ShareBy Hassan T Bwambale
World Kindness Day is an international observance of kindness every November 13. It was introduced in Japan in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement. A smile is among the acts of kindness. Smiling has a great effect on a person’s situation. As such, the next time something does not go your way, try smiling instead of showing signs of frustration, since this will help you be more content with the divine pre-destiny. Consequently, this has a great effect on your attitude, allowing you to deal with matters in a calmer and stress-free manner.
Smiling is an act of worship: Abu Dharr (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, translated as: “Smiling at your brother is charity, and enjoining good and forbidding evil are charity...” (Al-Albani rated it as sahih (authentic) in Sahih At-Tirmidhi # 1, 956). Abu Dharr (RA) also narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Do not belittle any good deed, even meeting your brother with a cheerful face” (Muslim # 2, 626).
We are God’s property: Since we humans are God’s property, then whatever we do to improve our health and wellness, He rewards us abundantly for it. Therefore, we have to explore what benefits us and stick to it, and avoid what harms us. Abu Huraira (RA) related that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said in a long hadith (prophetic tradition): “Be keen (to do and say) what benefits you, seek help from Allah, and do not laze...” (Muslim # 2, 664).
Smiling benefits in many ways: It releases endorphins, natural mood boosters and reduces stress. It also helps you appear more approachable and trustworthy, and makes people more likely to want to help you if you’re struggling. Smiling is one of the most important facial expressions and can make you look younger.
A smile is an act of kindness. It expresses warmth, happiness or friendliness – among others. It can convey various emotions, such as joy, amusement or comfort – among others - and is often used as a social signal to show kindness, gratitude or reassurance. It’s a universal gesture that can communicate goodwill and openness without words.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was our role model in everything, including smiling: He was always cheerful and bright-faced. According to Muslim historians, he always maintained a smiling face in the company of his Companions to the extent that Abdullah bin Al-Harith bin Hazm (RA) said: “I have never seen anyone smile more than Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)” (Al-Albani rated it as sahih (authentic) in Sahih At-Tirmidhi # 3, 641).
Keep smiling: We are encouraged in various ways to keep a beautiful and sincere smile on our face at all times, and not a senseless mechanical smile that is fake and deceitful. A beautiful and sincere smile penetrates the walls of other people’s hearts and settles there as a crowned king.
A sincere smile shows one’s good character: Abdullah bin Al-Mubarak – an 8th-century Muslim scholar and jurist – explained good character, saying: “It is a smiling face, doing one’s best in performing good deeds, and refraining from evil and harm” (This athar (tradition of our rightly-guided predecessors) was graded as sahih (authentic), see Sahih At-Tirmidhi # 2, 005).
Finally: If there is an opportunity to smile, grab it! You can make other people smile by giving them a genuine smile, and you will be rewarded for that. — Courtesy of Kuwaiti Society for Cultural Dialogue.
