Funny Stories and Laughing

Al-Kāfi|Volume 2|Book 4|Chapter 23

Al-Kāfi

Volume 2, Book 4, Chapter 23

Funny Stories and Laughing
20 Aḥadīth
Ḥadīth 1

1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُعَمَّرِ بْنِ خَلادٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ الرَّجُلُ يَكُونُ مَعَ الْقَوْمِ فَيَجْرِي بَيْنَهُمْ كَلامٌ يَمْزَحُونَ وَيَضْحَكُونَ فَقَالَ لا بَأْسَ مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ فَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ عَنَى الْفُحْشَ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) كَانَ يَأْتِيهِ الأعْرَابِيُّ فَيُهْدِي لَهُ الْهَدِيَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ مَكَانَهُ أَعْطِنَا ثَمَنَ هَدِيَّتِنَا فَيَضْحَكُ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) وَكَانَ إِذَا اغْتَمَّ يَقُولُ مَا فَعَلَ الأعْرَابِيُّ لَيْتَهُ أَتَانَا.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Mu’ammar ibn Khallad who has said the following: “Once I asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.) ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, can a man be with a people who speak and laugh at funny stories?’ The Imam said, ‘It is not an offense if there is not that.’ I (the narrator) then thought ‘ that ’ was his signal to indecent acts. The Imam then said, ‘Arabs would come to the Messenger of Allah and bring him gifts and then say, “Pay us for our gifts.” The Messenger of Allah would laugh. When he felt sad he would say, “What happened to the Arab man? I wish he comes by.’””

Ḥadīth 2

2- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ شَرِيفِ بْنِ سَابِقٍ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ أَبِي قُرَّةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَا مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ إِلا وَفِيهِ دُعَابَةٌ قُلْتُ وَمَا الدُّعَابَةُ قَالَ الْمِزَاحُ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Khalid from Sharif b. Sabiq from al-Fadl b. Abu Qarrah from Abu Abdullah (as) who said: “There is no believer except that within him is humour." I asked, "What is humour?". The Imam said, "Jokes."

Ḥadīth 3

3ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَلامٍ عَنْ يُوسُفَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ عَنْ يُونُسَ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) كَيْفَ مُدَاعَبَةُ بَعْضِكُمْ بَعْضاً قُلْتُ قَلِيلٌ قَالَ فَلا تَفْعَلُوا فَإِنَّ الْمُدَاعَبَةَ مِنْ حُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ وَإِنَّكَ لَتُدْخِلُ بِهَا السُّرُورَ عَلَى أَخِيكَ وَلَقَدْ كَانَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) يُدَاعِبُ الرَّجُلَ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَسُرَّهُ.

3. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Muhammad ibn Ali from Yahya ibn Sallam from Yusuf ibn Ya’qub from Salih ibn ‘Aqabah from Yunus al-Shaybani who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘How is your telling funny stories for each other?’ I said, ‘It is very little.’ The Imam said, ‘Do not do so. Telling funny stories is of delightful moral discipline. You can bring joy to your brother (in belief). The Messenger of Allah would tell funny stories to bring cheerfulness feelings to a man.’”

Ḥadīth 4

4ـ صَالِحُ بْنُ عُقْبَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْجُعْفِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يُحِبُّ الْمُدَاعِبَ فِي الْجَمَاعَةِ بِلا رَفَثٍ.

4. Salih ibn ‘Aqabah has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad al-Ju’fi who has said the following: “I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, loves a funny storyteller in a group free of abusive matters. ’”

Ḥadīth 5

5ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ كُلَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ ضَحِكُ الْمُؤْمِنِ تَبَسُّمٌ.

5. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Asbat from al-Hassan ibn Kulayb from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The laughing of a believing person is smiling.”

Ḥadīth 6

6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ كَثْرَةُ الضَّحِكِ تُمِيتُ الْقَلْبَ وَقَالَ كَثْرَةُ الضَّحِكِ تَمِيثُ الدِّينَ كَمَا يَمِيثُ الْمَاءُ الْمِلْحَ.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mansur from Hariz from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Much laughing deadens the heart. He has also said, ‘Much laughing melts one’s religion just as water melts salt.’”

Ḥadīth 7

7ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ مِنَ الْجَهْلِ الضَّحِكَ مِنْ غَيْرِ عَجَبٍ قَالَ وَكَانَ يَقُولُ لا تُبْدِيَنَّ عَنْ وَاضِحَةٍ وَقَدْ عَمِلْتَ الأعْمَالَ الْفَاضِحَةَ وَلا يَأْمَنِ الْبَيَاتَ مَنْ عَمِلَ السَّيِّئَاتِ.

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfali from al-Sakuni from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘It is ignorance to laugh without astonishment.’ The narrator has said that the Imam would say, ‘In laughing do not allow your teeth to become visible, when you have committed disgraceful deeds. One who has committed evil deeds should not feel secure about what kinds of misfortune the night may bring.”’

Ḥadīth 8

8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ الْبَخْتَرِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) إِيَّاكُمْ وَالْمِزَاحَ فَإِنَّهُ يَذْهَبُ بِمَاءِ الْوَجْهِ.

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hafs ibn al-Bakhtari who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Beware of jokes; it takes away the dignity of one’s face.’”

Ḥadīth 9

9ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَمَّنْ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِذَا أَحْبَبْتَ رَجُلاً فَلا تُمَازِحْهُ وَلا تُمَارِهِ.

9. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from those whom he has mentioned (in his book) from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “If you love a person, do not play jokes on him and do not argue with him.”

Ḥadīth 10

10ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ الْقَهْقَهَةُ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ.

10. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabi from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Laughing loud is from Satan.”

Ḥadīth 11

11ـ حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْكِنْدِيِّ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ الْمِيثَمِيِّ عَنْ عَنْبَسَةَ الْعَابِدِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ كَثْرَةُ الضَّحِكِ تَذْهَبُ بِمَاءِ الْوَجْهِ.

11. Hamid ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad al-Kindi from Ahmad ibn al-Hassan al-Maythami from ‘Anbasah al-‘Abid who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Much laughing eliminates the dignity of one’s face.’”

Ḥadīth 12

12ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الأشْعَرِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ الْقَدَّاحِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) إِيَّاكُمْ وَالْمِزَاحَ فَإِنَّهُ يَجُرُّ السَّخِيمَةَ وَيُورِثُ الضَّغِينَةَ وَهُوَ السَّبُّ الأصْغَرُ.

12. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Ash’ari from ibn al-Qaddah from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘Beware of joking; it attracts hatred and hostility and it is a minor form of name-calling.’”

Ḥadīth 13

13ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ طَهْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِذَا قَهْقَهْتَ فَقُلْ حِينَ تَفْرُغُ اللهمَّ لا تَمْقُتْنِي.

13. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from Khalid ibn Tahman from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “If you have laughed loudly, say, ‘O Lord, please, do not hate me.’”

Ḥadīth 14

14ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَجَّالِ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ فَرْقَدٍ وَعَلِيِّ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ وَثَعْلَبَةَ رَفَعُوهُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله وَأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ أَوْ أَحَدِهِمَا (عَلَيهِما السَّلام) قَالَ كَثْرَةُ الْمِزَاحِ تَذْهَبُ بِمَاءِ الْوَجْهِ وَكَثْرَةُ الضَّحِكِ تَمُجُّ الإيمَانَ مَجّاً.

14. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hajjal from Dawud ibn Farqad and Ali ibn ‘Aqabah and Tha’Labah in a marfu’ manner from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) and abu Ja’far (a.s.) or one of them who has said the following: “Much joking eliminates the dignity of one’s face and much laughing hurls belief far away.”

Ḥadīth 15

15ـ حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ الْمِيثَمِيِّ عَنْ عَنْبَسَةَ الْعَابِدِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ الْمِزَاحُ السِّبَابُ الأصْغَرُ.

15. Hamid ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn al-Hassan al-Maythami from ‘Anbasah al-‘Abid who has said that I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) say the following: “Joking is a minor form of name-calling.”

Ḥadīth 16

16ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِيَّاكُمْ وَالْمِزَاحَ فَإِنَّهُ يَذْهَبُ بِمَاءِ الْوَجْهِ وَمَهَابَةِ الرِّجَالِ.

16. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from ibn Muskan from Muhammad ibn Marwan from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Beware of joking; it eliminates the dignity of one’s face and his respect.”

Ḥadīth 17

17ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ عَنْ عَمَّارِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) لا تُمَارِ فَيَذْهَبَ بَهَاؤُكَ وَلا تُمَازِحْ فَيُجْتَرَأَ عَلَيْكَ.

17. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Barqi from abu al-‘ Abbas from ‘Ammar ibn Marwan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Do not quarrel; it eliminates your brilliance and do not play jokes; people grow rude and daring against you.”

Ḥadīth 18

18ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ السِّنْدِيِّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنْ عَمَّارِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لا تُمَازِحْ فَيُجْتَرَأَ عَلَيْكَ.

18. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Salih ibn al-Sindi from abu Ja’far ibn Bashir from ‘Ammar ibn Marwan from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Do not play jokes; rudeness will be used against you.”

Ḥadīth 19

19ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي خَلَفٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي وَصِيَّةٍ لَهُ لِبَعْضِ وُلْدِهِ أَوْ قَالَ قَالَ أَبِي لِبَعْضِ وُلْدِهِ إِيَّاكَ وَالْمِزَاحَ فَإِنَّهُ يَذْهَبُ بِنُورِ إِيمَانِكَ وَيَسْتَخِفُّ بِمُرُوءَتِكَ.

19. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from Sa’d ibn abu Khalaf from abu al-Hassan (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Imam said in his will to one of his sons or that he said, ‘My father said to one of his sons: “Beware of playing jokes; it eliminates the light of your belief, and decreases your manhood.’”

Ḥadīth 20

20ـ عَنْهُ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْجَهْمِ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مِهْزَمٍ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الأوَّلِ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ كَانَ يَحْيَى بْنُ زَكَرِيَّا (عَلَيهِما السَّلام) يَبْكِي وَلا يَضْحَكُ وَكَانَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ (عَلَيهِما السَّلام) يَضْحَكُ وَيَبْكِي وَكَانَ الَّذِي يَصْنَعُ عِيسَى (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) أَفْضَلَ مِنَ الَّذِي كَانَ يَصْنَعُ يَحْيَى (عَلَيهِ السَّلام).

20. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ibn Faddal from al- Hassan ibn al-Jahm from Ibrahim ibn Mehzam from those whom he has mentioned (in his book) from Abu al-Hassan, the first (a.s.) who has said the following: “Yahya (John) ibn Zakariya would weep and would not laugh. Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam would laugh and weep. What Isa (Jesus) did was better than what Yahya would do.”