Chosen Islamic Manners

'O Abu Umair what did an-Nughair⁴² do?' (Bukhari)
*Joking is lawful between friends and brothers.
*When telling a joke, one should not backbite, scoff, slander, talk evil or tell a lie.
*Of the jokes which are not lawful is that which the Messenger of Allah () mentioned:

'Let not any of you take their companion's belongings and hide them, whether he does so seriously or jokingly. If one of you takes a stick which belongs to his companion let him return it to its owner.' (Al-Adab al-Mufrad)
*Do not exceed the limits when joking, or do it continuously such that people recognize you only for your jokes.
*The one who is joking should be careful to observe the following:

1. 
   The joke should be said in an appropriate time.
   
2. 
   One should not prolong a joke or say it continually.
   
3. 
   The joke should not be evil.
   
4. 
   It should not mock the Deen.
   
5. 
   One should not joke with the ignorant.
   
6. 
   One should be mindful of the feelings of others.
   
7. 
   One should joke with the young and old in an appropriate manner.
   
8. 
   One should not laugh excessively.
   
9. 
   One should not harm himself as a result of joking.
   

Anger Management
*Anger is a satanic insinuation, which leads one to sin and other calamities.
*Al-Ghazali, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 'People can be categorized into three categories in relation to the strength of their anger: negligent, excessive, and moderate.
As for the negligent, this is where the individual loses partial or complete control over himself.
As for excessive, this is where the individual becomes excessively angry, such that he loses his insight, intellectual capacities and choice.
As for moderate anger, this is the anger which is praiseworthy. It only occurs as a result of intellectual thought and is defined by one's Deen.
*Al-Ghazali, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned the causes for one to become angry. He said: 'Asceticism, conceitedness, jokes, practical jokes, ridicule, scoffing, argumentation, objection, trickery, wish for the acquisition of wealth, and honor are among the prime reasons for one's anger to go out of check. Anger is dubbed as a brave or manly act or an act of pride by the ignorant.'

*Certain types of anger are unpraiseworthy, some are unlawful and others are lawful.