Most of our problems and complaints are relationship related.
The truth is, like most areas of life, relationships require attention and skills.
Islam presents you with some needed skills to be in the innermost of others’ hearts.
Facial expressions :
Facial expressions are very important during dealing with others, especially when you’re first meeting someone. Your facial expressions can give someone an idea about your personalities, in fact many of us form our first impressions of people based on their facial expressions.
Smile:
Smiling is one of the most affectionate facial expressions. Peace comes with it. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) says: “Every good is charity. Indeed among the good is to meet your brother with a smiling face, and to pour what is left in your bucket into the vessel of your brother.”(1)
Be used to tasting your words before speaking, and express your feelings towards others:
Your words have meaning to them and they can hurt others, don’t say something you wouldn’t like said to you. With that in mind, try to express your kind feelings towards other people.
A good word:
A kind word has its own kind of magic in winning the hearts of your enemies, you can imagine how powerful it can be with your beloved ones! The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or be silent”(2)
Share feelings with others:
If you have good feelings towards someone, don’t wait, just tell them. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:”When one of you loves his brother, then inform him of it.”(3)
Be in others’ favor :
The prophet (pbuh) said “Putting some of the water from your bucket in your brother’s bucket is sadaqa. Removing stones, thorns, and bones from people’s path is sadaqa. Guiding a man in a place where there are no guides is sadaqa.”(4)
Be involved in others’ lives and be there for them through good and bad times:
Abu Hurayra (may ALLAH be pleased with him) said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, ‘The rights a Muslim has over another Muslim are six.” He was asked, “What are they?” He replied, “When they meet, he should greet him, when he gives him an invitation, he should accept it, when he asks him for advice, he should give him good counsel, when he sneezes and praises Allah, he should wish him mercy, when he is ill, he should visit him, and when he dies, he should accompany him.”(5)
Exchange presents with each other:
A present has an extremely amazing effect on the heart. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Shake hands and rancor will disappear. Give presents to each other and love each other and enmity will disappear.”(6)
Islam aims at building a strong community structure, through maintaining good relations with all the people. The Quran (the final scripture from the one God) and the sunnah (teachings of prophet Muhammad) made it easy for one to reach inner peace by spreading love in every detail of one’s’ life.
Sources:
(1) Hafiz Abu Elisa At-Tirmidhi, 2007. Jami At-Tirmidhi. n/a. Dar-us-Salam
(2) Muhammad Ibn Ismail Al-Bukhari, 1997. Sahih Al-Bukhari. n/a. Islamic Book Service
(3) Muhammad Al-Bukhari, 1979. Al-Adab al-Mafrud. n/a. Dar-us-Salam
(4) Muslim Al-Hajjar, 1962. Sahih Muslim. n/a. Dar-us-Salam
