His blessed smile and subtle humour

His Humour and Playfulness

Our beloved Nabi ﷺ had a very happy nature and this nature would show in the way he always met people with a smile.

So much so that Abdullah Ibn Haarith رضي الله عنه says he never saw anyone smiling more than our beloved Nabi ﷺ.

With this, our beloved Nabi ﷺ was both playful and jokative with the companions and he did so without lying.

He used to say that, I do not lie, even while telling jokes. (Shama’il al-Tirmidhi)

A few examples of our beloved Nabi ﷺ subtle humour and playfulness with the companions:

Sayyiduna Anas Ibn Maalik رضي الله عنه says that once our beloved Nabi ﷺ playfully called him by the name, ‘Ya dhal udhu nayn’ (meaning the one with two ears). This was a playful gesture as this is a not the usual manner of calling someone but was also true.

Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه also says that he had a younger brother by the name of Abu Umayr. He had a pet bird by the name of Nughayr, which he was very fond of. When this bird passed away, Abu Umayr became very upset. Our beloved Nabi ﷺ rhymingly said, ‘O Abu Umayr, what happened to Nughayr’.

Sayyidah Aisha رضي الله عنها says she was with our amazing Nabi, ﷺ while on a journey. They had a race and she beat our beloved Nabi ﷺ. A few years when she had put on a bit of weight they raced again and our beloved Nabi ﷺ won. Our beloved Nabi ﷺ reminded her saying this win was for the last one when you one.

Sayydiuna Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه, mentions another incident in which a person came and requested our beloved Nabi ﷺ for a conveyance (horse, camel, mule etc). Our beloved Nabi ﷺ replied, “The child of a camel shall be given to you.” The person said, “What shall I do with the child of a camel O Messenger of Allah?” (I want one that I can sit and ride on). Our beloved Nabi ﷺ replied saying, “Every camel (no matter what age) is the child of a camel.”

Hasan Al Basri رحمه الله mentions an incident in which an old woman came to Rasulullah ﷺ and made a request, “O’ Messenger of Allah make Dua that Allah grants me entrance into Jannah.”

Rasulullah ﷺ replied, “O Mother, an old woman cannot enter Jannah.”

That woman started crying and began to leave. Our beloved Nabi ﷺ told one of the companions to quickly go and say to the woman that, she did not understand the comment. What our beloved Nabi ﷺ meant was that she will not enter in a state of old age, because Allah Ta’ala will make every woman young before entering them into Jannah.

These were just a few brief incidents of the humour and playfulness of our most beautiful, most perfect and most special Nabi ﷺ, who is a perfect role model for us all.