Prophet Muhammad's (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam) Humour & Smiling

[ummtaalib]

Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam is a perfect example for mankind in every aspect of life. As a teacher, a leader, a friend, a husband and a father, in every role he was the perfect example. Even in humour he left behind a perfect example.

 

Our beloved Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam enjoyed humour. On some occasions he himself would make humorous remarks however, even in humour, he always spoke the truth.

 

It is reported that the Prophet was asked by his companions: "You are joking with us." He said, "But I never say anything but the truth."
[sahih Bukhari]
 

He smiled often but it was not his habit to laugh out loud. His Companions followed his example and refrained from bursting into laughter in an amusing situation. His remarks cheered the audience but never made the meeting a place of fun and frolic. His assembly always remained a place of learning, understanding and spiritual fulfilment.

As long as the correct Islamic code of behaviour is maintained where no harm is caused to another person through humiliation and insensitivity, there is no lewdness and only truth is spoken, jokes and a good sense of humour will be permitted. There are many delightful reports about the jokes exchanged between the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam and the Sahabah radhiyallaahu ‘anhum.

A wonderful example is the amusing episode of Zaahir, a bedoin tribesman. He was a close companion of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam. Once, while he was selling his wares in the market of Madinah, Rasulullaah sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam passed by. He saw Zaahir so absorbed in his work that he was unaware of his surroundings. Rasulullaah sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam sneaked up from behind and hoisted him aloft.
 

“Who is it?” cried Zaahir, twisting and turning in the strong grasp, in vain to see who it was that held him. Then he heard Rasulullaah sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam shout, “Here is a young boy for sale! A young boy for sale! Who wants him?” At this, Zaahir laughed and replied, “O Rasulullaah, whoever buys a slave like me will end up a loser!”

 

 

Another example is that of the Prophet’s sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam joke with the small child of one of the Sahabah Radhiyallaahu ‘anhu, a boy called Abu 'Umayr, who had a small bird he used to play with.

One day he saw the child looking sad, so he said, "Why do I see Abu 'Umayr looking sad?" The Sahabah told him, "The nughar [a small bird, like a sparrow] which he used to play with has died, O Messenger of Allah."

The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) began to gently joke with the child, saying, "O Abu Umayr, what happened to the nughayr?" [Nughayr: diminutive of nughar. In Arabic, this is a play on words, because of the rhyme between the boy's name and that of the bird. - Translator. This story was reported in Hayat al-Sahabah, 3/149]