Joking is allowed, but lying while joking is not. The Prophet ﷺ joked, yet said, "I do not say except what is true", and warned "woe" to the one who lies to make people laugh. Small "white lies", including to children, are still recorded as lies, so look for a kind and honest way to say things instead.
Islam is not against humour. When the Companions noticed that the Prophet ﷺ joked with them, he said, "Indeed I do
not say except what is true" 1. So the line is not joking; it is lying.
Lying for laughs. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Woe to him who tells things, speaking falsely, to make people laugh
thereby. Woe to him! Woe to him" 2. Pranks built on false stories, fake news "for the vibes", or made-up
anecdotes to get a laugh all fall under this warning.
A reward for giving it up. He guaranteed "a house in the middle of Paradise for a man who avoids lying even if he
were joking" 3.
Children count too. A mother once called her little boy, saying she would give him something. The Prophet ﷺ
asked what she intended to give; she said dates. He told her that if she had not intended to give him anything, "a
lie would be recorded against you" 4. Kids learn honesty by watching whether adults keep their word.
Why small lies matter. The Prophet ﷺ explained that a person "may keep on telling lies till he is written before
Allah, a liar" 5. Small lies make bigger ones easier. He also said "truth brings tranquility while falsehood sows
doubt" 6: even little lies leave a nagging unease.
So what do you say instead? You do not have to share every opinion. You can stay silent, choose your words gently,
or focus on something true and kind ("I can see how much effort you put into this"). The narrow exceptions the
Prophet ﷺ allowed, such as making peace between people, are covered in the related answer on lying.
The evidence
1
HadithJami' at-Tirmidhi 1990
Sahihgraded by Al-Albani
The Prophet ﷺ joked but said, "Indeed I do not say except what is true."
Abu Hurairah narrated:"They said: 'O Messenger of Allah! You joke with us?' He said: 'Indeed I do not say except what is true.'" (Hasan)
Narrated Mu'awiyah ibn Jaydah al-Qushayri: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Woe to him who tells things, speaking falsely, to make people laugh thereby. Woe to him! Woe to him
العربية
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدُ بْنُ مُسَرْهَدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ بَهْزِ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " وَيْلٌ لِلَّذِي يُحَدِّثُ فَيَكْذِبُ لِيُضْحِكَ بِهِ الْقَوْمَ وَيْلٌ لَهُ وَيْلٌ لَهُ " .
3
HadithSunan Abi Dawud 4800
Hasangraded by Al-Albani
A house in the middle of Paradise for one who avoids lying even when joking.
Narrated AbuUmamah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: I guarantee a house in the surroundings of Paradise for a man who avoids quarrelling even if he were in the right, a house in the middle of Paradise for a man who avoids lying even if he were joking, and a house in the upper part of Paradise for a man who made his character good
Promising a child something with no intention of giving it is recorded as a lie.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Amir: My mother called me one day when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was sitting in our house. She said: Come here and I shall give you something. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked her: What did you intend to give him? She replied: I intended to give him some dates. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: If you were not to give him anything, a lie would be recorded against you
العربية
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَجْلاَنَ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، مِنْ مَوَالِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَامِرِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ الْعَدَوِيِّ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ أَنَّهُ قَالَ دَعَتْنِي أُمِّي يَوْمًا وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَاعِدٌ فِي بَيْتِنَا فَقَالَتْ هَا تَعَالَ أُعْطِيكَ . فَقَالَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَمَا أَرَدْتِ أَنْ تُعْطِيهِ " . قَالَتْ أُعْطِيهِ تَمْرًا . فَقَالَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَمَا إِنَّكِ لَوْ لَمْ تُعْطِيهِ شَيْئًا كُتِبَتْ عَلَيْكِ كِذْبَةٌ " .
5
HadithSahih al-Bukhari 6094
SahihBukhari
A person keeps lying until he is written before Allah as a liar.
Narrated `Abdullah:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to Al-Fajur (i.e. wickedness, evil-doing), and Al-Fajur (wickedness) leads to the (Hell) Fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written before Allah, a liar
العربية
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ الصِّدْقَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْبِرِّ، وَإِنَّ الْبِرَّ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ، وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَصْدُقُ حَتَّى يَكُونَ صِدِّيقًا، وَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْفُجُورِ، وَإِنَّ الْفُجُورَ يَهْدِي إِلَى النَّارِ، وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَكْذِبُ، حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ كَذَّابًا ".
6
HadithJami' at-Tirmidhi 2518
Sahihgraded by Al-Albani
Leave what makes you doubt; truth brings tranquillity and falsehood sows doubt.
Al-Hasan bin 'Ali said:"I remember that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'Leave what makes you in doubt for what does not make you in doubt. The truth brings tranquility while falsehood sows doubt.'" Another chain reports a similar narration
This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24