Is there a hadith stating that the Prophet Muhammad acted like a camel for a child, that he did whatever the child wanted and that he even imitated the sound of a camel when the child wanted?

Dear Brother / Sister,

The Prophet (pbuh) sometimes joked with his Companions, wives and children. When he was asked,

“O Messenger of Allah! Do you joke too?”, he would answer,

“Yes, I also joke but I always tell the truth.” (Tirmidhi, Birr, 57; Bukhari, al-Adabul-Mufrad, Bab 133)

Therefore, the Prophet often joked with children, especially Hz. Hasan and Hz. Husayn, whom he called “the masters of the youth of Paradise” (Tirmidhi, Manaqib ,31), Anas, Umayr, etc. and also with other Companions young or old, male or female. He did not hesitate to explain the jokes to the people who did not understand them. The Companions who saw his high ethics adorned with jokes full of wisdom made jokes with one another and sometimes even with the Messenger of Allah.

The children with whom the Prophet (pbuh) joked the most were his grandsons Hasan and Husayn. He would hold their hands, put their feet on his feet, put them on his lap and kiss them. (Bukhari, al-Adabul-Mufrad, Bab 124, 134) He sometimes shouldered them. (Tirmidhi, Manaqib, 50)

According to what Jabir narrates, the Prophet (pbuh) placed Hasan and Husayn on his back and walked on his hands and feet, carrying them; he said

“What a nice camel you have and what nice riders you are.” (Kanzul-Ummal, 7/106; Majmauz-Zawaid, 9/182)

When Hz. Umar saw Hasan and Husayn on the shoulders of the Prophet, he said, "The horse you are riding is so valuable?" Hz. Umar addressed Hasan and Husayn but the Messenger of Allah answered him, "They are very good riders." (Majmauz-Zawaid, 9/181-182)

Ibn Abbas narrates a similar joke. When somebody saw Husayn on the shoulders of the Prophet, he said, "What a nice horse you are riding." The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) answered him, "He is such a nice rider." (Tirmidhi, Manaqib, 31)                               

Once, Hasan and Husayn got lost. The Prophet found them after a long search; they were scared; he kissed and caressed them. Then, he placed them on his shoulders and returned. When Salman saw them, he said happily,

"How happy you are! You have a nice mount." The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said to him,

"They are very good riders. Their father is better than them." (Majmauz-Zawaid, 9/182)

As it is seen in the examples above, the Prophet (pbuh) did not get angry when he was likened to a horse or camel as a joke; he even answered the people based this simile.

It is necessary to evaluate jokes in their own cultures. For example, a joke that a Muslim likes and laughs at might not be liked by a member of another religion or vice versa. The same joke might not make different nations belonging to the same religion or even people from different parts of the same nation laugh. What is more, one nation might get angry while another nation might laugh when they hear the same joke.

In addition, the language should be taken into consideration in a joke. For example, when a joke in Arabic Language and Culture is translated into another language, it might not be as funny or it might be completely misunderstood.

Therefore, we think it is necessary to consider those elements while evaluating jokes, especially the jokes made by some of the Companions with the Prophet. When some of the Companions saw Hasan and Husayn on the shoulders of the Prophet, they likened the Prophet to a horse, a camel, a mount, etc. In some cultures, the metaphor of a camel might not be welcome. It can even be regarded as an expression of insult.

However, it is quite normal to liken a person to a horse and a camel in Arab culture. Due to such an understanding, a Companion could liken the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) to a horse or a camel as a joke and did not regard it objectionable.

The Prophet (pbuh) himself welcomed that joke with a smile; therefore, every Muslim should evaluate it like that and should not regard it as disrespect.

It is unthinkable that the Companions who loved Allah and His Messenger more than anything else should make a joke in a way that expressed disrespect.

Questions on Islam