophet Muhammad (Salalaaho Alehe Wa Aalehe Wasalam) 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).
However there are certain guidelines to follow, according to the Sunnah, when it comes to joking, laughing and having fun.
1) MAKE SURE you don’t make fun of any aspect of Islaam:
Jokes should not involve verses from the Qur’aan, hadeeth, or any of fundamentals of Islaam. Unfortunately, some people tell jokes about the verses of the Qur’aan, Prophets, angels, or they make fun of the Hijaab, the beard, etc. This is the most dangerous as it can make a person a Kaafir, EVEN IF YOU ARE ONLY JOKING.
Shaikh Al-‘Uthaymeen said: “One who mocks Allaah (Subhanaho WaTaala), His verses, His signs or His Messengers is a disbeliever because this action nullifies belief.”
And the  Prophet Muhammad (Salalaaho Alehe Wa Aalehe Wasalam) said:
“A slave (of Allaah) would utter a word, without paying attention to it, which would result in him going down into the Hellfire further than the distance between the east and the west.” (Muslim).
So the sister in the Niqaab is NOT A NINJAA and the brother who shortens his pants or lengthens his beard is NOT A NERD!
“If you ask them, they declare: ‘We were only talking idly and joking.’ Say: ‘Was it at Allaah, and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking? ’Make no excuse; you disbelieved after you had believed” [al-Tawbah:65-66]
  
2) Say ONLY that which is true:
The Prophet Muhammad (Salalaaho Alehe Wa Aalehe Wasalam) used to joke but he would only speak the truth.
Someone asked the  Prophet Muhammad (Salalaaho Alehe Wa Aalehe Wasalam) “Do you joke with us?” He (pbuh) replied: “I do, but I only say that which is true” (Tirmidhi & Bukhaari--Adab al-Mufrad)
An old woman came to the Prophet Muhammad (Salalaaho Alehe Wa Aalehe Wasalam) and said: "O Messenger of Allah, pray to Allah (subhanahu wa ta`ala) 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 Muhammad (Salalaaho Alehe Wa Aalehe Wasalam) said, "Tell her that she will not enter Paradise as an old woman, for Allah (subhanahu wa ta`ala) says: (We have created [their Companions] of special creation, and made them virgin-pure [and undefiled]) [Quran 56:35-36]." [Reported by al-Tirmidhi, it is hasan because of the existence of corroborating reports.]
One of the ahadith that reflects the Prophet Muhammad (Salalaaho Alehe Wa Aalehe Wasalam) sense of humor and enjoyment of fun is the report that Imaam Ahmad gives from 'A'ishah who said: "I went out with the Prophet Muhammad (Salalaaho Alehe Wa Aalehe Wasalam) on a journey. At that time I was a young girl and was quite slender. The Prophet Muhammad (Salalaaho Alehe Wa Aalehe Wasalam) told the people, 'Go on ahead,' so they went ahead, then he said to me, 'Come, let us have a race.' So I raced with him, and I won. He let the matter rest until I had gained weight. Later, I accompanied him on another journey. He told the people, 'Go on ahead,' so they went ahead. He said to me, 'Come, let us have a race.' So I raced with him, and he won. He began to laugh, and said, 'This is for that."'
If it involves lying and making up stories, then it is not allowed.
The  Prophet Muhammad (Salalaaho Alehe Wa Aalehe Wasalam) said, "Woe to the one who speaks and tells a lie in order to make the people laugh at it. Woe to him. Then again, woe to him." (Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi and al-Nasaa’i)
4) Don’t make jokes to make ‘FUN’ of people:
Be careful that your joking does not hurt anybody’s feelings or harms them in any way. So don’t make those snide remarks or wink behind their backs.
“O you who believe! Let not a group  ridicule another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former. Nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former. Nor defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad is it to insult one’s brother after having Faith” [Hujuraat:11]
5) Don’t laugh if someone slips or falls or is afflicted with something:
The  Prophet Muhammad (Salalaaho Alehe Wa Aalehe Wasalam) said, “Do not express malicious joy towards your brother’s misfortune, for Allaah (Subhanaho WaTaala) may have mercy on him and you may be stricken by the thing you made fun of.” (al-Tirmidhi).
6) Never scare anybody while joking or otherwise:
The  Prophet Muhammad (Salalaaho Alehe Wa Aalehe Wasalam) said: ‘It is not permissible for a Muslim to frighten another Muslim.’” (Abu Dawood).
7) Joking should not involve backbiting:
Don’t ever joke about others when they are not there, even if you ‘think’ they wouldn’t mind, as it would involve backbiting.
“[Backbiting is] your mentioning about your brother something that he dislikes.” (Muslim)
8) Beware of excessive laughing and joking:
Don’t be like the one who jokes ALL the time. The amount of joking should be like the amount of salt in one’s food, as too much laughing and joking makes the heart hard, distracts one from the remembrance of Allaah (Subhanaho WaTaala) and makes you lose respect.
The  Prophet Muhammad (Salalaaho Alehe Wa Aalehe Wasalam) said: “Do not laugh too much, for laughing too much deadens the heart.” (Saheeh al-Jaami)
‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab said: “Whoever laughs too much or jokes too much loses
respect, and whoever persists in doing something will be known for it.”
9) Choose appropriate time and place for your jokes:
Some people don’t appreciate the time or place for joking and do so indiscriminately.
There is a time and place for everything. For example, what might be amusing at a picnic or at the dinner table might not be so amusing in the middle of a Halaqah.  
Sufyaan ibn ‘Uyaynah said, “….. it (joking) is Sunnah, but only for those who know how to do it and do it at the appropriate time.”
10) Use appropriate language:
Some people resort to immoral or obscene language when joking around, even though under ‘normal’ circumstances they would not even think of using such words.
The  Prophet Muhammad (Salalaaho Alehe Wa Aalehe Wasalam) said: “The Muslim does not slander, curse, speak obscenely or speak rudely.” (Tirmidhi--saheeh by al-Albaani).
11) Acknowledge people’s status
Some people may joke with everyone indiscriminately, but scholars and the elderly have special positions and rights, so you have to be aware of the character of the person with whom you are dealing. You should also not joke with people whom you do not know or who won’t understand, or it may lead to unpleasantness.
‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azeez said: “Fear joking, for it is folly and generates grudges.”
Thus we see that Islam is not against jokes. Good humor is part of Islam and Islam does not go against this because it is typically a part of human nature. A Muslim should develop a positive and optimistic personality, and not a gloomy and pessimistic one that is negative towards life.
However, moderation is the key, and it is what distinguishes Muslims from others. We don’t go overboard in our jokes and humor, (or in anything else, for that matter) and if we follow the Sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad (Salalaaho Alehe Wa Aalehe Wasalam) , and his guidance, we will certainly not get lost because our Prophet Muhammad (Salalaaho Alehe Wa Aalehe Wasalam) is an example for the Muslim to follow in every aspect of life, as it is mentioned in the by Allah (Suhanaho WaTaala) the Almighty in the Quran
"In the Messenger of Allah is a good example for you to follow."

[Quran Surah#33 Ayah #21].



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