I just received an e-mail clarifying the "Bill Gates Became a Muslim! Yes!" e-mail. It appears that it was sent out as an April Fool's Day hoax. This leads me to our next topic: lying for the sake of entertainment.
Prophet Muhammad (saws) related to us:
"Woe to the believer who tells a lie to make others laugh. Woe to him. Woe to him."
There are many new Muslim comedians entering the comedy circuit. While I applaud Muslims entering new fields that will give positive exposure to Islam, the warning of Prophet Muhammad (saws) should be heeded. Actually, we should all be careful. Many of us tell jokes to others about events that are not true and we justify it by saying, "I was only joking". Joking is allowed in Islam, but there is an etiquette to joking that must be followed.
A joke should not involve any hurt or insult to any Muslim. Allah's Messenger peace and pleassings of allah be upon him, said which meaning of is translated as: “No Muslim is allowed to scare another Muslim.†(Abu Dawood). He also said: “Nobody should take (Muslim) brother's belongings.†(Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi).
As Muslims, we should follow the middle road. We should not laugh excessively nor should we always be strict or serious. Allah's Messenger, peace be upon him, said to his companion Hanzala, who thought that life should be free from fun and entertainment and that he committed hypocrisy when he played and jested with his wife and children: “But, Hanzala, refresh your heart from time to time.†(Muslim). Here the Holy Prophet explained to the man that permissible fun and self-refreshment is desirable for the human soul to regain its activity and liveliness. He peace and pleassings of allah be upon him, also taught them the rules of conduct as regards to joking, when asked about his joking with them, by saying which meaning of is translated as: “Yes, but I speak truthfully.†(Tirmidhi).