What is the ruling on a lack of proper conduct and excessive joking among some students?

The questioner : This is prevalent. He says: Honorable Shaykh, peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. To proceed: We observe, O Honorable Shaykh, that among our students, and those who display the traits of goodness, they do not care about the matter of proper conduct, whether inside the lecture halls or outside them. You are not—this is, excuse me, yes, that is correct. Rather, the point, O Honorable Shaykh, is that among the students, and those who display the traits of goodness, they do not care about the matter of proper conduct, whether inside the lecture halls or outside them. On the contrary, they compete to display jokes and disputes in a manner that undermines the composure and demeanor required of righteous youth. What is your view on this?

The Shaykh : First, regarding the second level, I think the classroom is full. However, the circumstances now are such that excessive joking, in reality, diminishes a person's dignity. There is no doubt about this; it diminishes his dignity no matter how much knowledge he has or what his status is. On the other hand, completely avoiding joking makes a person heavy for people, they fear him greatly, and they do not benefit from him. So it is obligatory that if there is a place for joking, he should joke. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to joke, but he did not say anything but the truth. As for excessive quarreling and a gathering being dominated by frivolity, I do not see that. I see that a person should combine dignity with opening people's hearts by saying a word that provides relief to the soul, so that people are not deprived of his presence.

The presenter : May Allah bless you.