A Day in the life of a young man or woman is a set of different mood swings that has both social and psychological impact on our life. According to a study we spend almost 5 hours 47 mins on mobile phones discrete from teenagers who spend an average of 7 hours a day. Most of our time is taken by phone which not only pushes us towards a reactive mindset but also unstable our mood as well causing social stress, weakening the immune system, raising blood pressure, and on top of all of them making us somehow feel nerdy by coupling us with dark circles. There are few people who got the time to analyze this bad habit early, and some take time, while many of us are still in search of a way to get answers to all of those problems.
Gladly Allah Talah revealed his final revelation around 1400 years ago by updating the last version of Islam (aka Christianity) into a more responsive and adaptive code of life. There are so many commandments that have been preserved in the form of the Quran and there are plenty that becomes part of a Muslim’s routine by the graces of Prophet Muhammad (May Peace be Upon Him).
The personality of Prophet Muhammad (May Peace be Upon Him) was itself a Quran narrated by Aisha (RA) herself “Verily, the character of the Prophet of Allah was the Quran”[1]. Therefore, the Muslims who wanted to practice Quran in daily life admitted and accepted the routine of Prophet Muhammad (May Peace be Upon Him) as their benchmark. So Muslims, today and even christens and people from many other religions do follow him because of his practices that can not only raise the morale of a person’s personality but even lift the character and social behavior of a human being.
Under all the stress and pain of life, we often miss this habit of Prophet Muhammad (May Peace be Upon Him) which is smiling. “I have never seen anyone who smiles more than the Prophet does.”[2] Narrated by Abdullah ibn Al-Harith ibn Hazm. Every day smile was his part of life even living a life full of hardship receiving such words from one of his companions is such a character to be admired of.
Once sharing life deeds with his companions, he mentioned “You cannot satisfy people with your wealth, but satisfy them with your cheerful faces and good morals”[3]. Following this habit promoted the sahabas to develop even stronger connections with each other and why not? 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”[4].
Such a bouquet of deeds can not only make your day but of course the day of the person whom you are meeting. Imagine going to college, school, or university or maybe to your office and greeting the guard with a smile full of energy, imagine his reaction. For a moment we all want this smile at the start of our day and by the end of the day. It may not be from a specific person but from nature. We want nature to smile at us and the only authentic vibes that can represent nature’s smile is if the people who are in the same environment smile at us. This is one medium to share energy.
Admitted and believing the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (May Peace be Upon Him) has somehow attracted the society of science to understand the interlinked habitual micro-activities that can promote you as a person. Gladly, at the beginning of the 20th century, laughter was officially acknowledged as a science it was called “The Psychology of Laughter.” Ever since smiling has become a science and an art form required for the improvement of relationships both social and economic. It is also necessary for diplomatic relations between individuals, communities, and countries respectively. Under such development of smiling as a science, there are many factual studies conducted that proved smiling as an essential part of human life. Extending this there comes many hacks that can smooth your life and social status with just the use of a smile.
Perhaps the most compelling reason to smile is that it may lengthen your overall lifespan. One study found that genuine, intense smiling is associated with longer life[5]. Stress can permeate our entire being, including showing up in our faces and expression. Smiling not only helps to prevent us from looking tired, but it can help decrease stress. Believe it or not, smiling can reduce stress even if you don’t feel like smiling or even if you fake it with a smile that isn’t genuine.[6]
Other than the benefits above the physical act of smiling activates pathways in your brain that influence your emotional state—meaning that by adopting a happy facial expression, you can “trick” your mind into entering a state of happiness[7] This effect works whether or not your smile is genuine.
Your brain automatically notices and interprets other people’s facial expressions—and sometimes, you may even mimic them. That means you might spot someone else’s smile and unconsciously smile yourself. Research suggests that smiles are contagious [8]
More Science? Well, smiling can also boost your overall health by helping your immune system to function more effectively. It is thought that when you smile, immune function improves because you are more relaxed[9]
Smiling could have a beneficial impact on your blood pressure as well. Laughter specifically seems to lower blood pressure, after causing an initial increase in heart rate and breathing [10].
Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, other natural painkillers, and serotonin [11]
Together, these brain chemicals make us feel good from head to toe. Not only do they make your mood better, but they also relax your body and reduce physical pain. Smiling is a natural drug.
And there are many other studies as well that prove a smile is the best weapon for attractiveness, success, and staying positive.
Hence, it has been a fun read to conclude with such words of wisdom for all of you despite to that I wanted to share an amazing story mentioned in Quran by the Allah himself.
Allah the Almighty has shared a wonderful representation and impact of a smile in the Quran verses no 18 & 19 of Surah Naml,
Until, when they came upon the valley of the ants, an ant said,
“O ants, enter your dwellings that you not be crushed by Solomon and his soldiers while they perceive not.”
So [Solomon] smiled, amused at her speech, and said, “My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve. And admit me by Your mercy into [the ranks of] Your righteous servants”
(An-Naml 18-19).
How great does it feel when some authority depicts a smile and what a sigh of relief that was for that ant? The same goes when elders smile at their younger and the boss smiles at employees or maybe rulers towards their people. How amazing is a smile when it comes in a time of disaster, crisis, or panic?
That was the smile of Prophet Suleiman. His smile was filled with tenderness, passion, and admiration for what the little ant said and did. It was a smile that alleviated the tension of the situation. It restored safety, security, tranquillity, and peacefulness to everyone.
Keep smiling.
PS: Do not pass a smile with the intent of flirting (to the opposite gender) that may lead you to Hell.
By: Muhammad Nadeem Jahangir
References
- Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 746
- Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3641
- Abu Ya`la and Al-Hakim; Authentic hadith
- Sahih Muslim 2626
- Abel EL, Kruger ML. Smile intensity in photographs predicts longevity. Psychol Sci. 2010;21(4):542-544. doi:10.1177/0956797610363775
- Kraft TL, Pressman SD. Grin and bear it: The influence of manipulated facial expression on the stress response. Psychol Sci. 2012;23(11):1372-1378. doi:10.1177/0956797612445312
- Marmolejo-Ramos F, Murata A, Sasaki K, et al. Your face and moves seem happier when I smile: Facial action influences the perception of emotional faces and biological motion stimuli. Exp Psychol. 2020;67(1):14-22. doi:10.1027/1618-3169/a000470
- Wood A, Rychlowska M, Korb S, Niedenthal P. Fashioning the face: Sensorimotor simulation contributes to facial expression recognition. Trends Cogn Sci. 2016;20(3):227-240. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2015.12.010
- D’Acquisto F, Rattazzi L, Piras G. Smile—It’s in your blood! Biochem Pharmacol. 2014;91(3):287-292. doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2014.07.016
- Strean WB. Laughter prescription. Can Fam Physician. 2009;55(10):965-967.
- Pressman SD, Acevedo AM, Hammond KV, Kraft-Feil TL. Smile (Or grimace) through the pain? The effects of experimentally manipulated facial expressions on needle-injection responses. Emotion. Published online on November 23, 2020. doi:10.1037/emo0000913
