My Thoughts on Humour and the Importance of Laughter

When I was around 14 or 15 I read a book by science fiction writer Robert Heinlein. In it, he suggested that humour was always used to put people down and it hurt people. Because I grew up so badly abused by so many people, I did not want to hurt another being, so I made a conscious decision not to laugh, and for many decades, I didn’t. I took life too seriously.

A couple of things changed my mind: the first book I read after declaring my faith in Baha’u’llah was God Loves Laughter by William Sears; and when I became a member of Workaholics Anonymous, I learned that humour is a tool for recovery. Since then, I’ve had to look at humour differently.

During COVID there were a lot of really creative memes on Facebook, poking fun at what was going on. I found them funny, and it helped to lighten up the seriousness of that time, so I started sharing the memes with my friends. Even to this day, I share a lot of funny memes with a Facebook group called the Baha’i Joke of the Day. That was one way that I reclaimed my humour.

Baha’u’llah and Abdu’l-Baha both emphasized joy, happiness, and a cheerful heart as spiritually beneficial.

In a Tablet to Jamal-i-Burujurdi, Baha’u’llah states:

Verily, thy Lord loveth humor on certain occasions and speaketh in jest.

And in a Tablet to Haji Amin, He says:

Humor in speech is like unto flavor in food.¹

Abdu’l-Baha affirms:

My home is the home of peace. My home is the home of joy and delight. My home is the home of laughter and exultation. Whosoever enters through the portals of this home, must go out with gladsome heart.²

The House of Justice has also told us:

Abandonment of “a frivolous conduct” does not imply that a Baha’i must be sour-faced or perpetually solemn. Humour, happiness, joy are characteristics of a true Baha’i life. Frivolity palls and eventually leads to boredom and emptiness, but true happiness and joy and humour that are parts of a balanced life that includes serious thought, compassion and humble servitude to God are characteristics that enrich life and add to its radiance.³

Though the Writings don’t talk much directly about jokes or humour, there are many stories of Abdu’l-Baha using gentle humour to uplift others and bring warmth to His interactions.

Here are three examples I love:

Most of those present at this luncheon party knew a little of Abdu’l-Baha’s life history, and, presumably, were expecting a dissertation from Him on the Baha’i Cause. The hostess had suggested to the Master that He speak to them on the subject of immortality. However, as the meal progressed, and no more than the usual commonplaces of polite society were mentioned, the hostess made an opening, as she thought, for Abdu’l-Baha to speak on spiritual things. His response to this was to ask if He might tell them a story, and He related one […] and at its conclusion all laughed heartily. The ice was broken.

Others added stories of which the Master’s anecdote had reminded them. Then Abdu’l-Baha, His face beaming with happiness, told another story, and another. His laughter rang through the room. He said […] it is good to laugh. Laughter is a spiritual relaxation.

When they were in prison, He said, and under the utmost deprivation and difficulties, each of them at the close of the day would relate the most ludicrous event which had happened. Sometimes it was a little difficult to find one but always they would laugh until the tears would roll down their cheeks. Happiness, He said, is never dependent upon material surroundings, otherwise how sad those years would have been. As it was they were always in the utmost state of joy and happiness.⁴

One day in London Abdu’l-Baha heard laughter coming from the kitchen. Delighted, He joined the happy people. It appeared that the Persian servant had remarked: “In the East women wear veils and do all the work.” To which [the] English housekeeper had replied: “In the West women don’t wear veils, and take good care that the men do at least some of the work. You had better get on with cleaning that silver.” The Master joined in the laughter.⁵

Abdu’l-Baha loved laughter and His laughter was often a source of solace. One writer observed that once He laughed so heartily at the observations and questions directed to Him that His turban became disarranged. As He lifted His hands to straighten it, He smiled as though we had a little joke between us. When the Master was in America He was visited by May Maxell, with little Mary, and Juliet Thompson. They had a delightful visit together, but eventually Juliet became concerned and asked, “Don’t we tire You? Oughtn’t we to leave You now?” He answered, “No, stay. You rest Me. You make Me laugh!” On one occasion He was delighted thinking about a certain joke. He seemed to have in mind to tell it. His friends pleased that He do so. “No, I cannot, for every time I try to tell it I laugh so I cannot speak.”⁶

I was happy to know that despite much of popular culture treats humour as a way to escape reality or to mock others, the Baha’i teachings frame it as restful, as a natural part of joy, to be used with wisdom, love, and purpose, and for that, I am grateful!

1. Provisional translations https://adibmasumian.com/translations/selections_writings_bahaullah_humor/ [↩]
2. From a reported utterance, published in Star of the West, vol. 9, no. 3, 28 April 1918), p. 40 [↩]
3. The Universal House of Justice, 1997 Jan 12, The Compilation of Compilations Vol 1 [↩]
4. Howard Colby Ives, Portals to Freedom, p. 119 [↩]
5. Annamarie Honnold, Vignettes from the Life of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 175 [↩]
6. Annamarie Honnold, Vignettes from the Life of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 169 [↩]

Posted by

Susan Gammage

Susan Gammage, MES, Certified Life Coach, author, educator and researcher, maintains an active Baha'i-inspired life coaching practice, which focuses on applying Baha'i principles to day-to-day situations. She is the author of "Violence and Abuse: Reasons and Remedies", a compilation of quotes from the Baha'i Writings and is currently working on several other books including a Baha'i Perspective on "Overcoming Anxiety and Depression"; "The Courage to be Chaste in a Sexual World"; the "Baha'i Marriage Manual" and "The Spiritual Roots of Disease". Visit her Bookstore; get your Free E-Books ; sign up for her Newsletter; and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.