Is this Hadith reliable?
عن سماك قال: قلت لجابر بن سمرة: أكنت تجالس رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم؟ قال: نعم وكان طويل الصمت قليل الضحك وكان أصحابه يذكرون عنده الشعر وأشياء من أمورهم فيضحكون وربما تبسم
Answer
Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration on the authority of Sayyiduna Jabir ibn Samurah (radiyallahu ‘anhu). ‘Allamah Haythami (rahimahullah) has graded the narrators of Musnad Ahmad reliable.
(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 5 pg. 86, Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 10 pg. 297. Also see: Sunan Tirmidhi, 2850 and Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, 5781)
Translation
Simak ibn Harb (rahimahullah) asked Sayyiduna Jabir ibn Samurah (radiyallahu ‘anhu), ‘Would you sit in the company of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)?’ He replied, ‘Yes, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would remain silent for lengthy periods of time, he hardly laughed. The Sahabah would mention couplets of poetry and other information, they would laugh and Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would sometimes smile.
See a similar narration here.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar