How many times have you passed someone walking through a mall, in a hallway at school, on the bus, a train, or in the office where you work, and noticed that no one was smiling?
It is particularly interesting that this is oftentimes also the case amongst Muslims, which is a contributing factor to the misconception that to be Muslim means being serious all the time; never laughing or having fun.
Ironically, this is quite contrary to the Sunnah (the Prophet's tradition), as Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), was well-known for his congenial nature and smile.
One such hadith, narrated by Jarir ibn Abdullah Al-Bajali states:
"The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) never refused to see me from the time I became Muslim, and whenever he saw me he would smile at me…" (Ibn Majah, 159)
In fact, when I ran a search on the phrase "Prophet smiled" through a hadithsearch engine online, there were 3,177results!
Smiling as Charity
Among the five pillars of Islam, Muslims are also commanded to be charitable.
It is reported that the second Caliph, Umar ibn Al-Khattab said:
"I heard the Messenger of Allah say, 'Islam has been built upon five things – on testifying that there is no god save Allah, and that Muhammad is His Messenger; on performing salah (prayer); on giving the zakah (charity); on Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah); and on fasting during Ramadan.'" (Al-Bukhari & Muslim)
In addition to the mandatory charity of zakah, Muslims are also enjoined toward voluntary charity (sadaqah), and incidentally, a smile is counted as an act of voluntary charity.
Abu Dharr reported that the Prophet Muhammad said,
"Charity is prescribed for each descendant of Adam every day the sun rises."
He was then asked:
"From what do we give charity every day?"
The Prophet answered:
"The doors of goodness are many...enjoining good, forbidding evil, removing harm from the road, listening to the deaf, leading the blind, guiding one to the object of his need, hurrying with the strength of one's legs to one in sorrow who is asking for help, and supporting the feeble with the strength of one's arms -all of these are charity prescribed for you."
He also said:
"Your smile for your brother is charity." (At-Tirmidhi, 1879)
| Imagine that one of the greatest achievements you could make in this life were to be realized simply through a smile |
Oftentimes we think of charity as being monetary in nature. The simplicity of Islam teaches us otherwise, isn't that great?
Smiling as Dawah
Muslims are also commanded to perform dawah (calling others to Islam). I recall very well that a catalyst for my interest in Islam 11-years ago happened to be the adab (good manners) of a Somali taxi driver who, incidentally, was always smiling. Obviously he had a clear understanding of the hadiththat says:
"If Allah would guide one person through you to Islam, it is better than the whole world and whatever that's in it." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim, 1379)
Imagine that one of the greatest achievements you could make in this life were to be realized simply through a smile.
Smiling for Health
Furthermore, psychologists say that smiling is a great way to improve our health! It affects our brains, bodies and those around us.
Through our brains, smiling activates neuropeptides that combats stress, which lowers your heart rate and blood pressure. Endorphins released by the brain when you smile act as a 100% natural pain reliever, and the serotonin released by your brain through your smile serves as an anti-depressant/mood lifter.
And according to the 2011 findings by researchers at the Face Research Laboratoryat the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, our bodies are affected by smiling in that we actually look better with a smile, which, in turn, positively affects the way people respond to us. Now, I'm not quite sure why it took a research study to inform us of this, but there you have it. *smile*
Subhan'Allah, smiling affects those around us in that it is actually contagious! Each time you smile at a person, their brain coaxes them to return the favor. Hasn't this happened to you before?
Smiling in Motion
On a recent Saturday evening I was sitting at a table on the deck in front of a local coffee shop when an elderly man dressed in a traditional Egyptianthawb, wearing a holiday cap with flashing lights across the front of it,masha'Allah, happened to pass through the tables selling roses.
I was pounding away on my keyboard in a lively Viber chat (yes, there is a desktop version), with my heart-adopted daughter in Colorado, Hanane. As the man passed by, in the same instant that I happened to glance up, he looked back over his shoulder.
In that brief moment that our eyes met, instantly seeing the smile I was wearing from the conversation I had been engaged in, subhan'Allah, he smiled in return as if he had just seen the moon.
The Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, said:
"Every good deed is sadaqah (charity). To meet your brother with a smiling face and to pour out from your bucket into his container are sadaqah." (At-Tirmidhi,1956)
A charity for a charity, I remember thinking to myself.
The moment passed and I returned to my chat with Hanane. Head-bowed in concentration, I did not even notice that the man selling roses had turned around a few minutes later as he was headed back in the direction from which he had originally arrived.
Cue Surprise
As the man passed by my table – without stopping or saying a word – he silently deposited beside my laptop, a bountiful handful of rose petals.Masha'Allah.
I had given him a smile, and in return he offered me what he could that would not take away from the source of his own meager sustenance; the petals of the roses that no one else would have appreciated the way I did that night.
Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin.
This is Islam.
http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/living-islam/personal-stories/in-their-own-words/468129-even-a-smile-is-charity-a-life-example.html
QUR'AN REVEALED IN TRUTH, QUR'AN DESCENDED IN TRUTH
[Quran – 17:105 – Maududi] "We have sent down the Qur´an with the Truth, and it is with the Truth that it has descended."
