The meaning of laughter of God

Question:

How should we understand the reports that say that God laughs?

Answer:
Al-Asbagh Ibn Nubatah reported that Imam Ali (a.) said: “God laughs to a man who is in a group of soldiers, to whom a seventh or burglary is offered. Thereupon he saves them from being offered it.” Muhammad Baqir Al-Majlisi wrote: “Laughter is meant as reward and goodness, because when you laugh to a person, you love him and give him good things and give him honor.” [Al-Kafi of Al-Kulaini, volume 5 page 54 Hadith 1; Mir’at-ul-Uqul of Al-Majlisi, volume 18 page 398]

عدة من أصحابنا، عن أحمد بن محمد بن خالد، عن ابن فضال، عن أبي جميلة، عن سعد بن طريف، عن الأصبغ بن نباتة قال: قال أمير المؤمنين صلوات الله عليه: يضحك الله عز وجل إلى رجل في كتيبة يعرض لهم سبع أو لص فحماهم أن يجوزوا. وقال محمد باقر المجلسي: الضحك كناية عن الإثابة واللطف فإن من يضحك إلى رجل يحبه ويلاطفه ويكرمه

Muhammad Al-Ukbari reported that Imam Ali (a.) said: “God laughs to three persons on the Day of Resurrection: (1) A man who lies in bed with his wife whom he loves and then performs the prayer-washing. Then he goes into the house of prayer and performs his prayer and speaks with his Lord in the intimacy of his heart. (2.) A man who has been caught up in ritual impurity and finds no water. Therefore he goes to ice-covered areas and breaks them. Then he goes in and performs the ritual full body wash. (3.) A man who encounters an enemy with his companions. Thereupon they come to him and fight and he fights until he is killed.” Al-Hurr Al-Amili writes: “Laughter is a metaphorical expression here and it means that God is pleased with the man’s work and He loves him and gives him His reward.” [Mustadrak-ul-Wasa’il by Al-Mirza An-Nuri, volume 1 page 487 – 488 Hadith 10; Wasa’il-ush-Shi’ah by Al-Hurr Al-Amili, volume 15 page 142]

عن محمد العكبري عن علي بن أبي طالب عليه الصلاة والسلام أنه قال: ثلاثة يضحك الله إليهم يوم القيامة رجل يكون على فراشه مع زوجته وهو يحبها فيتوضا ويدخل المسجد فيصلى ويناجى ربه ورجل اصابته جنابة ولم يصب ماء فقام إلى الثلج فكسره ثم دخل فيه واغتسل ورجل لقى عدوا وهو مع اصحابه وجاءهم مقاتل فقاتل حتى قتل. وقال الحر العاملي: الضحك هنا مجاز، ومعناه إن الله يرضى بفعل هذا الرجل ويحبه ويثيبه عليه

The laughter is also mentioned in the reports of the innovators.

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: “God laughs in view of two people, one of whom kills the other. Then they said: “What is this, O Messenger of God?” He said: “The one fought the other in the way of God and met the death of a martyr. Then God turned to the murderer and he embraced Islam. “He fought in the way of God and met the death of a martyr.” [Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1890]

حدثنا محمد بن أبي عمر المكي حدثنا سفيان عن أبي الزناد عن الأعرج عن أبي هريرة أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال يضحك الله إلى رجلين يقتل أحدهما الآخر كلاهما يدخل الجنة فقالوا كيف يا رسول الله قال يقاتل هذا في سبيل الله عز وجل فيستشهد ثم يتوب الله على القاتل فيسلم فيقاتل في سبيل الله عز وجل فيستشهد

Yahya Ibn Sharaf An-Nawawi writes: “The laughter of God is a metaphor here, because the laughter we know is not permissible with Him, because it is applicable amongst the bodies.” [Sharh Sahih Muslim, Volume 13 page 36]

قال يحيى بن شرف النووي: الضحك هنا استعارة في حق الله تعالى لأنه لا يجوز عليه سبحانه الضحك المعروف في حقنا لأنه إنما يصح من الأجسام

Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaimin writes: “The people of the Sunnah and congregation declare that it is a literal laughter that applies to God and the people of interpretation declare it with the reward and we oppose them because it is a contradiction to the outward wording and consensus of the righteous ancestors.” [Majmu’-ul-Fatawa, Volume 4 Page 195]

قال محمد بن صالح العثيمين: وفسره أهل السنة والجماعة بأنه ضحك حقيقي يليق بالله. وفسره أهل التأويل بالثواب ونرد عليهم بأنه مخالف لظاهر اللفظ وإجماع السلف