SMILING: Prophet Muhammad’s Powerful Habit  

Out of His vast mercy, Allah sent Prophets to humanity to guide them to the straight path. They set a practical example for us to follow. Allah the Almighty says:
Allah chooses from the angels messengers and from the people. Indeed, Allah is Hearing and Seeing.” [Qur’an 22:75] (1)
Messenger to Humanity
These chosen Prophets were the best who walked on earth in all human aspects. On top of this honored list, we find Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), the final messenger to humanity. He had such high morals that Allah praised him in the Quran:
And indeed, you are of a great moral character.”  [Qur’an 68:4] (2)
In this article, going through few situations in the Serah (biography) of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), we will stop at one powerful habit that enabled him to open the hearts of people around him.
Muhammad, the Lovely Friend, and Teacher
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was always cheerful and bright-faced. According to historians, he always kept smiling in the face of his Companions to the extent that Abdullah ibn Al-Harith (may Allah be pleased with him), one of the Prophet’s companions, said,
I have never seen anyone who smiles more than the Messenger of Allah.” [Hadith] (3)
 We, human beings, love those who are warm-hearted and kind. All of us are happy in their presence. We feel at ease when the one talking to us smiles at our faces. That is how Allah created us. Even a four-month newborn is cheerful when his parents smile at him.
SMILING: Prophet Muhammad’s Powerful Habit
Jarir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated a marvelous hadith that embodies that meaning; smiling is Prophet Muhammad’s powerful habit. 
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) did not screen himself from me since my embracing Islam, and whenever he saw me he would receive me with a smile. Once I told him that I could not sit firm on horses. He stroke me on the chest with his hand and said, “O Allah! Make him firm and make him a guiding and a rightly guided man.” [Hadith] (4)
Muhammad, the Modest Leader
Imagine this situation: a respectful president of a powerful nation walking among his guards. Unexpectedly, a beggar asking for some money grabbed him from his clothes. How would be the reaction of that president? Surely, he would get angry and might punish that beggar for his disrespectful way.
Compare this with the reaction of Prophet Muhammad. Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: 
I was walking with Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) who was wearing a Najrani cloak with a very thick border when a bedouin happened to meet him. He took hold of the side of his cloak and drew it violently. I noticed that the violence of jerk had bruised the neck of Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). The bedouin said: “O Muhammad! Give me out of Allah’s wealth that you possess.” Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) turned to him and smiled and directed that he should be given something.” [Hadith] (5)
Only people with very high morals can behave similarly.
Smiling, the Costless Charity
In Islam, we are all encouraged to give charity and support the needy in our societies. Charity is not limited to material things like money, food, clothes, etc. There are many broken hearts around us, which need some compassion and love.  A smile lightens the load and frees the spirit. That’s why Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) encouraged us to practice this habit. He said,
When you smile in your brother’s face, or enjoin what is reputable, or forbid what is objectionable, or direct someone who has lost his way, or help a man who has bad eyesight, or remove stones, thorns and bones from the road, or pour water from your bucket into your brother’s, it counts to you as sadaqa.“ [Hadith] (6)
What a beautiful religion! Such simple movements of your face muscles are regarded as a charity and will be rewarded by Allah. Moreover, Abu Dhar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said,
Do not consider any act of kindness insignificant, even meeting your brother with a cheerful face.“ [Hadith] (7)
Smile! It is Sunnah
We should try hard to follow in the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). He is the best role model we can have. Allah says:
There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent patternfor anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.”  [Qur’an 33:21] (8)
We are in an urgent need to apply this Sunnah and learn how to keep a beautiful smile on our face at all times; not a fake smile but a smile that comes deeply from our hearts.
The Power of Smiling
Smiling is so simple but powerful. It can solve a marital problem or a difficult situation in the workplace. The smiling father and mother add a calm peaceful environment to their home and keeps the relationships strong. The humorous smiling employee is a win to his company. He enhances productivity and team spirit. The smiling confident teacher is nearer to his students and more capable to influence them. We need to smile in every aspect of our lives.
Smiling is viewed across cultures as a sign of friendliness and it is a natural response that shares our happiness with others. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said,
Shall I not tell you whom the (Hell) Fire is forbidden to touch? It is forbidden to touch a man who is always accessible, having polite and tender nature.“ [Hadith] (9)
In addition to this, smiling is a useful aid in health care. Smiling lowers the heart rate and temporarily reduces blood pressure. It reduces stress by releasing endorphins that naturally diminish stress hormones, putting you in a better mood. Endorphins also lessen pain. Also, smiling boosts the immune system by relaxing the body and allowing the immune system to react more quickly and effectively to invaders. (**)
Conclusion
To conclude, thanks to Allah’s mercy and His support to His Prophet, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was able to penetrate the hearts of his people and settled there as a crowned king due to his high morals. He succeeded in uniting them in one powerful nation that submitted itself to the Creator.  Allah says:
So by mercy from Allah, [O Muḥammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him].” [Qur’an 3:159] (10)
Have you smiled today? Smiling is Prophet Muhammad’s powerful habit. Want to know more about his other traditions? Ask our team now!
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References
(1) Verse (22:75) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).
(2) Verse (68:4) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).
(3) Prophet’s Saying (Hadith).
(4) Prophet’s Saying (Hadith).
(5) Prophet’s Saying (Hadith).
(6) Prophet’s Saying (Hadith).
(7) Prophet’s Saying (Hadith).
(8) Verse (33:21) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).
(9) Prophet’s Saying (Hadith).
(**) (Article) 7 Health Benefits of Smiling.
(10) Verse (3:159) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).
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