EASY-TO-DO SUNNAH

 Bismillah ir-rahman ir-rahim

Assalam alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatu

1. Clear that nose after waking up. Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said: “When one of you awakens up from his sleep, and performs ablution, he must clean of his nose three times, for the shaytan spends the night in the interior of his nose.” And in another narration, “… in the upper part of his nose all the night.” (Bukhari and Muslim). Blow that nose when you wake up.

2. Haaa, Yawn. The Prophet of Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah likes sneezing and dislikes yawning, so if someone sneezes and then praises Allah, then it is obligatory on every Muslim who heard him, to say ‘Yar-hamuk-Allah, (May Allah be merciful to you). But with regard to yawning, it is from shaytan, so one must try one’s best to stop it, if ones say ‘Haaa’ when yawning, shaytan will laugh at him.” (Bukhari) and in another narration, “… he should keep his mouth shut with the help of his hand, for it is the devil that enters therein.” (Muslim). So no noisy, lazy yawns!

3. Going out for some shopping. The Prophet said: Whoever enters a market place and says: ‘Laa ilaaha illallaahu wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu yuhyee wa yumeetu wahuwa hayyun laa yamootu, biyadihi alkhayru wahuwa ala kulli shayyin qadeer’ (There is none worthy of worship in truth except Allah alone, He has no partners, He has the dominion and for him is all the praise, He gives life and he takes life and he is the ever living and does not die, in his hand is goodness and he is capable of all things) Allah will write for him hundred thousand reward and erase from him hundred thousand sin and elevate  him hundred thousand  degree (of virtue) and in another narration build for him a house in Jannah! (Tirmidhi). A place where there’s people and trade (yes, even a supermarket as it all falls under the ruling of ‘market’). In another hadeeth, the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “The most beoved place on Earth to Allah are its masjids and the most despite places on Earth to Allah are its markets.” The market Allah doesn’t despite them because of the buying and selling that goes on but because of the fraud and deception. The markets are the places where false measures are given, where every day false oaths are sworn. A place of stinginess, avarice, wrangling and disputation. And in addition it is a place filled with fitnah, the intermingling with the opposite gender and therefore fitnah becomes present. Be sure to remember the dua’.

4. Knock, knock, knock. Manners when entering others houses. First seek permission three times and if permission is given, he may enter, otherwise he should go away. The Prophet said: Seeking permission is three times. If you are given permission then you can, otherwise return. (Muslim). Scholars have advised us that we should also observe this with mobile phones etc. You can try “calling someone” three times and then leave it Insha’Allah.

5. Hearing whispers in prayer. Fight back! One of the ways that shaytan uses to misguide people during Salah is by casting doubts and thoughts into their hearts. Uthmaan ibn Abi’l-‘Aas (may Allah be pleased with him) came coplaining to the Prophet and said: “O Messenger of Allah, the shaytan interferes between me and my prayer and causes me problems with my recitation.” So the Messenger of Allah said: “That is a devil called Khanzab. If you feel his presence, then seek refuge in Allah from him (e.g ‘Audhu billahi-minashaytaanir-rajeem) and blow a mist (spit dryly) to your left three times.” He said: “I did that and Allah has rid me off him.” (Muslim)

6. Take a break in salah! Generally do not rush your Salah. It should be performed slowly and calmly. Many of us rush our bowing and sujuud but it is important to give every action its due measure. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) once saw a man not completing the bowing and prostration such that he looked like he was pecking, and he said: “Were this man to die in this state, he would die on a faith other than that of Muhammad, the likeness of one who does not make rukuu complete and pecks in his sujuud is like the hungry person who eats one or two dates, which are of no use to him at all.” (Tabarani). In order to complete the rukuu and sujuud, it should be long enough to say ‘Subhana rabbi-al-adheem’ three times and not in a rush in rukuu and ‘Subhana rabbi-al-‘ala’ in sujuud.

The Messenger of Allah said: “The worst thief is one who steals from his own prayer.” His companions asked, “O Messenger of Allah! How could one steal from his own prayer?” He answerd, “By not completing its rukuu and sujuud.”

Likewise when we are reciting the Qur’an we should take pauses as the Prophet did. When we recite Surah Al-Fatiha, we pause after every verse to reflect on it, knowing that Allah responds and to also not intermingle the verses. “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to pause after each verse of Surah Al-Fatiha.” (Abu Dawud). It doesn’t matter if you are praying alone or in congregation. When we have such a manner in recitation, we recognize that these words of Allah and the message to us.

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I pray as I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him), leading us. Thaabit (may Allah be pleased with him) said: ‘Anas used to do something which I do not see you doing; when he lifted his head from bowing (rukuu) he stood up (so long) that one would say: He has forgotten (to bow down in prostration/sujuud). And when he lifted his head from prostration (sujuud), he stayed in that position, till someone would say: He has forgotten (to bow down in prostration for the second Sajda).” (Bukhari and Muslim). Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, said: This Sunnah was forsaken by many people after the time of the companions, may Allah be pleased with them, came to a close. When you pause between two prostrations you say: Rabbigh firli Rabbigh firli (Oh Lord forgive me Oh lord forgive me), as the Prophet used to supplicate.

