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How was the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, most of the time?
There was no one who smiled more than the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, at his Companions.
He never conversed except while smiling.
Such was the life of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.
'Smile and the world will smile with you,' is guidance and not a proverb
When he smiled, peace and blessings be upon him, the walls would be illuminated.
That is to say that his light and the light of his face, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, would even manifest upon the surrounding walls.
Some Companions described the Beloved, saying that when he was happy, it was as though the sun and the moon were orbiting through his forehead.
This beautiful description is an indication of his splendid light, which is cooled by mercy, upon his gentle smile.
Peace and blessings be upon him and his family and companions.
What is so beautiful is that his life, peace and blessings be upon him, was dominated by his smiling nature.
That is to say that most of the time he would be smiling, upon him be salutations and peace.
To the extent that the Companion, Jareer, said, "Since I embraced Islam, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, never refused to see me. And never did he see me without smiling at me."
This is amazing conduct!
How is it possible that each time you see or meet someone whom you have associated with closely for several years you are always smiling!
Benefits of smiling
Smiling benefits the body and the mind
It reduces the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease
Smiling gifts you with rejuvenation.
Now imagine if on leaving home, you came across someone scowling.
Then you entered your office and met your co-worker scowling.
On returning, you see someone scowling.
How would you feel?
No doubt, one will start to get depressed and feel that life is bleak.
On the other hand, if we imagine a person as soon as he wakes up, finds his wife smiling.
At the door, he finds the doorman smiling.
On the street, he finds people shaking hands, greeting one another with smiles, and exchanging smiles.
Likewise, he arrives at work smiling.
There is no doubt this will enliven his spirits.
Something important that people may not be aware of is that smiling is not a simply habit or a custom; it is an act of worship!
The Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said: "Your smiling in the face of your brother is an act of charity."
Among the times when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would smile a lot, would be when speaking.
The great Companion, Abu Darda, may Allah be pleased with him, whenever he spoke would smile.
So some said to him, "O Abu Darda, people will consider you foolish.. (They'll say,) 'This is a foolish person. Why is he smiling constantly?'
And this is how some people's perspective is.
If someone is always smiling, they consider him strange.
Or that this will take away from his esteem or standing.
Some people think this way - that smiling reduces someone's status, and that being stern and harsh will lead to higher rank or respect.
So people said, "People will consider you foolish, O Abu Darda."
He said, "Indeed, I saw the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon himÖ"
Here one needs to pause... at the role-model!
"Indeed, I never saw the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, engaged in conversation without a smile."
This narration provides us with two tremendous lessons.
The first is that smiling does not lessen one's standing.
Instead, smiling raises one's standing.
The second beautiful meaning is that Abu Darda was very dedicated in following the Prophet. As were the other Companions; even (copying the ProphetÃs) smiling!
Someone may say, "Smiling is a natural habit."
No! The Companions copied the Prophet in (everything), even his smiling!
So the Companion would always smile when conversing, because he saw the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, do so.
Smiling rejuvenates you
Smiling builds confidence
Smiling develops creativity
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, smiled at his Companions, at men, women, and children, young and old throughout his life
On the day of his passing, during his severe illness that lead to his passing, he was in intense pain and exhaustion.
Picture the last day in the earthly life of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: a Monday. It was the time of the Morning Prayer. The Companions were praying in the mosque and Abu Bakr was leading them.
Suddenly the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, lifted the curtain between his room and the mosque (which was adjacent to his house). He studied the congregation, all the while smiling at them.
..this wondrous smile.. which I call the 'farewell smile.'
He found his Companions gathered for the Fajr Prayer.
So his heart became tranquil and comforted, and he smiled.
The Companions who saw that smile say, "We were almost enraptured by it away from the Prayer."
That is to say that their longing for the Prophet (was so great)
that the smile of their Beloved was too much for them!
They were about to leave the Prayer.
So the last gesture by which the Prophet bade farewell to his Companions was this smile.
If someone realizes the meaning of this smile by which the Prophet conveyed love to us, (this person) will have grasped a meaning on which he can model the rest of his life; the meaning of this exemplary Mohammedan smile.
To smile is to follow the Prophet, and its meanings are tied to the farewell smile by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him to his Companions.
Upon him be the best of peace and salutations.
Allah, the Exalted said: Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind): If ye love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you!