[Q 489] Is Smiling Sunnah for Women?

QUESTION:

A sister asks the following question: “Is it sunnah for a woman to smile?”

ANSWER:

It is undoubtedly Sunnah (Prophetic practice) and a source of reward for a woman to smile in front of her husband and maḥārim (unmarriageable kin) such as her parents, siblings, children, etc, or among other women. This is because smiling is a Sunnah of the Noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم and applies to both men and women.

However, it is not permitted to smile in front of non-maḥram (strange) men or in situations where there is a risk of fitnah (temptation or discord).

A Hadith states:

عن أم سلمة أن أم سليم قالت يا رسول الله إن الله لا يستحيي من الحق فهل على المرأة الغسل إذا احتلمت قال نعم إذا رأت الماء فضحكت أم سلمة فقالت تحتلم المرأة فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فبما يشبه الولد.

(‘Umdat al-Qārī, Volume 15, Page 210)

Smiling and laughing in the presence of maḥārim is permissible. Regarding this, there is another Hadith:

وقالت فاطمة رضی اللہ تعالی عنھا: أسر إلي النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، فضحكت

(‘Umdat al-Qārī Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Volume 22, Page 148)

Answered by: AskMufti Scholar
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 25th November 2025