The Muhammadan Smile
Bint-e-Sadiq Attariyyah
(Jami’a-tul-Madinah Gulistan-e-Mustafa ‘Azizabad, Karachi)
The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم did not only preach that smiling is a form of charity, (Tirmizi, vol. 3, p. 384, Hadith 1963) but he led by example, constantly smiling and warming the hearts of those around him.
1. When you see someone smiling, read this Du’a: اَضْحَکَ اللهُ سِنَّکَ (May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ keep you smiling), just as Sayyiduna Umar Al-Farooq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ did. Once, he entered upon the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and saw him smiling. So, he said, ‘اَضْحَکَ اللهُ سِنَّکَ یَارَسُولَ الله’ ‘May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ keep you smiling Messenger of Allah.’ (Bukhari, vol. 2, p. 403, Hadith 3294; Irshad Al-Saari, vol. 13, p. 118, under the Hadith 6085)
2. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Dhar Al-Ghifari رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ that the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: I know the first person who will enter Paradise. I also know the last person to be taken out of Hell. A man will be brought on the Day of Judgement and it shall be said, ‘Present his small sins to him, but withhold his major sins.’ He will confess and will not deny anything, and he will be fearful about his major sins. It will be said to this individual, ‘Go! You are being given one good deed in place of every sin.’ Witnessing this, he will say, ‘I have many other sins which I do not see here.’ Sayyiduna Abu Dhar Al-Ghifari رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ states that he saw the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم smile so much that his blessed molars became visible, (Muslim, p. 101, Hadith 467, selected).
3. Our Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم smiled a lot, but never laughed out aloud. Sayyiduna Abu Dhar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ states that the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم saw two goats butting each other with their horns when one rammed the other, knocking it down. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم began to smile. When asked the reason, he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘I was surprised at this goat. By the One in Whose power is my life! Revenge will be taken from it on the Day of Resurrection,’ (Musnad Imam Ahmed, vol. 8, p. 120, Hadith 21567).
4. Imam Al-Zuhri رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه narrates that the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said to Sayyiduna Hassaan b. Thabit رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ: ‘Have you said anything in praise of Abu Bakr?’ He answered in the affirmative. Sayyiduna Hassaan b. Thabit رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ then recited this quatrain praising Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ:
وَثَانِیَ اثْنَيْنِ فِی الْغَارِ الْمَنِيفِ
وَقَدْ
طَافَ الْعَدُوُّ بِهِ إِذْ
صَاعَدَ الْجَبَلا
Second of the two in the blessed cave when
Enemies encircled when he climbed the mountain.
وَكَان حِبَّ رَسُولِ الله قَدْ عَلِمُوا
مِنَ الْبَرِيَّةِ لَمْ
يَعْدِلْ بِهِ بَدَلَا
The beloved of Allah’s Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم known by all;
The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم did not consider anyone to be equivalent to him.
Delighted by these words, the Noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم smiled so much that his molars became visible and he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم remarked: ‘Dear Hassaan! You have spoken the truth; indeed, Abu Bakr is like this,’(Mustadrak, vol. 4, p. 7, Hadith 4469; Jami’ Al-Jawami’, vol. 4, p. 61, Hadith 9361).
5. Sayyiduna Suhayb رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said: ‘I went to the court of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and before him were bread and dates. He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘Come close and eat!’ So, I began to eat the dates, when the Noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘You are eating dates, even though your eye is ailing.’ I replied, ‘I am chewing from the other side.’ The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم smiled,’ (Ibn-e-Majah, vol. 4, p. 91).
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