Smiles of the Moon: The Prophet’s Humor

Smiles of the Moon: The Prophet’s Humor (PBUH) by Morteza Daneshmand contains seven short stories drawn from the kind and gentle sayings of Prophet Muhammad, designed to bring smiles to children’s faces and introduce them to the Prophet’s friendly and approachable nature. In the view of the Prophet (PBUH) and the Imams (peace be upon them), humor and playful jokes served a higher purpose than mere entertainment—they aimed to uplift saddened hearts and teach lessons about morality, love, and proper conduct.

This feature is evident throughout all the stories in Smiles of the Moon. Of course, there are boundaries for humor, particularly when it involves harming someone’s reputation or falls under lying, gossip, slander, or similar issues, as discussed in ethical works like Jame’ al-Sa’adat. The Prophet (PBUH) and the Imams used humor in social interactions to wash away sorrow and teach people how to joke while still respecting religious and ethical guidelines in their relationships.

The book draws from reliable Hadith sources and is one of the first works to present the Prophet’s humor in a simple, child-friendly language. The instructive and delightful stories in this book are especially engaging for elementary-aged children and convey important religious and moral lessons through entertaining narratives and attractive illustrations.

A passage from Smiles of the Moon:

In the city of Medina, there was a forgetful man who would soon forget any promise or commitment he made. One day, the Prophet (PBUH) asked him to do a task. The man agreed, but the Prophet knew he might forget, as always. So, when the man was about to leave, the Prophet said to him: “O Mr. Two-Ears! Don’t forget.” Everyone looked, but there was no one named Mr. Two-Ears. The man said to the Prophet: “But I’m not Mr. Two-Ears.” Then he paused, thought for a moment, and laughed. He realized that everyone has “two ears,” and the Prophet had made a playful joke with him. That day, the man kept smiling and remembered the Prophet’s words, and he did not forget the promise he had made.