Smile Is a Solution To Many Issues

A Heartfelt Plea

Keep Smiling!

Mawlana Muhammad Imran Attari

Chairperson of Dawat-e-Islami’s Central Executive Committee

The son of Ameer of Ahl al-Sunnah, Mawlana Abu Usayd Haji Ubayd Raza Attari Madani مُدَّظِلُّہُ العالی mentioned the following incident: My father and I planned to participate in a gathering in Sukkur, Sindh. We were travelling by train when, at one point, a group of boys started throwing stones at the train whilst it was moving slowly. I was standing by the gate and the stones would have hit me if I had moved. I smiled and gestured for them to stop. Promptly, they stopped and got rid of the ones they were holding.

A simple smile affords you so many benefits in this world and the next. Smiling at an appropriate time is a different issue, but you can gain reward by simply smiling at people during your daily routines by making good intentions. Smiling when someone enters the room gives the impression that you are happy at their arrival. This makes him happy and smiling like this grants you the reward of giving to charity.^[1]

Smiling and Laughing

The noble Companions عَـلَيْهِمُ الرِّضْوَانْ state that they never saw anyone smile more than the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. One Companion said, “The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would smile whenever he saw me.”^[2]  Smiling freshens the heart and pleases the one in front of you.^[3]  Laughing is from the Devil, as the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated:

اَلْقَھْقَھَۃُ مِنَ الشَّیْطَانِ وَالتَّبَسُّمُ مِنَ اللّٰہِ

“Laughing loudly is from the Devil and smiling is from Allah.”^[4]

“Laughing loudly” refers to laughing whilst making a sound, and this is liked by the Devil. Whereas, “smiling” means to laugh little without making a sound.^[5]

Smiling was a blessed habit of the noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. One of the beloved Prophet’s صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم names is the “smiling one“ (mubtasim). Smiling is a form of expressing happiness, and laughing is from the heedlessness of the heart. In fact, excessive laughter and joking bring spiritual death to the heart. This is why the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would always smile and never laugh loudly.^[6]

Benefits of Smiling

Smiling brings relief from tension, appeals to people, reinvigorates the tired, offers hope to the despairing, and comforts the distressed. Smiling is a treasure that is immune to theft. The joy of smiling is to smile in front of others. The smile that lifts the hearts of your loved ones and fellow Muslims is a truly precious gift! It is a way of captivating their hearts and bringing them happiness. It is said that you should continue distributing smiles as your pockets will never empty due to it.

Smiling is a business that requires no investment and only generates profit. Smiling only takes a moment of your time, but it will be remembered for years. A smile is the cheapest and greatest thing you can give to someone at any time. It seems to me as if people do not smile as much in their homes, even though smiling can be a solution to their domestic problems.

A Solution to Domestic Issues

The renowned spiritual guide and leader of Ahl al-Sunnah, Mawlana Ilyas ‘Attar al-Qadiri دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ offers this golden maxim: “Smile to solve your problems and remain silent to avoid creating problems.” It is said that smiling at someone for a moment will keep him smiling for the entire day. For example, the morning smile of the wife may make her husband feel warm and positive for the rest of the day. In contrast, her frown could ruin the rest of his day. Similarly, when a husband returns home exhausted from work, he should not mention it, because his wife is probably also tired from working at home all day. Instead, the husband should enter his home energetically and cheerfully with a smile on his face and greet everyone.

I urge all of our readers to smile more for Allah’s sake. Spend your life smiling at others. Parents, children, spouses, and siblings should fill the home with the warmth of their smiles whenever entering or leaving. Complain less and smile more at home!

Do not discuss your illnesses, expenses, or child’s problems every day. If necessary, there is a time and place to discuss it. Those who live in joint families should ignore minor issues and work through them. Act upon what I have said for at least a week and tell me if you do not see any improvements in your life. Remember to avoid sins, as they are a curse, and it is near impossible to attain peace whilst committing them.

May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to smile for the sake of His beloved, smiling Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ خاتَمِ النَّبِیّیْن صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم