What did the scholars say about laughter?
The Prophet ﷺ smiled more than anyone. He laughed until his molars showed. The scholars preserved the distinction between the laughter that lightens the heart and the laughter that hardens it.
10 passages from 8 books in the library
The scholars distinguished praiseworthy from blameworthy laughter. Al-Ghazali teaches in his Iḥyāʾ that what is commendable is "a smile that reveals the teeth without producing sound, as was the laughter of the Messenger of Allah," while "excess... causes much laughter, and much laughter deadens the heart, breeds enmity." He also praises bringing joy to others, noting that gladdening a Muslim, especially an orphan, is meritorious. The line lies between laughter that lightens the heart and laughter that hardens it.
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 8 books by Imam al-Ghazali and Ibn Battuta — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
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"While what is commendable is a smile that reveals the teeth without producing sound as was the laughter of the messenger of Allah"
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"As for excess, it causes much laughter, and much laughter deadens the heart, breeds enmity"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"to his joy in being praised. As for the blameworthy aspect, which is the fifth, it is when one's joy"
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"humility or bring joy from their attention. If a slight joy arises, it indicates weakness,"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"The fifth type of permissible listening is during times of joy, to enhance and stimulate that joy."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"his dependents, and a guardian to bring joy to an orphan. He added that bringing joy to a Muslim's"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"You feel pain but also joy, patience with the pain, and gratitude for the reason for your joy."
14th century · Tangier, Morocco
The Riḥlah — a 30-year, 75,000-mile journey across three continents, and the most important travel account of the pre-modern world.
More on Ibn Battuta →
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"May Aleppo be watered by the clouds, how often it has connected joy to joy, how much delight"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Your enemies' joy and your anguish is often greater than their joy in their own blessings."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"If his joy at his eloquence and people's praise for him exceeds his joy at people's praise"
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