“And [recall] when Moses said to his people, “Indeed, Allah commands you to slaughter a cow.” They said, “Do you take us in ridicule?…” Chapter 2 Al Baqarah, verse 67.
It is important to understand that the prohibitions and commands of Allah, the Exalted, do not exist to make people’s life harder. They only exist in order to benefit people in both this world and in the next even if these benefits are not apparent to people. For example, the negative effects of alcohol, which science has proven, was not always apparent such as its negative effect on the organs of the body. It only became unlawful in Islam to protect people from this and other harms. In addition, It is an aspect of faith to accept something without understanding its wisdoms. If all the wisdoms of the commands and prohibitions were made apparent then it would not allow muslims to possess complete faith. Allah, the Exalted, does not benefit from these commands and prohibitions only people do.
Joking while sticking to the truth is not a sin but it is difficult to do consistently. The one who jokes excessively will eventually slip up and utter words which are sinful, such as lying, backbiting or mocking others. Therefore, it is safer to avoid joking excessively which has been advised in a Hadith found in Jami At Tirmidhi, number 1995. In addition, the one who jokes excessively even if they manage to always speak the truth and not offend anyone will encounter a spiritual disease which has been warned of in a Hadith found in Sunan Ibn Majah, number 4193, namely, a spiritually dead heart. This occurs to the person who jokes and laughs excessively as this mentality demands they always think and discuss funny issues and avoid serious issues. The matter of preparing for death and the hereafter are serious issues and if one avoids thinking and discussing them they will never correctly prepare for them. This lack of preparation will cause their spiritual heart to die. In fact, the more seriously one ponders over the hereafter the less they will laugh and joke. This is indicated in a Hadith found in Sahih Bukhari, number 6486.
Joking too often also causes others to lose respect for them. This can cause many problems such as, not being taken seriously when they command good and forbid evil even if it is to their own children.
Excessively joking often leads to enmity between people as one can easily take things seriously. This leads to fractured and broken relationships. Many people have even become physically and emotionally hurt because of jokes.
A muslim should avoid lying at all costs even when joking as this would lead to them to obtaining a house in the middle of Paradise. This is confirmed in Hadith found in Sunan Abu Dawud, number 4800.
This does not mean a muslim should not joke at all. Joking from time to time while avoiding other sins, such as lying, is acceptable as the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, occasionally joked. This is confirmed in a Hadith found in Jami At Tirmidhi, number 1990. It is joking excessively which is disliked and sinful if it is related to a sin. It is a sin to intentionally misinterpret a tradition of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, in order to fulfil one’s own desires. If the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, rarely joked without committing any sins attached to it then muslims should do the same and not exceed the bounds in order to fulfil their own desires.
In addition, there is a big difference between being cheerful with people, such as smiling, and joking excessively. Being cheerful is a blessing of Allah, the Exalted, according to a Hadith found in Imam Bukhari’s, Adab Al Mufrad, number 301. Even smiling to make others feel comfortable is recorded as an act of charity according to a Hadith found in Jami At Tirmidhi, number 1970. So one should not believe avoiding joking excessively means that people should always be in a sad and depressed mood.
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