Could You Be the One Allah Smiles At?

For the ones who He smiles at are never forgotten.

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Did reading this title also make you pause and think: 'Could it be me'? 'How can I be amongst those who the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth smiles at?'

If so, you're not alone!

Many of us wonder how could we be worthy of such an honour after reading these words, but here's a comforting truth: 'Why not you'?

Every so often we fall into the trap into thinking that Allah only loves the most pious, the scholars or perhaps those who seem to have everything together, forgetting that He is Ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful) and Al-Wadud (The Most Loving). His love and mercy aren't reserved only for a few but to anyone who has the intentions in his heart to seek it.

Our Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) mentioned to us 3 categories of people at whom Allah smiles at and is pleased with. They are the ones who act beyond the ordinary purely for the sake of Allah.

1. The one who stands firm even when his battalion leaves the battlefield. When the war gets difficult, and the fear overwhelms the hearts of the soldiers and others retreat to go back. This fighter stands alone courageously fighting the enemy for Allah's cause despite his fellow fighters leaving him. Either he gains victory or is martyred in the process by Allah's will. Allah smiles seeing this brave soul and looking towards His angels says to them, "Look at my servant, how he fought for My cause, how tolerant and patient He is for my sake".

In life, there are situations where you're all alone, facing challenges, criticism at the hands of your own family or maybe even pressure to compromise your values. You practise modesty when others are following trends, you chose to be honest while others lie. Yet, never forget that just like that fighter, Allah smiles at you for holding onto His path despite the odds being against you.

2. The one who has every comfort in life but wakes up in the middle of the night to worship Allah and pray Tahajjud (the night prayer). The Prophet (SAWS) described this as a person who is blessed with a beautiful spouse, a beautiful wife, and has a comfortable bed to sleep on, but despite everything there to fulfill his desires, he abandons them to sacrifice it for the sake of remembrance of Allah. Allah smiles seeing this and turns to His angels saying, "Look at my servant, he left his desires and his comfort for Me, if he wanted he could have continued sleeping but instead he chose to remember Me!"

Just like the person who leaves behind the comfort of his bed and the sight of his beloved spouse to stand before Allah in the stillness of the night, there are moments in life where you have every comfort and luxury, but you chose Allah over all these desires of life. And this isn't just about Tahajjud. Maybe you had free time but you chose to remember Allah instead of watching your favorite show! Whenever you chose sacrificing for the sake of Allah for any luxury in this world know that it makes Allah smile at you.

3. The one who is travelling with people at night and while they all chose to sleep, exhausted, this individual sacrifices his rest to worship Allah. He prays while the rest of the people are fast asleep. Travelling is exhausting especially at long distances, in the quiet hours of the night, everyone is expected to doze off yet this person chooses to stand alone in prayer. Whether in ease or hardship, he doesn't allow fatigue or discomfort to be an excuse to turn him away from His creator. And Allah sees this act and thereby smiles in approval.

This is a reminder for you and me that wherever we may be travelling our tiredness should never be an excuse to leave worship. So many of us miss our prayers not knowing the immense reward that holds if we'd be praying during our journey otherwise. You could be a student travelling late at night for exams or a person who has a job out of town, others might immediately resort to slugging off in their beds but if you, in that very moment get up, do wuzu and perform prayer solely for Allah's sake then know Allah has smiled at you and is pleased with you.

So you might be wondering now what could be the significance of attaining the smile of our Rabb? What does achieving it bring to oneself? Well, the answer might bring you to tears....

Imam Ahmad narrates in his Musnad that the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) said, When your Lord smiles at a person in the life of this world, he will not have any accountability on the Day of Judgement.

Can you in your senses imagine how huge of an honor that is? On the Day when no soul can escape Allah's justice, when even the deeds, the size of a mustard seed will be accounted for, the one whom Allah smiles at will be spared entirely by Allah's bounty and grace. What greater mercy could there be?

Now as I conclude my words, ask yourself this question, When the opportunity comes to choose between comfort and sacrifice, between giving in desires and showing devotion, between ease and worshipping Allah , will you be the one whom Allah smiles at?