7. Two rakaats before Fajr prayer. It is highly recommended that we make this two rakaats before the dawn prayer. As the hadeeth of ‘Aisha relates that the Messenger of Allah said, “The two rakaats of (the Sunnah of) Fajr are better than the world and all it contains.” (Muslim)

8. Put that barrier down! When doing Salah on an open place or where people will be passing in front, you should put a barrier. The Prophet said: “If any of you places something in front of him, [at least] equal [in height] to the back of a saddle, he should pray without caring who passes [in front of him] on the other (opposite) side of it.” (Muslim) This barrier is called a sutrah and it can be anything a person puts in front of himself while he is praying, such as a wall, or a long stick and such. The back of a saddle is approximately two thirds of a cubit in height [so the sutrah should be at least the same length]. It can even be a handbag or any other object with this length.

9. Putting on footwear. To the right! The Prophet said: “If one of you puts on shoes, let him begin with the right. And when he takes it off, let him begin with the left. Let the right be the first to be put on and the last to be taken off.” (Bukhari and Muslim). You might have known to start with the right, but do you always take your shoes off starting with the left?

10. Undressing. Say Bismillah! Mentioning the name of Allah before entering the toilet or taking off your clothes will prevent the jinn from seeing your ‘awrah or harming you. The Prophet said: “To put a barrier that will prevent the jinn from seeing the ‘awrah of the sons of Adam, let any one of you say ‘Bismillah’ when entering the toilet (bathroom too when bathing)”. (Tirmidhi). Teach this to your children as well!

11. Speaking good or keeping silent. Make your words so beautiful and cheap, affordable to anyone. And your anger so expensive. The Prophet of Allah said: “He who believes in Allah and the Hereafter, if he witness any matter should talk in good terms about it or keep quiet.” (Muslim)

12. Don’t like the food, don’t say “yuk!” How many times do we say, “I don’t like that, that’s horrible!” It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira he said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) did not ever criticize food. If he liked it, he ate it and if he disliked it, he left it.” In another hadeeth, Abu Huraira reported: “I never saw Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), if he liked it he ate it, and if he did not like it he kept silent.” (Muslim).

13. Don’t blow on hot stuff. That hot? Let it cool. It isn’t going anywhere. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be with him) forbade from breathing or blowing in a container.

14. Don’t drink like a camel! When taking that drink, be it water, milk or that chocolate sharbat (milkshake). Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates from the Prophet that, “Do not drink in one breath just as the camel does. Rather, drink in two or three breathes (twice or thrice) and mention (Allah’s) Name before drinking and thank (Him) upon finishing.” (Tirmidhi]). It is recommended to sit down when you drink, take breaks as you drink instead of gulping it down and saying Alhamdulillah after.

15. Had milk? Pass me some water, please! Ibn Abbas narrated: “The Prophet drank some milk then called for some water. Once he got the water he rinsed his mouth then said, ‘It has fat.’ (Bukhari and Muslim). Imam An-Nawawi said in Sharh Saheeh Muslim: This hadeeth confirms it’s recommended to rinse the mouth after drinking milk.

16. Dust off that bed! Clear out any dust, bugs, particles and yes your dead cells. The Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “When anyone of you goes to bed, let him clear his bed by hitting it with his garment, for he does not know what may have come onto it. Then let him lie down on his right side . . . (Bukhari and Muslim). This means you dust off the bed with one hand covered by the edge of your lower garment or something else, as long as you cover your hand lest there be something harmful to your hand (as explained by Imam An-Nawawi).

17. Keep your mouth clean. Use the Miswak! As part of hygiene, and Sunnah act, surely we can do this. Ibn Umar narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Make regular practice of the Miswak, for verily it is healthy for the mouth and it is a Pleasure for the Creator.” (Bukhari)

18. Forgiveness (Istighfar). We are not hundred percent clean from sins, that’s why there is istighfar. And no matter how long and deep you’ve drowned in sins, Allah’s Mercy is greater. Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say, “By Allah! I ask Allah for forgiveness and I repent each day more than seventy times.” (Bukhari) and also have a clean heart and forgive those who wronged you.

19. Having a pleasant smile. My personal favorite. I mean who wouldn’t believe in a deen that rewards its believers for just smiling. Scientifically you use less muscles in smiling more than frowning. Now be happy and smile then remember your reward is will Allah.

20. Spreading Salam. I have no idea why when you walk on the streets and give salam to a sister in faith, they hesitate to reply. Come on it is the Sunnah of the Prophet, it is a dua’ on its own and if you don’t reply I have angels who will. And still what do you lose? Don’t be ashamed of your religion. In addition it is a right over your fellow Muslim to reply his/her salam. The Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) made spreading salam a part of faith. (Bukhari) and in another narration, ibn Umar reported that a man asked the Messenger of Allah “what is the best thing in Islam?” he said, “Feeding others and giving the greeting of salam to those whom you know and those whom you do not know.”

We should remember persistence on a righteous action even if small: It is narrated on the authority of 'Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked what action is most beloved to Allah. He said: "The most constant even if small."

Don’t forget to teach this to your children this simple to do Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).