Humour in Islamic Law

Human beings exist with emotions and often behave in accordance with their emotions. Emotions can be classified as positive ones and negative ones, likewise statement and behaviours which result from emotions can be described as positive ones and negative ones. Islam has not ignored these emotions of human beings. However Islam has not given free rein to these emotions, either; and has placed sanctions on showing which emotion in what situation and to whom. Islam has built each emotion on content or discontent of Allah. Being happy and making happy are most desirable emotions. Both being happy and making happy has situations those are content or discontent by Allah. Helping to a poor person, giving somebody a piece of good news, making human laugh by a joke away from lie and insult are the situations those are content by Allah; however being happy by insulting someone else, making others laugh by lying, being happy by victimizing others are situations those out of content of Allah. Humour is one of the most important communication apparatus of happiness. Naturally this important apparatus has legitimate and illegitimate ones; and behaviours or statements of either the legitimate or illegitimate one lay burden and sanctions on its doer. It is a religious responsibility of both Muslim individual and community to know how to react against humour, which is used very frequently and common in every sphere of life. It is the rate of percipience of that responsibility which determines the use of legitimate humour and its place of performing. From prayers to marital status, there are titles about humour in many subject of Islamic law. It can largely be possible to have a healthy and balanced attitude through illuminating the most commonly used titles of humour in daily life. Key Words: Humour, Islamic Humour, Humour in Islamic Law, Tittering, Joke, Wit, Satire,