How is joking, and what is its ruling, between friends, between brothers, and between a husband and his wife? And is it forbidden if one says something for the sake of laughter, mentioning that a certain person did such and such to make the people sitting with us laugh, even though we do not mention who this person is, but it is just one person as an example?
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The questioner : O esteemed Shaykh, may Allah preserve you, I ask the Shaykh to shed light on the nature of joking and its ruling between friends...
The Shaykh : What is the nature of joking?
The questioner : I mean joking between friends, between brothers, and between a husband and his wife. And is it forbidden if we say something for the sake of laughter, mentioning that a certain person did such and such to make the people sitting with us laugh, even though we do not mention who this person is, but it is just one person as an example?
The Shaykh : Joking, without doubt, opens the chest, brings about intimacy, and brings joy. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to joke, and he did not say anything but the truth. So if the joking is truthful, it is desirable, especially if a person feels boredom and weariness from his companion and says something to lighten his mood; this is among the praiseworthy matters. As for joking that involves lying, where a person lies in order to make the people laugh only, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Bulugh al-Maram 16:80 This indicates its prohibition. However, if one mentions a story that happened to a person, which is true and funny, and does not mention his name, there is no harm in this, because there is nothing prohibited in it. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. This is a questioner for the program who sent a message inquiring about the authenticity of this hadith—he says—and its meaning.
The Shaykh : What is the nature of joking?
The questioner : I mean joking between friends, between brothers, and between a husband and his wife. And is it forbidden if we say something for the sake of laughter, mentioning that a certain person did such and such to make the people sitting with us laugh, even though we do not mention who this person is, but it is just one person as an example?
The Shaykh : Joking, without doubt, opens the chest, brings about intimacy, and brings joy. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to joke, and he did not say anything but the truth. So if the joking is truthful, it is desirable, especially if a person feels boredom and weariness from his companion and says something to lighten his mood; this is among the praiseworthy matters. As for joking that involves lying, where a person lies in order to make the people laugh only, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Woe to him who lies in his talk to make the people laugh, Woe to him! Woe to him!
ويل لمن حدّث وكذب ليضحك به القوم، ويل له ثم ويل لهThe questioner : May Allah reward you. This is a questioner for the program who sent a message inquiring about the authenticity of this hadith—he says—and its meaning.