It has been proven that our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) joked. It has also been prohibited to joke.


In Tirmizi a narration of Sayyidina Ibn Abbas radiyallahu anhu is reported wherein it has been prohibited to joke. Imaam Nawawi has compared the two in this manner and said that excessive joking which will result in the heart becoming hard, will keep one away from the remembrance of Allah, may become a means of troubling a Muslim or that which may lessen the dignity and degrade one. All these are included in the prohibition. If it (joking) is void of this and is done solely to appease or make someone happy, then it will be mustahab. Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Haarith radiyallahu anhu says, “I have not seen anyone who makes a person more cheerful than our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).” The reason being that the cheerful nature of our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was more of a source of happiness than sadness.

There was also a special necessity for Sayyidina our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to joke. That is due to the personal dignity and greatness of Sayyidina our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) which was of such high calibre, that even at a distance of a months journey his awe was felt. For this reason, if our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) did not smile and joke, it would have been impossible due to the awe, for people to come near him and the doors of reaping benefit would have been closed. It would have become a habit until the day of Qiyaamah of those who strive to follow and emulate every deed and habit of our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) purposely not to smile and joke. It would also have become difficult for those close to a Sheikh (spiritual teacher), to come close and benefit from him. May Allah shower countless Durood and blessings on the pure soul who opened the doors of easiness for the Ummah. Someone told Sayyidina Sufyan ibn Uyaynah radiyallahu anhu, who was a great Muhaddith, “Joking is also a calamity.”
He replied, “It is a sunnah, and only for those who know its bounds and also know how to joke in the proper manner.”

Hadith
Anas ibn Maalik radiyallahu anhu relates, “Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam once told him jokingly, Ya dhal udhu-nayn (O’ two eared one).”

Commentary
Every person has two ears. It must have been for a special reason that he was called ‘Ya dhal udhu-nayn’. For example, he might have had large ears or a sharp hearing, that he could hear from a distance. The latter explanation seems more correct.

Greetings,

That's a little confusing, isn't it? Does that mean the Prophet (pbuh) broke his own rules?

Peace

Salaam,

No it means there are limits when joking.

For example you are not allowed to lie, as show in the first Hadith...