Khadijah's Hundred Smiles

Khadijah heard in khutbah that smiling at your brother is charity. She liked charity that did not need coins. On a notebook page she drew a sunflower and wrote "One hundred smiles" beneath it. Her mission began at breakfast when she grinned at her little brother until he giggled into his cereal.

On the walk to school, she smiled at the crossing guard, who saluted back like an old friend. She smiled at a nervous new student in the hallway, and the girl's shoulders relaxed. Each smile was a small lantern, and Khadijah carried them carefully.

Not every smile was returned. One grumpy shopkeeper only frowned harder, and Khadijah felt her courage wobble. Her mother said, "You cannot control faces, only your intention." Khadijah tried again the next day with the same man, and this time he muttered, "Good morning," almost too quietly to hear.

By Friday, her sunflower page was full of tick marks. Khadijah realized she had stopped counting somewhere in the middle because the smiles had become habit. She smiled during salah when she felt distracted, and the prayer felt warmer.

Her teacher asked why the class seemed brighter. Khadijah did not raise her hand, but her friend did. "Khadijah smiled at everyone," the friend said. Khadijah blushed and smiled again. She understood then that kindness multiplies quietly, like seeds you forget you planted until flowers appear.