You’ve been told Islam is all about fear. Strictness. Rigidity. Frowning at joy. Avoiding laughter. Making everything difficult.
But that wasn’t the Islam the Prophet ﷺ lived.
The Prophet ﷺ Who Smiled Constantly
Abdullah ibn Al-Harith رضي الله عنه reported in Jami’ at-Tirmidhi (3641): “I have never seen anyone who smiles more than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ does.”
Never seen anyone. In his entire life. Who smiled more than the Prophet ﷺ.
This wasn’t the occasional polite smile. This was constant. His default expression. The companions remembered him specifically for how much he smiled.
Jarir ibn Abdullah رضي الله عنه reported in Sahih al-Bukhari (6089) and Sahih Muslim (2475):
“Allah’s Messenger ﷺ never refused me permission to see him since I embraced Islam and never looked at me except with a smile.”
Every single time Jarir رضي الله عنه saw the Prophet ﷺ—and that was often over many years—the Prophet ﷺ was smiling at him. Not once did he look at him with a stern face. Not once with annoyance. Always smiling. Always welcoming. Always radiating warmth.
Think about that. The man carrying the weight of prophethood. Receiving revelation from Allah ﷻ. Dealing with hypocrites, enemies, wars, the pain of his Ummah. And he still smiled constantly.
His Smile Was His Laughter
The scholars mention that the Prophet ﷺ would rarely laugh out loud. Instead, “his laugh was his smile.” He would smile broadly when amused, and his face would light up like a piece of the moon.
When he opened his mouth to smile, his teeth would shine as brilliantly white as hailstones. The companions said when he was happy, his face would radiate light.
But he didn’t burst into loud, uncontrolled laughter. He was dignified, gentle, measured—yet always cheerful.
Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه, when asked to describe how the Prophet ﷺ interacted with his companions, said: “He was always cheerful and smiling, gentle in character.”
Always. Not sometimes. Not when convenient. Always cheerful. Always smiling.
Your Smile Is Charity
Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه reported in Jami’ at-Tirmidhi (1956): The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity.”
You don’t have money to give? Smile. That’s charity.
You can’t help physically? Smile. That’s charity.
You feel you have nothing to offer? Smile. That’s charity.
The Prophet ﷺ made earning reward so easy. He didn’t say: “Give thousands in charity.” He said: Smile. That’s it. Open your face with joy when you see your Muslim brother or sister. That simple act? Recorded as charity.
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه reported in Abu Ya’la: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“You cannot satisfy people with your wealth, but satisfy them with your cheerful faces and good morals.”
People don’t need your money as much as they need your warmth. Your smile. Your kind presence. The Prophet ﷺ taught us: be cheerful. Be warm. Be approachable.
That’s the Islam he ﷺ lived.
Islam Is a Religion of Ease
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه reported in Sahih al-Bukhari (39): The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Religion is easy, and no one overburdens himself in his religion except that it will overcome him. So be moderate, and if you cannot be perfect, then try to be near perfection. And receive good tidings, for one’s deeds are facilitated by offering Salah in the morning, in the afternoon, and during a part of the night.”
“Religion is easy.” That’s the first thing the Prophet ﷺ said about it. Not “Religion is impossible.” Not “Religion is unbearable.” Easy.
And he warned: if you overburden yourself—if you make Islam too strict, too difficult, too heavy—it will overcome you. You’ll burn out. You’ll give up. You’ll break.
So he ﷺ commanded: Be moderate. Do what you can. Don’t try to be perfect immediately. Move toward perfection gradually. And have good hopes.
Allah ﷻ Himself says in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:185):
“Allah ﷻ intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship.”
Allah ﷻ intends for you ease. Read that again. Your Lord—the Creator of the universe—wants things to be easy for you. Not hard. Not impossible. Easy.
And in Surah Al-Maidah (5:6):
“Allah ﷻ does not want to place you in difficulty.”
He doesn’t want difficulty for you. He didn’t create Islam to torture you. He created it to guide you, elevate you, bring you peace.
The Prophet ﷺ Always Chose the Easier Option
Aisha رضي الله عنها reported in Sahih al-Bukhari (6786) and Sahih Muslim (2327):
“Whenever the Prophet ﷺ was given a choice between two matters, he would choose the easier of the two as long as it was not sinful.”
Given a choice between hard and easy? He ﷺ chose easy. Every time. As long as it wasn’t haram, he went with the easier option.
He didn’t choose difficulty to prove how pious he was. He didn’t make things harder unnecessarily. He chose ease.
That’s your example. That’s your Sunnah.
Stop making Islam harder than it is. Stop inventing strictness Allah ﷻ never commanded. Stop adding burdens the Prophet ﷺ never taught.
