The Seal of Prophets - His Personality and Character — Page 23
The Seal of Prophets 23 humour. He used to joke with children to amuse them with light talk. However his humour would never hurt anyone. There are many reports of his jokes with children and sometimes with old people. Anas ra reports: The Holy Prophet sa used to become intimate with children. Once my younger brother’s sparrow called “Nughar” died. The Holy Prophet sa cheered him up by saying: ‘0 Abu Omair! What has little Nughar (calling it as ‘Nughair’) done to you?’ Whenever he met him, he said the same thing until Abu Omair forgot his Nughar and started enjoying being addressed by the Holy Prophet sa thus. Once Hasan ra , the grandson of the Holy Prophet sa wanted to ride a camel. He seated him on his shoulders and posed to be his camel. This made Hadhrat Hasan ra smile with pleasure. All such small jokes are not reported, but this much is certainly reported that he always had similar pleasing talks with small children. Once an old woman enquired from him whether she would also be granted permission to enter paradise. In answer the Holy Prophet sa said that no old person would ever enter paradise. She was deeply taken aback at that and expressed her grief. The Holy Prophet sa smilingly put her at ease by observing: All those who enter the paradise would have been turned young.