By Anonymous 

Do you know about that one simple curve that sets everything straight? You got it, it’s your beautiful smile! 🙂 A smile is truly the best makeup you can wear; you can use a before and after picture test to observe the difference! Its benefits are numerous, especially for your role as a caller towards Allah.

Ever met a person who’s very polite and decent in every way yet you feel something’s just not right and then it suddenly hits you that they’re not smiling? You kind of want to whisper in their ear, “Hey! Could you smile please?” 

Not only does smiling alter your outward appearance and make you much more pleasing to others, but it also transforms your own self from inside. If you feel sad and negative, and you start smiling, soon you’ll begin to feel optimistic. Similarly, you can’t help smiling when you feel happy and hopeful. Both things go hand in hand.

I’m sure you know a person who’s always upset and complaining about one thing or the other. On the contrary, you may know another person who’s always smiling, positive and cheerful. Which of the two do you like to hang out with? Who do you talk to and take advice from? The smiling one! Exactly!

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Verily you cannot afford to make people happy with your wealth, but you can make them happy with you by means of a cheerful face and good attitude.” [Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh at-Targheeb (2661)].

Here are some of the benefits of having a smile on your face:

1.

When people see your smiling face, they will automatically be drawn to your warmth and kindness.

2.

People will be at ease around you within minutes of meeting you just because you appear to be a smiling contented person; you don’t have to make much of an extra effort to befriend them.

3.

You will be a favourite among your friends because no one likes frowning serious faces. If they always see you smiling, they will love you because of the positive vibes you exude.

4.

People will come to you whenever they feel low because your smile and cheerful presence will uplift their spirits.

All of the above will help you maintain good relations with people, which is an essential part of Islam. And if you want to call people towards Allah, you can only do so if they respect you, like you and trust you.

And if you are thinking, “well, I can’t smile when I’m feeling all low or ill or moody or whatever” then know that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the most smiling person ever! Yet the problems he faced in his everyday life were huge! He was a father, a husband (to many wives), the Army General, the Chief Justice, the President, the Head of the State, the Prophet, the Counsellor…. and yet he smiled the most!

You don’t need to wear your problems on your sleeve and on your face in the form of a frown all the time. Just wear a smile and leave the problem-sharing for your sujood in private. Your smile will work wonders on your relationships.

I speak from experience when I say that just being happy, positive and friendly towards people prevents numerous issues from even arising. You don’t have to face petty grievances. Your quality of life improves markedly, as happiness is closely tied to healthy relationships.

You feel light and alive, you feel like there is hope, you just know that as the corners of your lips go up, so will you!

Some people will consider you a fool for being so optimistic. They might think you’re not aware of all that is amiss, but know that that’s not true. You must learn to fall in love with that distinct smell of freshly washed plants when all people see is a downpour. You need to be the right amidst all the wrong.

Oh and one more thing, a smile is a very good investment for the life that awaits you! The Prophet ﷺ said, “Your smiling at your brother is an act of charity.” (Tirmidhī).

So I challenge you to let no one see you today except with a smile and revel in the barakah and goodness that comes with it!