This excerpt is taken from Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi's book Halal and Haram in Islam, translated into Urdu by Muhammad Tahir Naqqash.
Play and Recreation
Islam is a realistic religion that does not confine a person within the realm of illusions and fantasies, but teaches him to live on this earth, which is the land of facts and realities. It does not treat people as angels flying in the sky, but rather as humans who eat food and walk in the market.
This is why Islam has not imposed the heavy obligation on people that every word of theirs should be a mention of God and every silence a contemplation. Nor that they should only listen to the Quran and spend all their free time in the mosque. Rather, it fully considers their nature and temperament. Allah Almighty has created humans in such a way that just as eating and drinking are natural needs, so too is being joyful and happy, laughing and playing, part of their disposition.
The state is not the same at all times
Some of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, due to the predominance of spirituality, began to think that they should always remain engaged in worship and should abstain from the benefits and pleasures of the world. They should have no interest in play and recreation, but all their attention should be focused on the Hereafter and its demands.
In this regard, the story of a noble Companion, Sayyiduna Hanzala Asadi, may Allah be pleased with him, who was the scribe of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, is worth hearing. He said: Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, met me and asked, "How are you?" I said, "Hanzala has become a hypocrite." He said, "SubhanAllah! What are you saying?" I said, "When we are in the company of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and he mentions Paradise and Hell, it feels as if we are seeing Paradise and Hell with our own eyes. But when we are not in his company, our hearts become attached to women, children, and business, and we forget Paradise and Hell." Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "By Allah! Our condition is the same." Sayyiduna Hanzala, may Allah be pleased with him, says: Then I and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, went to the presence of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. I said, "O Messenger of Allah, Hanzala has become a hypocrite." He, peace be upon him, asked, "What is the matter?" I said, "O Messenger of Allah, when we are in your presence and you mention Paradise and Hell, it feels as if we are seeing those angels with our own eyes, but when we leave your presence, our hearts become attached to wives, children, and business, and we forget Paradise and Hell." He, peace be upon him, said, "By the One in Whose hand is my soul! If you remain constantly in the state you feel in my company and remember Paradise and Hell in the same way, angels would come down from the heavens and greet you on your beds and paths. But, O Hanzala, may Allah be pleased with him, this state does not remain constant."
Reference: Muslim, Book of Repentance, Chapter on the Virtue of Constant Remembrance and Reflection on the Matters of the Hereafter, Hadith: 2750
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was a human being
The blessed life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is a very high example for human life. In solitude, he used to pray with such humility and devotion that his feet would swell from standing for a long time.
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Tahajjud, Chapter: The Prophet's Night Prayer, Hadith: 1130. Muslim, Book of Characteristics of Hypocrites, Chapter: Excessive Deeds, Hadith: 2820, 2819
The Prophet's (peace be upon him) example in matters of truth was that he did not care about anyone for the sake of Allah, yet his life was that of a human being. Accordingly, he liked pure things; happiness, smiling, and laughing in a lighthearted manner were characteristics of his noble temperament. However, he never said anything that was against the truth.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) liked joy and happiness and disliked grief and pain, and he often supplicated:
اللهم إنى أعوذبك من الهم والحزن
"O Allah! I seek refuge in You from distress and sorrow."
Reference: Abu Dawood, Book of Witr, Chapter on Seeking Refuge, Hadith: 1555. Its chain is weak but Bukhari and others narrated it from the hadith of Anas with this wording. See Book of Supplications, Chapter on Seeking Refuge from Overpowering Men, Hadith: 6363
The way the Prophet (peace be upon him) was cheerful can be understood from this incident: An old woman came to him and said, "O Messenger of Allah! Pray for Paradise for me." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "No old woman will enter Paradise." Hearing this, the old woman became anxious and began to cry. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) saw her condition, he said, "Old women will not enter Paradise in the state of old age; rather, Allah will grant them a new creation, and they will enter Paradise as young virgins."
The Prophet (peace be upon him) recited this verse in support of this:
اِنَّاۤ اَنْشَاْنٰهُنَّ اِنْشَآءً (35) فَجَعَلْنٰهُنَّ اَبْكَارًا (36) عُرُبًا اَتْرَابًا
"We will specially grant them a new creation and make them virgins, beloved to their husbands and of equal age."
Reference: Surah Al-Waqi'ah: 35 to 37, Tirmidhi, in Al-Shama'il, Hadith: 241
Hearts Become Weary
Similarly, the noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them, used to laugh, play, and engage in light-hearted conversations. They responded to the call of their nature, preserving their selves and arranging comfort for their hearts so that they could work refreshed and with agility.
Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said: The heart, like the body, also experiences fatigue; therefore, to relieve the heart’s fatigue, tell wondrous tales of wisdom. He also said: Give the hearts rest at intervals because the displeasure of the heart blinds it.
Reference: Jami' Bayan al-Ilm wa Fadlih: 136/1
And Imam Abu Dawood, may Allah have mercy on him, said: I allow my self some degree of falsehood for amusement so that it may help me adhere to the truth.
In short, there is no harm in engaging in humorous talk that produces a state of joy. Nor is there any harm in entertaining oneself and one’s companions through permissible games, provided it does not become a permanent habit, turning into a daily occupation morning and evening, resulting in neglect of one’s real responsibilities, or causing one to joke where seriousness is required.
Therefore, someone has rightly said:
“Humor in conversation should be just as much as salt in food.”
Likewise, it is not befitting for a Muslim in any way to disregard the honor and dignity of others and to mock them. Allah Almighty says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌ مِّن قَوْمٍ عَسَىٰ أَن يَكُونُوا خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْ
“O you who have believed, do not ridicule one another; perhaps they may be better than you.”
Reference: Surah Al-Hujurat: 11
Nor is it permissible for any Muslim to use lies to make people laugh. Warning against this, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said:
ويل للذى يحدث بالحديث ليضحك منه القوم فيكذب ويل له ويل له
“Woe to the one who tells lies to make people laugh. Woe to him, woe to him.”
Reference: Abu Dawood, Book of Manners, Chapter on Strictness Regarding Lying, Hadith: 4990; Tirmidhi, Book of Asceticism, Chapter on Whoever Speaks a Word to Make People Laugh, Hadith: 2315
