His speech, laughter, and jesting ﷺ

His guidance ﷺ in speech

Aisha radiyallahu 'anha said: 'The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not narrate in a continuous flow like you do; rather he would speak distinct, separate words which those who sat with him would remember.' — [al-Bukhari] [Muslim]. Al-Hasan ibn Ali radiyallahu 'anhuma was asked about the Prophet's ﷺ manner of speech; his maternal uncle Hind ibn Abi Halah said: 'He ﷺ was continuously sorrowful, ever thoughtful, without rest; he was long of silence, did not speak except out of need, he began and ended speech with the name of Allah, and he spoke in comprehensive, concise words; his speech was measured, neither excessive nor deficient; most of his laughing was smiling; he would appear like a patch of cloud.'

• His speech was clear and distinct; every listener would remember it — [Muttafaqun 'alayh] on the authority of Aisha radiyallahu 'anha.
• He would repeat a word three times so that it would be understood from him — narrated by al-Bukhari from Anas radiyallahu 'anhu. [al-Bukhari]
• He was long of silence — narrated by Ahmad from Jabir ibn Samurah radiyallahu 'anhu. [Ahmad]
• There was a measured cadence and a smooth flow in his speech — narrated by Abu Dawud. [Abu Dawud]
• He did not speak except out of need, and he neither disparaged nor unduly praised anyone.

His laughter ﷺ and cheerfulness

Abdullah ibn al-Harith radiyallahu 'anhu said: 'I have not seen anyone who smiled more than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ' — narrated by At-Tirmidhi, who said: 'Hasan Sahih.' And Jabir ibn Samurah radiyallahu 'anhu said: 'The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not laugh except by smiling' — narrated by At-Tirmidhi. And Jareer ibn Abdullah radiyallahu 'anhu said: 'The Prophet ﷺ did not leave me since I embraced Islam, nor did he see me except that he would smile in my face' — [al-Bukhari] [Muslim]. [At-Tirmidhi]

• Most of his laughter ﷺ was a smile — he would appear like a patch of cloud in whiteness and radiance.
• He was ever cheerful, easy in character, and gentle in disposition — said Ali ibn Abi Talib radiyallahu 'anhu.
• When his companions spoke at length he would smile — narrated by Ahmad. [Ahmad]
• He would not relate a story except that he smiled — narrated by At-Tabarani from Abu ad-Darda radiyallahu 'anhu. [At-Tabarani]

His jesting ﷺ and his gentleness

Anas radiyallahu 'anhu said: 'The Prophet ﷺ said to him: "O possessor of the two ears"' — teasing him playfully — narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi. [Ahmad] [Abu Dawud] [At-Tirmidhi]. The Prophet ﷺ would enter on a younger brother of Anas and say: 'O Abu Umair, what has the little kid done?' — [Muttafaqun 'alayh]. Once a man said, 'O Messenger of Allah, you jest with us!' He ﷺ replied, 'Yes, but I say nothing except the truth' — narrated by At-Tirmidhi. [At-Tirmidhi]

• He ﷺ would joke/play but would say nothing except the truth — narrated by At-Tirmidhi on the authority of Abu Hurayrah radiyallahu 'anhu. [At-Tirmidhi]
• He said to Anas: 'O possessor of the two ears' to please him — narrated by Abu Dawud. [Abu Dawud]
• He said to a man, 'I make you responsible for the offspring of a she-camel,' and the man replied, 'Do camels give birth except to she-camels?' — narrated by At-Tirmidhi. [At-Tirmidhi]
• He said to an old woman, 'An old woman will not enter Paradise,' then he laughed and said, 'She will enter as a young woman' — narrated by At-Tirmidhi in ash-Shama'il. [At-Tirmidhi] [ash-Shama'il]