Khutbah: Being Cheerful
A short khutbah for children by Imam Ajmal Masroor about smiling, staying cheerful and being grateful, as the Prophet ﷺ did. For ages 7 to 12.
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What is Khutbah: Being Cheerful about?
Khutbah: Being Cheerful is an Islamic video for children aged 7 to 12 in which Imam Ajmal Masroor gives a short talk, like the one before the Friday prayer, about smiling, staying cheerful and being grateful.
The imam starts with something every child can do: smile. The Prophet ﷺ said that a smile is a charity, and it costs nothing. When a child comes home and greets their parents with a smile, the whole house is happier; when they come in gloomy, everyone worries.
Then he tells a story, often told though not found in the hadith books, of the Prophet ﷺ and Anas ibn Malik, the boy who served in his house. The Prophet ﷺ was fasting one day and went out. Anas prepared milk and dates for his iftar and waited, through Dhuhr, Asr and Maghrib. When the Prophet ﷺ did not come, Anas thought he must have been invited out to eat, and ate everything himself. Later Anas found out the Prophet ﷺ had not eaten all day. But the Prophet ﷺ said nothing. He did not complain or make Anas feel guilty, and stayed cheerful all night, though he was hungry.
The imam's tip for staying cheerful: when life feels hard, think of people who have less. If you are hungry, think of children in famine or war who have not eaten for days. If your leg hurts, think of someone with no legs. It makes us grateful to Allah for all He has given us.
His one message to take away: smile, it's free. It is a Miraj original.
What your child will learn
- A smile is a charity, and it costs nothing.
- The Prophet ﷺ stayed cheerful and did not complain, even when he was hungry.
- Our smile makes the people around us happy too.
- Thinking of people who have less makes us grateful for what Allah has given us.
Where this video comes from
- Jami at-Tirmidhi 1956: Your smile in the face of your brother is charity.
- Sahih Muslim 2963: Look at those below you and not at those above you, so that you do not look down on Allah's blessings to you.
Talk about it afterwards
- Why is a smile a charity?
- How did the Prophet ﷺ react when there was no food for his iftar?
- How do you feel when someone smiles at you?
- What are three things you can thank Allah for today?
Words to know
- Khutbah
- A talk given by the imam, especially before the Friday prayer.
- Iftar
- The meal that breaks the fast at sunset.
- Sadaqah
- Charity; any good act done for the sake of Allah, even a smile.
Frequently asked questions
What age is Khutbah: Being Cheerful suitable for?
Children aged 7 to 12. It is a short talk of about 8 minutes, with a story of the Prophet ﷺ at its centre.
What does Khutbah: Being Cheerful teach children?
That a smile is a charity, that the Prophet ﷺ stayed cheerful without complaining, and that thinking of people who have less makes us grateful.
