Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I read in one of the hadis that not to laugh much and it also says that laughing will take away the noor of your face. But I also have heard from Medicinal point of view that "Laughter is a good medicine". Please enlighten me on this.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Laughter is best medicine

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 5796 Narrated by Jabir ibn Samurah

The laughter of the Messenger of Allah (saws) was no more than a smile.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4972 Narrated by Mu'awiyah ibn Jaydah al-Qushayri

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘Woe to him who tells things, speaking falsely, to make people laugh thereby. Woe to him! Woe to him!’

Love-hate, like-dislike, joy-sorrow, smile-weep, etc. are but natural emotions of mankind! What determines virtue and sin is what one says or does when one experiences these natural emotions!

It is recorded through several narrators that the laughter of the Messenger of Allah (saws) was no more than a smile. Although Islam does not prohibit the natural emotion of laughing when one encounters a humorous statement or incident, Islam does indeed discourage and prohibit the believers from immoderate laughter, or to laugh at the misery or expense of another.

There are indeed some amongst the so called ‘experts’ who have put up a theory that ‘laughter is a good medicine’….. but they have not exactly clarified as a medicine for what ‘disease’??? …nor has any real expert prescribed this supposed and so-called medicine of ‘laughter’ to one who is ill or has an ailment!!! Unless and until the statement that ‘laughter is a good medicine’ is proved scientifically, it would only be prudent for one to wary before one puts one’s belief into it.

A theory is but a theory based on some assumptions…and it cannot, and should not, be treated like a scientific fact!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 39 Surah Zumar verse 23:

23 Allah has revealed the most beautiful message in the form of a Book consistent with itself (yet) repeating (its teaching in various aspects): the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble thereat; then their skins and their hearts do soften to the celebration of Allah's Praises. Such is the guidance of Allah: He guides therewith whom He pleases but such as Allah leaves to stray, can have none to guide.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 406 Narrated by Abu Dharr

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘I see that which you do not. The Heavens cry (on account of the heavy load of the Angels prostrating) and is justified in doing so! There is not a space equal to four fingers in it (the Heavens) but is occupied by Angels who are prostrating before their Lord! By Allah, if you could know what I know, you would laugh little and weep much; you would not enjoy your wives in beds, and would rush into streets and jungles in search of Allah's refuge.’

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.632 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet (saws) said, "By Him in Whose Hand Muhammad's (saws) soul is, if you know that which I know, you would weep much and laugh little."

Man has been created for an extremely serious mission; and if one truly comprehends and realizes the importance and significance of this mission, one would but be compelled by its enormity to weep rather than laugh! Islam guides that the allocation of time in this short and transient world is best spent and utlized in striving, and sincerely working hard in the Cause of Allah Subhanah, and fearing the severe and inevitable Tribunal of the Lord Most Majestic……there is a time to weep and a time to laugh; and the time to laugh, and be joyous, and merry, and enjoy is definitely not in this short and transient life of the world, but rather in the eternal and everlasting life of the Hereafter.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 79 Surah Naziat verses 34-41:

34 Therefore when there comes The Great Overwhelming (The Day of Judgement)

35 The Day when man shall remember (all) that he strove for

36 And Hell-Fire shall be placed in full view for (all) to see

37 Then for such as had transgressed all bounds

38 And had preferred the life of this world

39 Their abode will be Hell-Fire;

40 And for such as had entertained the fear of standing before their Lord's (Tribunal), and had restrained (their) soul from lower desires

41 Their abode will be the Garden.

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan