In short, our elders laugh and cause others to laugh as well, but their hearts do not become heedless of Allah Ta’ala. On one occasion Hazrat Khwâjah ‘AzîzulHasan Majdhûb rahimahullâh laughed profusely in an assembly which was attended by Mufti Muhammad Shafî‘ Sahib rahimahullâh and other fellow khulafâ’ and he caused all of them to laugh profusely as well. Later on Khwâjah Sahib rahimahullâh asked them: “Tell me the truth, when you were laughing in this assembly, were your hearts heedless of Allah Ta’ala?” Muftî Sahib rahimahullâh relates this incident and says: “We all remained silent out of respect for him.” On seeing our silence, Hazrat Khwâjah Sahib rahimahullâh said: “All praise is due to Allah Ta’alathat even at the time of laughing, my heart was engrossed with Allah Ta’ala.” He then quoted this poem:

“Although there is laughter on my lips all the time and my eyes too are not moist [with tears], but no one knows about the heart which is crying continuously.”

Do not consider the laughter of the pious servants of Allah Ta’alaand your laughter to be the same. They may be laughing outwardly, but their hearts are still crying. I also have a poem in this regard:

“The lips are laughing but the liver is in pain and grief for You. People have not fully understood Your lovers.”

Even when a true servant of Allah Ta’alais engaged in business, sitting with people, conversing with them and laughing as well, his heart is attached to Allah Ta’alaeven during these different situations. Physically he may be with you, but spiritually he is with Allah Ta’ala. I demonstrated this theme in another poem:

“Even while he was engrossed in worldly engagements, he remained attached to Allah Ta’ala. Despite living with everyone, he remained aloof from everyone.”