Is it permissible to joke about marriage matters, such as saying, "We will marry So-and-so to So-and-so"?
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Question:
I have daughters for whom I constantly pray for well-being. They have an uncle who jokes with them by saying, "We will marry So-and-so to So-and-so, and So-and-so to So-and-so," in a manner of jest. Do we sin if we say this, since I understand that joking in matters of permissibility is not allowed? I have heard that their jest is serious, or as they say, "their jest is serious and their seriousness is jest." What is your guidance on this matter? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
There is no harm in this speech, and this does not fall under the hadith regarding "three things whose seriousness is in their jest," because the intent there is the contract. For example, if one says, "I have married you to my daughter," and the other accepts, then the contract is valid. Even if one party or both parties are joking about it, that is the intended meaning. The point is that joking in a contract makes it binding. As for speech that is not a contract, but is merely ordinary joking, with no acceptance or offer, there is no harm in joking in that. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
I have daughters for whom I constantly pray for well-being. They have an uncle who jokes with them by saying, "We will marry So-and-so to So-and-so, and So-and-so to So-and-so," in a manner of jest. Do we sin if we say this, since I understand that joking in matters of permissibility is not allowed? I have heard that their jest is serious, or as they say, "their jest is serious and their seriousness is jest." What is your guidance on this matter? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
There is no harm in this speech, and this does not fall under the hadith regarding "three things whose seriousness is in their jest," because the intent there is the contract. For example, if one says, "I have married you to my daughter," and the other accepts, then the contract is valid. Even if one party or both parties are joking about it, that is the intended meaning. The point is that joking in a contract makes it binding. As for speech that is not a contract, but is merely ordinary joking, with no acceptance or offer, there is no harm in joking in that. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، هل يجوز المزاح بأمور الزواج كأن يقول فلانة نزوجها لفلان؟ الشيخ صالح بن فوزان الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.