Do you know any stressful situation, awkwardness and argument can be solved with an absolutely simple trick , it’s priceless, effortless and yet greatly effective, it’s called “a smile”. From a polite smile to friendly, loving or affectionate smile , one can pick any and glide through the situation.It’s a fact ,those with smiling faces are seen as less threatening and humble , more open and reachable. While on the other hand, those with rigid and serious expressions push others away easily .Although one must admit that smiling is not easy , especially when ones own soul is getting crushed , how can we flash a smile?
Islam is a religion that teaches way of life , it’s not just about prayers , but a huge emphasis of Quran and the life of Holy Prophet Muhammad PBUH is to teach us life , Abdullah ibn Al-Harith ibn Hazm said, “I have never seen anyone who smiles more than the Prophet does.” (Tirmidi) , according to the narrators , he was always cheerful and bright-faced , he always kept smiling on the face, such a magnificent face that must’ve been indeed . And his emphasis on this small but effective habit was so much that, Abu Dhar narrated from the Prophet that he said, “Do not disdain a good deed, (no matter how small it may seem) even if it is your meeting with your brother with a cheerful face” (Sahih Muslim) .
As mentioned above that this act costs us nothing yet we can earn rewards by practicing it , according to Tirmidhi, the Prophet of Allah said ,”Smiling in your brother’s face is an act of charity” , which means if you do not have money , you can smile kindly while meeting fellow human beings and it’ll be considered as charity. That’s the mercy of the creator on the believers. So much so that there’s a prayer when you greet others who are smiling “أضحك الله سنك , meaning May Allah Always keep you smiling ( Bukhari)”
Undeniably, the act of smiling is beneficial for our ownselves aswell, when we smile , our brain begin to loosen up, we feel more calm and relaxed and when others meet us they perceive us more warm and friendly, thus they find it easier to reciprocate the same feelings, According to Harvard Medical School’s Harvard Health Publishing, optimism—which is linked to smiling—is associated with a lower risk of early death from cancer and infection.
And according to a study in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, people who experience higher levels of optimism have a longer life span. The research included data from two large population studies that totaled 71,400 individuals and found that both optimistic men and women demonstrated exceptional longevity, i.e., surviving to 85 years old.So keep a smile on your face , make it a habit and your life will experience magical moments.
WEDA Coalition 