Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
I know that a certain etiquette is expected of a Muslim, and it may vary depending on the atmosphere and situation. For example, a Muslim man may belch in his home to amuse his wife but it would be improper in public. I have heard that amongst close friends, there is not a need of etiquette according to Islam. Once a scholar quoted an Islamic saying, “Bad adab between those who love each other is good adab”. How much lack of adab is allowed between close friends without it becoming Islamically improper. For example, when some young Muslim groups get together, they may engage in all kinds of horseplay such as wrestling, biting each other, licking each other’s faces, jumping on top of each other, pinching each other’s buttocks, and stripping each other’s clothes off. If this behavior is accepted between Muslim men, is it Islamically allowed?
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
This does not appear to be dignified behavior. Slight joking and amusement is fine, but without anything that goes beyond the norms of what is customarily regarded as dignified or appropriate behavior for upright people.
The quote refers to the fact that formality is lifted between people who know each other well, not that all restraint and dignity is.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani
faraz@sunnipath.com
hanafi@sunnipath.com