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Sunday Open Thread | Love your Prophet, Revive his Sunnah

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Simple deeds, immense rewards; words defining many of the sunnan of the Prophet (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam). Despite their ease, we sometimes fall short in acting upon them, usually for no other reason but the need of a reminder. A reminder of both the deed and the promised reward is what it takes for many of us to revive a sunnah in our lives.

The Prophet (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam) says that Allah says, “And My servant continues to draw nearer to Me with supererogatory (nawafil) deeds until I love him.” (Bukhari).

The promise of Divine love is certainly enough to motivate us to return to some of the neglected or forgotton sunnan of our Messenger (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam). The most effective revival is to make an effort to implement at least one sunnah and be an example to others. No matter how much we preach and write, in the end it is action that counts.

A few sunnan we can revive everyday:

Purification

Siwaak – A twig that earns the pleasure of Allah and was beloved to His Messenger (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam).
When Aisha (radhiAllahu anha) was asked about the first thing he would do upon entering his home, she replied, “When he entered his house, the first thing he would do was to use the siwaak.” (Muslim). The Messenger of Allah (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam) said, “Siwaak cleanses the mouth and pleases the Lord.” (Bukhari).

If you have one, use it now and please your Lord. Carry some with you and gift them to those you love.

Wudu before Sleeping: Want an angel to supplicate for you while you sleep? The Messenger of Allah (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam) said, “Purify these bodies, and Allah will purify you. Whenever a slave spends his night in a state of purification, an angel spends his night within his (slave’s) hair and he does not turn over during the night except that he [the angel] says: O Allah, forgive Your slave, for he went to sleep in a state of purification.” (al-Tabarani, graded ‘good’ by Al-Albani).

Prayer

Performing Voluntary Prayers in One’s House: Jabir related that the Messenger of Allah (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam) said: “If one of you has finished the prayer in his mosque, let him make a portion of his prayers for his home, as Allah will certainly put goodness in his home from his prayer.” (Muslim).

In another hadith, “A person’s salah in his house is better than his salah in my mosque, except for the fard  (obligatory) salah.” (Abu Dawud).

Going Early to the Jumuah Prayer: Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam) said, “Whoever does ghusl on Friday like ghusl for janabah, then goes to the prayer (in the first hour, i.e., early), it is as if he sacrificed a camel. Whoever goes in the second hour, it is as if he sacrificed a cow;
whoever goes in the third hour, it is as if he sacrificed a horned ram; whoever goes in the fourth hour, it is as if he sacrificed a hen; and whoever goes in the fifth hour it is as if he offered an egg. When the imam comes out, the angels come to listen to the khutbah.”
(Agreed Upon).

When it Rains

When rain descends from the sky, it is your chance to turn to Allah, asking Him for everything you desire from the good of this life and the Hereafter, for yourself and those beloved to you. The Prophet (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam) said, “Two are the du’as that are never returned: the du’a made when the prayer is being called, and at the time of rainfall.” (Abu Dawud).

Du’a upon hearing thunder:

سبحان الذي يسبح الرعد بحمده والملائكة من خيفته

Subhanaha alladhi yusabbihur-ra’du bi hamdihi wal malaa’ikatu min khifaatih
‘How perfect He is, (The One) Whom the thunder declares His perfection with His praise, as do the angels out of fear of Him.’

During Rainfall:

اللهم صيباً نافعاً‏‎

Allahumma sayyiban naaf’ian
O Allah, may it be a beneficial rain cloud

After Rain:

مُطرنا بفضل الله ورحمته

Mutirna bi Fadhlil-lahi wa Rahmatih
We have been given rain by the grace and mercy of Allah

After Drinking Milk

Even in drinking milk, we have an opportunity to earn reward through following the sunnah.

Rinsing mouth: Ibn Abbas narrated the Prophet (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam) drank some milk then called for some water. Once he got the water he rinsed his mouth then said, “It has fat.” (Agreed Upon)

Du’a after drinking milk:

اللهم بارك لنا فيه، وزدنا منه

‘Allahumma barik lana feehi wa zidna minhu’
‘O Allah, bless it for us and give us more of it.’
(Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi).

With the Believers

Greeting youngsters with salaam: Anas bin Malik (radhiAllahu anhu) used to always greet the children as he passed them, saying that he did so because he had observed the Prophet (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam) doing the same. (Agreed Upon).

Tell Someone You Love them for the Sake of Allah

Anas reported that a man was with the Prophet (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam) when another man passed by and the former said: “O Messenger of Allah! I love this man (for Allah’s sake).” The Messenger of Allah (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam) asked, “Have you informed him?” He said, “No”. The Prophet (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam) then said, “Tell him (that you love him).” (Abu Dawud).

What a beautiful sunnah that is sure touch the heart of your beloved brother or sister and brighten up their day!

