"Lying in the Name of Humor—A Dangerous Habit"

Is it permissible to lie for the sake of joking and humor?

Many people believe that lying is only impermissible and forbidden when it is spoken seriously, and that it is permissible to lie in jest. Therefore, if someone is told that they said something on such and such an occasion that was not true, they reply that they were saying it in jest, as if lying in jest is not a bad thing at all. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that a believer should be such that no untrue word comes out of his mouth, not even in jest.
If joking and humor are within the bounds of Hajj, then there is nothing wrong with it. The Sharia has permitted humor and joking, and has even encouraged it a little. It is not desirable for a person to sit dry and serious all the time, never having a smile or a grin on his face. It is proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) himself joked, but such subtle jokes and humorous things are narrated from him that are subtle and contain nothing contrary to the truth.
It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "No servant can be a perfect believer until he gives up lying even in jest, and gives up arguing even if he is in the right." In this hadith, two things are mentioned: that a person cannot be a true believer until he gives up these two things: one, that he does not lie even in jest, and the other, that he does not engage in arguments even when he is in the right. We utter false words merely for the sake of joking and amusement, whereas the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade uttering false words even in jest. Therefore, in a hadith, he said: "Woe to that person," or, to translate it correctly in harsh words, "There is a painful punishment for that person who lies merely to make people laugh."