Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
It is not correct to use the expression “Morning of smiling from Allah” if what is intended by it is to affirm the attribute of “smiling” for Allah تعالى, because, as far as we know, no authentic hadith establishes this attribute. As for the attribute of laughter, it is established for Allah تعالى by authentic texts. A Muslim therefore affirms it in a manner befitting Allah’s majesty, without likening it to creation or asking how it is.
The basic principle concerning the Names and Attributes of Allah تعالى is that a Muslim does not affirm any of them except what has been established in the Noble Qur’an or authentic Sunnah. Therefore, an attribute should not be affirmed for Allah merely on the basis of personal opinion, preference, or the occurrence of a term in a weak narration.
Accordingly, one must adhere to the established texts and affirm what Allah has affirmed for Himself or what His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم affirmed for Him, in a manner befitting His majesty.
It is authentically reported in the two Sahihs from Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“Allah laughs at two men, one of whom kills the other, and both of them enter Paradise...”
Narrated by al-Bukhari (2826) and Muslim (1890).
Thus, the attribute of laughter is established for Allah تعالى by textual evidence. The scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah affirm it as it has been transmitted, without distortion or denial, and without asking how or likening it to creation.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymin رحمه الله said:
“Laughter is one of the attributes of Allah established for Him by the Sunnah and the consensus of the early generations.”
He then explained that Allah’s laughter is real in a manner befitting Him سبحانه, and is not like the laughter of created beings.
As far as we know, there is no clear authentic hadith establishing the attribute of smiling for Allah تعالى.
A lengthy hadith concerning the virtues of Friday has been reported, in which it is mentioned that Allah تعالى “smiles.” However, this hadith cannot be used as evidence for affirming this attribute because its chain contains ‘Uthman ibn Abi Muslim, who is ‘Uthman ibn ‘Umayr. The hadith scholars criticized him: al-Bukhari, Ahmad, and Abu Hatim considered him weak; al-Daraqutni said that he was abandoned; and Ibn Ma‘in said that his hadith was worthless.
Therefore, it is not correct to make this weak narration evidence for affirming the attribute of “smiling” for Allah تعالى.
The principle is that we restrict ourselves to what has been established by authentic evidence. Thus, we affirm the established attribute of laughter and do not go beyond the texts by affirming another attribute that has not been established in a reliable manner.
If a person says “Morning of smiling from Allah” intending that Allah تعالى possesses the attribute of smiling, or intending to affirm this attribute for Him, then this expression is not correct and should not be used, because this description has not been established by authentic evidence and because it involves speaking carelessly about the Names and Attributes of Allah.
However, if the intended meaning is something else—for example, that this morning is bright and joyful, or that he hopes it will be a morning filled with happiness and smiles as a blessing from Allah تعالى—without intending to describe Allah as smiling, and this meaning is clear to both the speaker and listener and does not cause confusion, then there is no harm in it from this perspective.
Nevertheless, it is preferable and safer to use familiar and legitimate greetings, such as:
Good morning.
May your morning be blessed.
Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.
These expressions are sufficient and avoid potentially ambiguous wording concerning the Names and Attributes of Allah.
The attribute of laughter is established for Allah تعالى by authentic texts and is affirmed in a manner befitting His majesty. As for the attribute of smiling, no authentic hadith establishing it is known to us. Therefore, it should not be affirmed for Allah on the basis of weak narrations.
Accordingly, the expression “Morning of smiling from Allah” should not be used if the intention is to affirm the attribute of smiling for Allah تعالى. If another sound meaning is intended—such as supplicating for a joyful and bright morning through Allah’s grace—and that meaning is clear and does not cause confusion, then there is no harm from that perspective. Nevertheless, it is preferable to use clear and customary forms of greeting.
And Allah knows best.