He Was Gentle and Kind
Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه, who served the Prophet ﷺ for ten years, reported in Sahih al-Bukhari (6038) and Sahih Muslim (2309):
“I served the Prophet ﷺ for ten years. By Allah, he never said to me: ‘Uff!’ (an expression of annoyance). He never said about anything: ‘Why did you do that?’ or ‘Why didn’t you do that?'”
Ten years. A young boy serving him daily. Making mistakes like children do. And not once did the Prophet ﷺ express annoyance. Not once did he scold harshly. Not once did he say: “What’s wrong with you?”
That was his character. Gentle. Patient. Kind. Easy to be around.
And Allah ﷻ says in Surah Aal-Imran (3:159):
“And by the mercy of Allah ﷻ, you dealt with them gently. And had you been harsh and hard-hearted, they would have dispersed from around you.”
Gentleness attracts people. Harshness drives them away.
If your Islam makes people run away from the religion—if your strictness, your constant criticism, your joyless face push people away—you’re not following the Prophet ﷺ. You’re doing the opposite of what he did.
When People Made Islam Too Hard
Anas رضي الله عنه reported in Sahih al-Bukhari (1151) and Sahih Muslim (1159):
Three men came to the houses of the wives of the Prophet ﷺ asking about his worship. When they were informed, they thought their worship was insignificant. They said: “Where are we compared to the Prophet ﷺ when Allah ﷻ has forgiven his past and future sins?” One of them said: “As for me, I will pray all night long forever.” Another said: “I will fast perpetually and never break my fast.” The third said: “I will keep away from women and never marry.”
The Prophet ﷺ came and said: “Are you the ones who said such and such? By Allah ﷻ, I am the one who fears Allah ﷻ the most among you. Yet I fast and I break my fast. I pray and I sleep. And I marry women. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from me.”
They wanted to worship non-stop. Never sleep. Never marry. Never break a fast. They thought: “More is better. Harder is better.”
The Prophet ﷺ corrected them immediately. That’s not his Sunnah. Balance is his Sunnah. Moderation is his Sunnah. Ease is his Sunnah.
What Islam Actually Asks of You
Five prayers a day—not fifty. Fasting one month—not the whole year. Zakah from surplus wealth—not all of it. Hajj once in a lifetime if you’re able—not every year.
Allah ﷻ made the commands reasonable. Manageable. Doable.
Yes, there’s sacrifice. Yes, there’s discipline. Yes, there’s struggle against your desires.
But it’s not impossible. It’s not unbearable. It’s not designed to break you.
And when you do struggle? When you can’t pray Tahajjud every night? When you miss a Sunnah prayer? When you slip up?
The Prophet ﷺ said in Sahih al-Bukhari (6464): “Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately. Know that your deeds will not make you enter Paradise, and that the most beloved deed to Allah ﷻ is the most regular and constant even if it were little.”
Even if it were little. Small. Simple. But consistent.
That’s what Allah ﷻ loves. Not extreme worship you can’t maintain. Not burning yourself out trying to be perfect. Just consistent small deeds done with sincerity.
Bring Joy Back to Your Islam
If your Islam makes you miserable—something’s wrong. If you’re always anxious about hellfire but never hopeful about Paradise—something’s wrong. If you hate worship instead of finding peace in it—something’s wrong.
The Prophet ﷺ smiled constantly. He was cheerful. Gentle. Approachable. Easy.
That should be you too.
Smile at your family. Smile at your Muslim brothers and sisters. Be easy on people. Be gentle. Make Islam attractive, not repulsive.
Pray consistently—even if it’s just the obligatory prayers done properly. Fast Ramadan with joy, knowing Allah ﷻ will reward you beyond imagination. Give what charity you can, even if it’s small. Treat people with kindness and gentleness.
And when you slip? When you sin? When you fall short?
Repent. Ask Allah ﷻ for forgiveness. Get back up. Keep trying.
Don’t drown in guilt. Don’t give up. Don’t think you’re too far gone.
Because the Prophet ﷺ said in Sahih Muslim (2687):
“All the children of Adam are sinners, and the best of sinners are those who repent constantly.”
You will sin. That’s being human. The goal isn’t sinlessness—it’s constant repentance. Constant returning to Allah ﷻ. Constant trying.
And through it all? Smile. Have good thoughts about Allah ﷻ. Trust His mercy. Hope for His Paradise. Find joy in His remembrance.
Because that’s the Islam the Prophet ﷺ lived. The Islam that brings peace. The Islam that makes you smile like he ﷺ did.
That’s the Islam waiting for you. Easy. Joyful. Full of hope. Just like the Prophet ﷺ taught.
Disclaimer: This article presents authentic hadith from Sahih collections about the Prophet’s ﷺ character and Islam’s nature as a religion of ease. Readers are advised to consult qualified Islamic scholars for detailed guidance. The content reflects classical and contemporary Islamic scholarship and should not replace personal consultation with knowledgeable religious authorities.