Keeping a beard is sunnah. We all know that. great ! so we try our best to keep it. However, a vast majority of us who follow this sunnah tend to forget that keeping the beard is part of the package that we're supposed to implement.
Whenever we hear about our prophet pbuh, most of the times we hear a mention of him smiling. What is the first thing that we see in the other person when we meet or greet them ? Scholars and scientists have a unanimous decision that it's most certainly the other person's smile or frown. Prophet Mohammad pbuh would always be the first to say Salam and would greet others with a smile on his face. Smiling is a Sunnah. Smiling also has been proven to relax our bodies and lower tension according to scientific research.
Why then is it that, a vast majority of Muslims are very quick to adapt to the sunnah of keeping the beard, but they tend to neglect the most important thing that is part of the sunnah, smile ! ?
The beard of a muslim and the smile on his face is a package deal sunnah. You do one, you should do the other.
Now, I myself have observed that most of the mullahs who have the perfect length beard and have their shalwar's perfectly heightened above the ankles, never show a sigh of smile. They're always super serious, to the point where I've avoided even asking them a question or engaging in conversations with them.
The point of being a good Muslim and following sunnah is to be approachable. So Muslims and non Muslims alike may come up to you, enjoy your company and benefit from the good things you would have to share with them. Islam is about leading by example not dictating by fear.
My prayer to Allah swt is that He enables all Muslims to follow the sunnah of our beloved prophet to "smile" and to have a beard. So that whenever people would look at the muslims with beards, the picture of a pleasant personality, smiling, and approachable would come to mind. Ameen. ! :)
