Wednesday 16 March 2011

A sense of humour

I have a (narcotic) sense of humour. Seriously, I love to laugh, and I love to smile.  I remember aunts and uncles, always cooing and aahing at how I was such a smiley wee thing throughout my primary years.  In high school, one of my teachers turned to me and said, "And I know that when I look at Haych I'll get a wee smile..."

"It is the ablility to take a joke, not make one, that proves you have a sense of humour." (Max Eastman)

What does this have to do with marriage? A sense of humour is needed in a marriage. Too many religious/ righteous brothers and sisters feel that laughing (in moderation of course) somehow stains their righteousness.  I'm not saying that they don't ever laugh, but to me it seems like they don't do public.   Too much doom and gloom. 

When previous rishtas have come, I've often laughed and joked with the potential sister in law and mother in law, because it's a reflection of who I am. Of course I'd be lying if I said that I shared a joke or two with potential husband - simply because I was too shy - but neither did he. Was he too shy also? Allah knows best.

The Sahaabah (Companions of the Prophet SAW) had a sense of humour. Prophet Muhammad SAW had a sense of humour. 

The Companions once asked the Prophet SAW, "You are joking with us." He SAW said, "But I never say anything but the truth" (Bukhari)

A man came to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) to ask him to give him an animal to ride. The Prophet jokingly told him, "I will give you the offspring of a she-camel to ride." He said, "O Messenger of Allah, what will I do with the offspring of a she-camel?" The Prophet said: "Are riding-camels born except from she-camels?"

One of my favourite hadith which shows the great personage(s) of Habibati, Rasulullah SAW and his Companions:
Abu Bakr RA went to do business in Busra, and with him were Nu'ayman RA and Suwaybit RA ibn Harmalah both of whom had been present at Badr. Suwaybit RA was in charge of food on the journey, and Nu'ayman said to him, "Feed me!" Suwaybit said, "Not until Abu Bakr RA comes."  Nu'ayman was a fun-loving man with a sense of humour, so he went to some people who had brought livestock with them, and said, "Will you buy a sturdy Arab slave from me?" They said, "Yes." He said, "He may tell you that he is a free man. If that means that you do not want to take him, then forget the matter, and do not cause trouble for me with him." They said, "No problem, we will buy him." So they bought him for ten young she-camels. Nu'ayman brought the animals back, and told the people: "There he is!"

Suwaybit said: "I am a free man!" They said, "He has already told us all about you," and put a rope around his neck and led him away. Then Abu Bakr came, and was told what had happened. He and his companions went and returned the animals and took Suwaybit back. They told the Prophet SAW what had happened, and he and his Companions would laugh about the story for a year afterwards.

(Ahmad)

Imam Bukhari mentions a narration which sums up the personality of the Sahaabah (taken from Adabul Mufrid)
"The Companions of the Prophet used to throw melon-rinds at one another, but when the matter was serious, they were the only true men" 

There are many, many, many more ahadith (narrations) which cite the great personality that Rasulullah SAW and the Sahaabah had.  These were the same men who would make the Empero(s) of Rome fear the loss of their kingdom, and make the King(s) of Persia loose their sleep. 

The Sahaabah represented the middle way in everything.  Sadly though, nowadays, you have people who take everything as a joke, and people who refuse or simply can't see the funny side of anything.

2 comments:

  1. Assalaam Alaikum,

    JazakAllah khair for sharing these beautiful tales on the character of our Prophet (sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and the noble Sahaba (may Allah be pleased with them).

    I think we all need to be reminded that being a Muslim means taking the middle path. Not to even crack a smile in public is a bit too extreme, and honestly sometimes all one needs is a good laugh to brighten their day.

    I love your blog so far by the way. =)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for your kind comments Sara. ^_^

    ReplyDelete