Sr. Happy!? Let’s Smile More Sister ;-)
[Image from HorsePlay] Alhumdulilah…I absolutely LOVE children–well I actually LOVE having fun playing & teaching them 
Unfortunately, 4 teachers didn’t show up to our Islamic weekend school, and in a total frenzy I was pulling parents to oversea the classes, while offering suggestions and humor to help transition all these children to a leader-less room.
So, I started all the classes with, “do you even know who I am? or know my name?” [My point here was to only express that I'm not the substitute teacher, as I'm supposed to be upstairs in the office doing my work--after all, most knew me as the "Administrator", "Principal", or "Office woman that helps us"...but, to my Surprise!]
Some hands raised, and as I went around….Masha’Allah, Masha’Allah in 2 separate classes a child yelled, “You’re Sr. Happy!”
Children chuckled in chorus in both those classes. And, in the second instance, I asked if he was related to the other child from the XYZ classroom.
A negative reply followed.
Anyways, humbled and laughing along…I acted oblivious, and asked “What!? Why?” “Did you just make that up?”
Masha’Allah, in all 4 classes the kids yelled you’re always excited, happy, smiling, hugging kids, helping, etc.
In EVERY instance, I explained the the aheedith as simply and age-appropriate as possible:
Sahih Muslim which says that: “Every good act is an act of charity”. In another version the hadith, it says: “Your smile to your brother is a charitable act. Ordering good is a charitable act. Forbidding evil is a charitable act. Helping a man who has bad eyesight to see things is a charitable act. Removing a stone, rubbish or bones is a charitable act. Emptying your cup in the cup of your brother is a charitable act.”
Deed of the Day says “Spread a Smile”
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) has said: ‘Your smile for your brother is Sadaqah. Your removal of stones, thorns or bones from the paths of people is Sadaqah. Your guidance of a person who is lost is Sadaqah.’ (Bukhari)
Here’s a great article explaining Smiling as Charity in more detail.
In all honesty, my girls and I was so sorrily surprised to move back to CT and in every masjid we entered, smiles was a grave rarity.
We never saw hugs or kisses…but the general hand-shake, cheek-cheek, cultural-pat-hug…that didn’t show much affection at all.
Geez, I left a community where we hug and kiss so much…if anyone was late for an event, they basically missed out completely just for taking all the time to go sister-by-sister hugging and kissing! And, well there was an infamous “hugger” who I just adored seeing only to get a hug from her! [And, she knows who she is, Alhumdulilah ]
Then, here we come!
4 smiling, huggin’, fun-lovin’ chicks…and like WOW! We’re changing the ‘lil worlds around us…and, its really not in our daily agenda either. It’s just the way we are.
We attend a different masjid for Friday’s, and we’re often stopped because we’re always smiling…Are Smiles THAT rare!?
Unfortunately, they are 
But, as I explain to my daughters and all the children I have contact with:
A smile is the cheapest, fastest and easiest form of charity ANYone can give! So, Smile for the sake of Allah (SWT) and the rewards and blessings will FAR exceed you little upward motion of your lips!
Don’t you agree!?
