Parenting Perspective 

Sarcasm and online humour can be very confusing for children, particularly in a digital context where the nuances of tone and facial expressions are absent. Some children may take jokes literally, while others might feel hurt by words that were not intended to cause offence. Supporting them involves providing the tools to decode digital language and teaching them how to seek clarification respectfully without feeling embarrassed. 

Explain How Jokes Work Online 

Talk to your child about the challenges of online communication. You could say, ‘Sometimes people write things in a funny way online, but it can be hard to understand because we cannot hear their voice.’ Show them simple examples of how a sentence can be written seriously versus playfully, so they can begin to understand how meaning can shift depending on the context. 

Teach Them to Spot Clues 

Help your child to recognise the common signs that often signal humour in digital messages, such as the use of specific emojis, multiple exclamation marks, or certain slang phrases. You can practise this by writing short messages together, some serious and some intended as jokes, and then asking your child to guess the intention behind each one. This exercise helps to build their awareness of important context clues. 

Provide Safe Responses 

Equip your child with a few simple, polite phrases they can use when they feel confused by a message. Suggesting they respond with, ‘Did you mean that as a joke?’ or ‘I did not quite understand that, could you explain?’ gives them a way to manage their confusion respectfully instead of reacting defensively or feeling upset. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam provides clear guidance on communication, encouraging believers to always choose clarity and kindness while avoiding any form of speech that might mislead or cause harm. 

The Command for Clear and Just Speech 

The Quran commands believers to be mindful and deliberate in their speech, ensuring their words are just, clear, and appropriate to the situation. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Ahzaab (33), Verses 70: 

‘O those of you, who are believers, seek piety from Allah (Almighty) and always speak with words of blatant accuracy.‘ 

The Importance of Careful Narration 

The prophetic tradition cautions against carelessness with words, teaching that repeating things without verification or understanding can be a form of falsehood. This principle encourages clarity in communication. 

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 11, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘It is enough of a lie for a man to narrate everything he hears.’ 

By guiding your child with patience, you show them that while not every message is meant to be taken literally, every response should be offered with respect. They will learn that good character in Islam includes clarity, kindness, and gentleness in all forms of communication.