Go ahead, remind us of a sunnah below, perhaps one other person would act upon it, multiplying your reward:

“Whoever revives a Sunnah from my Sunnah and the people practice it, will have the same reward of those who practice it without their reward diminishing.” (Sunan ibn Maajah, graded as ‘saheeh’ by Al-Albani).

Mariam is of Middle Eastern origin, raised in North America, not quite settling in one specific place. After living up in the North of North America, she has shifted continents and currently residing in a rapidly flourishing, historical city located in the desert of Arabia. She is a recent graduate of the American Open University, with a Bachelors in Islamic Studies. She believes that regardless of where a person is, writing is a tool to reach out and express that which inspires, touches and affects them. So she writes; perhaps that which inspires her will be a source of good for at least one other person.

14 Comments

14 Comments

  1. abdallah

    February 13, 2011 at 5:50 AM

    jazakillahu khayr

  2. Sadaf Sheikh

    February 13, 2011 at 6:26 AM

    As usual, great and inspiring post by you, Mariam. Allahu Barek Fee.

  3. Mirza Shahebaz Baig

    February 13, 2011 at 6:37 AM

    Barak Allaah feek. Recently, I also learnt that the hadith which says to love for your brother what you love for yourselves, has connotations for both your sincere care for them in this life and in the here after, regardless of the levels of disagreement and disappointments you faced.

    Mash Allah, This post and a poem on contentment, by someone who reportedly have said I wish people knew what they know without knowing my name, and ‘Egypt Mubarak’ thing Allahu akbar are highlight of this weekend. subahan Allaah.

    I wondered why did I not know the soup kitchen thing going on in the town , may Allaah protect and bless them who continued and supported it, while I am here for almost three years now.

    May Allaah protect and guide Muslims from fitan. Ameen.

  4. Mezba

    February 13, 2011 at 8:29 AM

    Is it possible to elaborate on what it means to “love someone for the sake of Allah” ?

    I never understood this – if you love someone, you love someone!

  5. Mezba

    February 13, 2011 at 8:29 AM

    Greeting people with salaam is so beautiful.

  6. Ummhamza

    February 13, 2011 at 6:16 PM

    Jazaaki Allah Khyran sister for this wonderful article. May Allah reward you for this knowledge and increase your knowledge again. Baraaka Allahu Feeki. It also good to fast Monday’s and Thrusday’s.The prophet (sallahu a’alayhi waa saalam) said: “The deeds of the worshippers are presented before Allah on Monday and Thursday, I like my deeds to be presented while I am fasting.” [Nasa’i].

  7. Amatullah

    February 13, 2011 at 7:47 PM

    Jazaki Allahu khayran for this Mariam! May Allah ta’ala reward you for reviving these Sunan, Ameen.

  8. Mirza Shahebaz Baig

    February 13, 2011 at 8:15 PM

    As its sunday and open thread ( I meant a license to post anything concerning about Islam, Muslim)

    http://blogs.hbr.org/bregman/2011/02/arguing-is-pointless.html

    Subahan Allaah, Should we now take heed from this HBS review or the hadith of prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam, when He guaranteed any of us a place in jannah for giving up arguing even if we are on the right.

    Quran.com/50/30 should serve as an enough deterrant who believe in Allaah and the last day instead of finding excuses to spend days innovating tomorrow (as in mawlid), the best they could do is to revive the sunan of prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam, is to fast, because

    0. You want to please Allaah so that may be just may be He Ta’la accept one of your deeds that would ultimately matter and hide the rest with His infinite mercy.
    1. Its Prophets’ sunnah to fast on Mondays and Thursdays.
    2. He sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam, celebrated his birthday by fasting (only for the sake of Allaah)
    wallahu ‘alam.

    So please revive your intention.

    jazakiAllah khayr for the beneficial reminders in the article. wassalam

  9. Ayesha

    February 14, 2011 at 4:47 AM

    barakAllahufeeki…following up each advice with authentic ahadith is what makes your and sister Amatuallah’s posts excellent & exceptional…jazakAllahukhairan..keep them coming

  10. deysi

    February 15, 2011 at 10:31 PM

    subhanAllah…. this makes me thank Allah, that Islam is such a complete way of life.

    When we are created to worship Allah, the sunnah has made it so easy for us to do that. Whatever we do during our day, our normal activities.. from eating to sleeping to speaking…. subhanAllah!!

    May Allah make us among those who revive the sunnah of the prophet Muhammad (salahu ‘alahi wassalam). ameen.

  11. Hassan

    February 18, 2011 at 10:25 AM

  12. Amna

    February 19, 2011 at 4:46 AM

    Assalam O Aliakum,
    NO doudt Our Islam is a pure religion. We must follow hadith and read quran and act on these to make our lives perfect.

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