Five Lessons from the Sunnah to Apply in Everyday Life

By Tasnim Nazeer

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

The practice and collected sayings of our beloved Prophet (sa) are described as the Sunnah. It is the ultimate guidance for us all to utilise on a daily basis. If we want to be successful in pleasing Allah (swt) and following the steps of Prophet (sa), there is no way better than to discover some of the key lessons from the Sunnah that we can implement today!

The Prophet (sa) said: “Whoever revives my Sunnah has loved me. Whoever has loved me will be with me in Paradise.” (Tirmidhi; ‘reliable but odd’)

1. Start the day by cleaning your teeth with the siwak

The siwak, also known as the miswak, is a small stick with natural bristles. The Prophet (sa) recommended it to be used to clean the teeth. This stick has many antibacterial qualities, and it is even encouraged to be used before salah (prayers). The Prophet (sa) said: “If it were not that it would be difficult on my nation, I would have ordered them to use the siwak for each prayer.” (Tirmidhi; authentic) Since the Prophet (sa) recognised the benefits of cleaning the teeth with the siwak, we too can use this and follow this lesson from the Sunnah daily.

2. Sleep and wake up early

Did you know that our beloved Prophet (sa) used to sleep early at night in order to wake up early for salah? People who do not get adequate sleep can suffer from a range of health problems including being unable to manage their time productively. Aisha (rah) reported about the Prophet (sa): “He used to sleep early at night, get up in its last part to pray, and then return to his bed.” (Bukhari) We can easily make the effort to cut back on sleeping very late and try to sleep earlier so that we can wake up early and productively carry out the tasks for the day. To make this a habit, commit yourself to an earlier bed time and stick to it.

3. Smile

Many people do not realise the unprecedented benefits of smiling, and they also fail to realise that our beloved Prophet (sa) was almost always seen with a pleasant smile upon his face. Abdullah ibn al-Harith ibn Jaz narrated: “I have not seen anyone who smiled more than the Messenger of Allah (sa).” (at-Tirmidhi; authentic)

With all the ups and downs that life brings, it is important to find time within our day to remember the blessings of Allah (swt) and smile. Whenever you smile at your children, husband, wife, brother, or sister, you follow the Sunnah. This can bring happiness into your life and the life of others. Smiling produces the hormone serotonin, which is a natural antidepressant, making the person happier.

4. Sit while eating and drinking

Many of us do not realise that the simple act of sitting whilst eating and drinking is actually part of the Sunnah. It is essential for us to do this in line with the Prophet’s recommendation. It was narrated by Anas (ra): “The Prophet (sa) prohibited a man from drinking while standing.” Qatadah asked: “And eating? He (Anas) said: “That is worse.” (Tirmidhi; authentic)

The next time you pick something to eat or drink while you are running late for work or are simply in the middle of some chores, stop, take a seat, and follow this important Sunnah. This will also enable the food to be digested more easily.

5. Give greetings of peace

As we leave and enter our and others’ homes, we should make it a habit to say Salam (greetings of peace).

The Prophet (sa) said: “If a person mentions the Name of Allah upon entering his house or eating, Satan says, addressing his followers: You will find nowhere to spend the night and no dinner. But if he enters without mentioning the Name of Allah, Satan says (to his followers): You have found (a place) to spend the night in. If he does not mention the Name of Allah at the time of eating, Satan says: You have found (a place) to spend the night in as well as food.” (Muslim)

I hope you will find these five important lessons from the Sunnah easy to implement in your daily lives to gain the pleasure of Allah (swt).

Tasnim Nazeer is an award winning Freelance Journalist/Writer and Author who has written for a variety of print and online publications including CNN International, The Muslim News, Your Middle East, Islam Channel and many more. She was awarded The Muslim News Award for Excellence in Media 2013 and is an UN Universal Peace Federation Ambassador for Peace. For more information visit her website at www.tasnimnazeer.com or follow her on Twitter: @tasnimnazeer1

FB Official page: www.facebook.com/TasnimNazeerOfficial