WE RELATE IN the Ṣaḥīḥs of al-Bukhārī and Muslim that Anas 
narrated that the Messenger of Allah 
used to say to [Anas’s] young brother: “Abū ‘Umayr, what did the little bird do?” [1].
narrated that the Messenger of Allah used to say to [Anas’s] young brother: “Abū ‘Umayr, what did the little bird do?” [1].We relate in the books of Abū Dāwūd and at-Tirmidhī that Anas also narrated that the Prophet called him “You with the two ears”. [2].At-Tirmidhī states that this is a ṣaḥīḥ hadith.
also narrated that the Prophet called him “You with the two ears”. [2].At-Tirmidhī states that this is a ṣaḥīḥ hadith.We also relate in the same two books that a man came to the Prophet and said: “Messenger of Allah, give me a mount to ride.” He said: “I will give you the offspring of a camel to ride.” [The man] said: “Messenger of Allah, what can I do with the offspring of a camel?” The Messenger of Allah replied: “Does a camel give birth to anything but a camel?” [3].According to at-Tirmidhī, this is a ṣaḥīḥ hadith.
and said: “Messenger of Allah, give me a mount to ride.” He said: “I will give you the offspring of a camel to ride.” [The man] said: “Messenger of Allah, what can I do with the offspring of a camel?” The Messenger of Allah replied: “Does a camel give birth to anything but a camel?” [3].According to at-Tirmidhī, this is a ṣaḥīḥ hadith.We relate in the book of at-Tirmidhī that Abū Hurayrah reported that people said: “Messenger of Allah, you joke with us.” He said: “I do not say anything but the truth.” [4].At-Tirmidhī says that this is a ḥasan hadith.
reported that people said: “Messenger of Allah, you joke with us.” He said: “I do not say anything but the truth.” [4].At-Tirmidhī says that this is a ḥasan hadith.We relate in the book of at-Tirmidhī that Ibn ‘Abbās 
narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: “Do not argue with your brother, do not joke [maliciously] with him, and do not make him a promise and then break it.” [5].
narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: “Do not argue with your brother, do not joke [maliciously] with him, and do not make him a promise and then break it.” [5].The ‘ulamā’ say that the kind of joking that is prohibited is that which is excessive and persistent, for it leads to [excessive] laughter and hardness of heart, and distracts people from the remembrance of Allah and contemplating important religious matters. Most of the time it leads to harm, creates rancour, and destroys awe and dignity. What is free from such drawbacks is the permissible joking which the Messenger of Allah used to engage in, because he did so rarely, for some benefit, and to win the heart of the person addressed and to foster intimacy. This is absolutely not prohibited but is a mustaḥabb Sunnah, provided that it fulfils these conditions. Rely, then, on what I have transmitted from the ‘ulamā’ and what we have verified in detail of these hadiths and the explanations of these rulings, because there is great need for it. And all success is by Allah.
used to engage in, because he did so rarely, for some benefit, and to win the heart of the person addressed and to foster intimacy. This is absolutely not prohibited but is a mustaḥabb Sunnah, provided that it fulfils these conditions. Rely, then, on what I have transmitted from the ‘ulamā’ and what we have verified in detail of these hadiths and the explanations of these rulings, because there is great need for it. And all success is by Allah.References
[1] Al-Bukhārī (2169) and Muslim (2150).
[2] Abū Dāwūd (5002) and at-Tirmidhī (1993).
[3] Abū Dāwūd (4998) and at-Tirmidhī (1992).
[4] At-Tirmidhī (1991).
[5] At-Tirmidhī (1996), who states that this hadith is gharīb. As-Suyūṭī indicates in al-Jāmi‘ aṣ-ṣaghīr that it is weak.