QUR'AN Described by Ali (May ALLAH Be Pleased with him), 4th Caliph of Islam
"Kitabullah (The Book of ALLAH) is the way, for it contains information of what happened before you, news of what will come after you a decision regarding matters that will occur among you. It is the Distinguisher and is not jesting. If any overweening person abandons it, Allah will break him, and if anyone seeks guidance elsewhere ALLAH will lead him astray. It is ALLAH'S stalwart rope, the wise reminder, the straight path; it is by which desires do not swerve nor the tongue becomes confused, and the learned cannot grasp it completely. It is not worn out by repetition nor its wonders ever cease. It is that of which the jinn did not hesitate to remark when they heard it: 'We have heard a wonderful recitation which guides to what is right, and we believe in it'; he who utters it speaks the truth, he who acts according it is rewarded, he who pronounces judgement according to it is just, and he who invites people to it guides them to the straight path" [At-Tirmidhi, Sunan, Fada'il al-Qur'an:14, Hadith #2906]
http://al-tanzil.com/Prophet_Explained_Quran_2.html
"I AND I ALONE AM ALLAH......................."
[Quran - 20:14 – Amatul Rahman Omar] "I, and I alone am ALLAH. There cannot be, is no other and will never be One worthy of worship but I, therefore worship Me alone. And observe prayer so that you may keep Me in mind."
The Prophet (pbuh) has said:
[Muslim, Book#001, Hadith #0047] "It is narrated on the authority of Mu'adh b. Jabal that he observed: I was riding behind the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) on an ass known as 'Ufair. He (Mu'adh) observed: He (the Holy Prophet) said: Mu'adh, do you know what right has Allah over His bondsmen and what right have His bondsmen over Him? Mu'adh added: I replied: Allah and his Messenger know best. Upon this he (the Holy Prophet remarked: The right of Allah over His bondsmen is that they should worship Allah and should not associate anything with Him, and the right of His bondsmen over Allah, Glorious and Sublime, is that He does not punish him who associates not anything with Him. He (Mu'adh) added: I said to the Messenger of Allah: Should I then give the tidings to the people? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Do not tell them this good news, for they would trust in it alone."
[Bukhari, Book #72, Hadith #850] "Narrated Mu'adh bin Jabal While I was riding behind the Prophet and between me and him and between me and him there was only the back of the saddle, he said, "0 Mu'adh!" I replied, "Labbaik, 0 Allah's Apostle, and Sa'daik!" he said, "Do you know what is Allah's right upon his slave?" I said, "Allah and His Apostle know best" He said "Allah's right upon his slaves is that they should worship Him alone and not worship anything else besides Him." Then he proceeded for a while and then said, "O Muadh bin Jabal!" I replied, "Labbaik, O Allah's Apostle:, Sa'daik!' He said, "Do you know what is the right of the slaves upon Allah if they do that?" I replied, "Allah and His Apostle know best." He said, "The right of the slaves upon Allah is that He will not punish them (if they do that)."
[Sunan Abu Dawud, Book #9, Hadith #1577] "Narrated Abdullah ibn Mu'awiyah al-Ghadiri: Abu Dawud said: I read in a document possessed by Abdullah ibn Salim at Hims: Abdullah ibn Mu'awiyah al-Ghadiri reported the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) as saying: He who performs three things will have the taste of the faith. (They are:) One who worships Allah alone and one believes that there is no god but Allah; and one who pays the zakat on his property agreeably every year. One should not give an aged animal, nor one suffering from itch or ailing, and one most condemned, but one should give animals of medium quality, for Allah did not demand from you the best of your animals, nor did He command you to give the animals of worst quality."
http://al-tanzil.com/Prophet_Explained_Quran_2.html Ad-Deen is sincerity
Tamim bin Aus Ad-Dari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, "Ad-Deen is sincerity". We said: "For whom?'' He replied, "For Allah, His Book, His Messenger and for the leaders of the Muslims and their masses". [Muslim]
Commentary: This Hadith stresses the importance and merits of general sincerity. Sincerity for Allah here means that one must have true faith in Him and He should be worshiped with full devotion and sincerity. Sincerity for the Qur'an means that one should confirm its truth with one's full heart and mind, recite it regularly, act upon the injunctions contained in it with meticulous care and strictly avoid its misinterpretation. Sincerity of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) means sincere confirmation of his Prophet hood, faithful obedience of his orders and adherence to his Sunnah. The goodwill of the Muslim rulers stands here for co-operating with them in their lawful orders and obedience of their such orders which are free from any trace of sin. If they deviate from the Straight Path they should be persuaded to turn to virtue. One should not revolt against them unless they commit infidelity. The goodwill of the Muslim masses means that one should work for the betterment of their life in this world and the Hereafter. They should be provided the right guidance, induced to perform good deeds and deterred from evils.
Ref.: Imam Al-Nawawi's Riyad-us-Saliheen # 181.
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You can marry a woman for her wealth but money will perish.
You can marry a woman for her looks but looks will fade away.
You can marry a woman for her power but power will be go one day.
If you marry a pious and righteous women who fears Allah,
- she will honor you,
- she will be affectionate with you,
- she will help you to get closer to Allah.
Your love story will last forever. It will begin in this life and In sha Allah will continue in the Hereafter.
Her love and satisfaction will be your key to Jannah (Paradise).
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