Explanation of the Chapter

The Shaykh : Now we have a new chapter, the one hundred and thirty-third chapter, "The Chapter on Joking." This means that in this chapter, and in the hadiths that the author (may Allah have mercy on him) will cite, he indicates that there is no objection to joking in the Shari'ah, provided that it is a Shari'ah-compliant joke, meaning it must be nothing but truth. If the joke is truth, it is prescribed; but if it involves harm or injury to a Muslim, it is prohibited. We have previously mentioned with us a hadith in which the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ; because in that lies instilling fear and anxiety in the heart of the Muslim, and this contains obvious harm. As for joking by saying a word of truth, there is nothing wrong with that.