"Too much laughing kills the heart"

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on September 23rd, 2007

Baba Ali is a filmmaker and part of Ummah Films, “a Muslim film company that strives to provide Halaal (Islamically permissible) entertainment to Muslims and non-Muslims alike.” He blogged about his recent decision to take standup comedy classes.

I recently decided to take a standup class with the hope it will make me more comfortable speaking at events. Alhamdulillah it seems to be working and I have a great teacher (a comedian from Last Comic Standing). Now I’m actually starting to enjoy the class and once in a while I get on stage and do standup. One thing I have learned that many people who are naturally funny aren’t funny on stage and that many people who you may come across dull off stage are actually really funny on stage. It’s weird.

Following Ali’s musings on his approach to standup are several encouraging comments from the blog’s readers. Then there’s this one:

Dear brother in Islam, I hope you will be able to read this knowing that you have so many things on your hands. Bidhnillah, there will be some sort of benefit in my following advice.

When you began this ummahfilms productions, it was amazing and yet not something that resembled kuffar imitation. However, when I came to realize that you did stand up comedy, well that seemed the first step of shaytan to me. Things like ‘Allah made me funny’ are just plain wrong. Honestly, brother, do you think that Abu Bakr and Bilal would do stand up comedy (forget that, would they even allow it)? Brother Ali, I am simply saying this out of concern. Reconsider what you`re doing. Will making people laugh help you on the Day of Judgement? Isnt it true that too mucn (sic) laughing kills the heart? wallahu Alem.

(For those of you following along at home, “shaytan” means Satan and “kuffar” means, variously, unbelievers, infidels, deniers or blasphemers.)

It is widely believed that the above statement about laughter is a direct quote from the prophet Prophet Muhammad. And the following is a popular interpretation of that part of the Koran that deals specifically with levity and joking:

The necessary condition for the permissibility of joking is that it does not contain lies or cause fright to a Muslim or a non-Muslim citizen, because this hurts others, and we are forbidden to do so.

Excessive joking is blameworthy and forbidden, since it eliminates one’s dignity and reserve, and creates resentment in certain situations and people. It also causes immoderate laughter, which kills the heart.

from → News • View 1 Comment • Print-Friendly • Back To Top