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Laughing at friends when they slip and fall

Question

Assalaamu alaykum. I have a question. I and my female classmates have a sport class. Durung the exercise, many of them slip in a funny way. The person falling would laugh, and we would also laugh with them. Is this sinful? If we laugh at a person without intending to mock him and they do not mind, is it sinful? Please reply, thank you.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

Apparently, laughing at another when they fall is part of permissible joking, and this does not result in any harm. Therefore, it is permissible to laugh at a person if he is not harmed by this laughter and it does not include mocking them.

The footnote of As-Sindi on the Sunan of Ibn Maajah reads, “Joking means speech intended for humor in such a way that it does not lead to hurting others, but if it reached the extent of hurting them, then it is considered mockery.

Also, Mirqaat Al-Mafaateeh ‘ala Mishkaat Al-Masaabeeh reads, “Joking is being cheerful with others without causing any harm; if it harms them, then it is mockery.

Allah knows best.

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