The Sunnat Actions of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu-alayhe-

wasallam – (The Prophetic Manners, Behaviour and Character))

acting upon
Number

Tick if
Type of
Sunan Acts to be performed Notes/Comments
Sunnah

As soon as one wakes rub both the palms on the face and eyes so
that the sleep disappears
Awakening

1
Sunnats

To make miswaak on awakening

upon

3 To wash hands and gargle mouth before and after eating

To make intention that, ‘I am eating to gain strength for Allah’s
4
Ibadat (worship)
Let one third of the stomach be for food, one third for water
5
and let on third be left empty
6 Eat only when you are hungry
7 Stop eating when you can still eat i.e. never eat to your fill
8 To eat with the right hand
9 Use the right hand when taking or giving someone food
To sit on the floor and eat in one of the following three ways:
Sunnats of Eating

• To squat with the buttocks away from the ground

10
• To sit on one leg having the other knee raised
• To sit on both the legs as in the tashahhud position
11 Never lean against anything whilst eating
12 To remove shoes before eating
When eating together the most pious or eldest should be made
13
to begin
If one can easily eat with three fingers then it should be done
14
and not to unnecessarily use the fourth
If two or more people are eating together then each person
15 should eat that food which is closest to him. It is incorrect to
eat that which is in the middle or in front of others
If a variety of dishes are served then it is permissible to
16 partake of any that he/she wishes and leave that which he/she
does not feel like eating without passing any remarks
17 Steaming food should not be eaten until it cools down

1
18 Do not blow on any foodstuff
19 To have vinegar and honey in the house is sunnat
While eating, if any crumbs or pieces of food fall then these
20
should be picked up and eaten and not left for the Shaitaan
Whilst eating, if a visitor comes along he/she should also be
21
requested to join in the meals
When eating together, we should try to eat until the end (the
22 last eater) so that we can accompany the slow eaters, but if it is
not possible we should excuse ourselves
If several people are eating dates or grapes etc together, then
23 none should take in twos without the permission of his/her
companions
24 If a servant has cooked our food, the he/she should be
requested to eat with us or separately
The habit of gargling the mouth together with washing of the
Sunnats of Eating

25
hands after meals is a source of great blessings
After eating one should lick their fingers and plate as it is
26 possible that Allah The Sustainer may have kept blessings and
Barakat on that particle left behind on that plate or finger
The middle finger should be licked first followed by the index
and lastly the thumb (when using only 3 fingers). If more than
27 three are used, then after licking the above three, the little and
then ring finger should be licked
The dastarkhan (table cloth) should be lifted in front of the
28 diners; that is the diners should clear up the dastarkhan and fold
and lift it up before they themselves stand up
The dastarkhan should be spread on the floor as our Prophet
29
(sallallahu-alayhe-wasallam) never ate on a table

Water and all other halaal liquids should be drank with the right
30
hand as Shaitaan uses the left hand for eating and drinking
31 To drink in three separate sips
32 To recite ‘Bismillah’ before and Alhamdulilah after drinking
Sunnats of Drinking

33 Not to blow into any hot drink for cooling

34 To sit and drink. It is disallowed to drink water whilst standing
However, to stand and drink zamzam water and water left over
35
after making wuzu is allowed
36 The person who serves others should him/her self eat last
Not to drink from a big container e.g. water jug, bottle etc but
37
rather from a tumbler or cup
38 One should not drink from the chipped end of a cup
39 It is disallowed to use gold and silver utensils
Drinking water after meals is not the Sunnah, especially if the
40
water is very hot or very cold as both are harmful

2
 To recite ‘Bismillah’ while closing the doors and matching the
41
locks
Containers with foodstuff (even water) should be covered with
42 the recitation of ‘Bismillah’. A stick could also be used to cover
but ‘Bismillah’ should be read
43 To put out any burning fire
To switch off (or put out) anything which may catch alight (if
44
left on)
To discuss with members of the household matters relating to
45 Islam, e.g. by telling stories or simply to talk about matters that
please them (but within the limits of the Shariat)
When children reach the age of nine or ten years, the bedding of
46
the females should be separated from that of the males
To have available ‘Surma Dani’ (a container with surma) and to
47 apply the same thrice in the right eye and thrice in the left – for
oneself and the children
48 To lay or spread the bed one’s self
49 The dust the bed before sleeping
Sunnahs of the Night

To make miswaak (even though one has already done so for Isha
50
salaat)
Before sleeping to recite Surah Ikhlas, Falaq and Naas in this
order and the full ‘Bismillah’ before each. Then to blow on the
51
palms, which should the be rubbed three times on ones entire
body – beginning with the head and ending at the toes
52 To use pillows to rest ones head on
Note: sleeping in any of the following ways with the intention of
following the sunnat shall merit reward:
• To sleep on bedding or to sleep on a mat or carpet made of
53
cloth
• To sleep on the floor
• To sleep on a bed
54 It is disallowed to lie downwards on the stomach
It is disallowed to lie flat on the back with one leg on the other,
55
unless there is no fear of exposing the private parts
56 The sleep on the right side, facing towards the Qibla
To sleep with the right hand under the head and with the knees
57
bent
To recite any surah from the Qu’ran that one remembers,
58 especially sura Mulk (no.67) and sura Alif-Laam-Meem-Sajdah
(no.32)
Reciting of Surah Waaqiah (no. 56) before sleeping (this
59
safeguards one from hunger and poverty)
To sleep in a state of purity i.e. with wuzu and/or ghusl (if
60
necessary)

3
 If someone has experienced a pleasant dream and wishes to
61 relate it to somebody, then he/she should relate it to a learned
and compassionate person so that it is interpreted correctly
After experiencing a nightmare, one should recite Ta’awwuz
(awwu-zu-billah) once and spit or blow on the left side thrice.
62
One should also change the side of sleep and should not mention
such dreams to anyone
63 To have water and miswaak ready in advance for wuzu
64 To sleep with the intention of getting up for Tahajjud
65 To perform Tahajjud prayer before subho saadiq (early dawn)
To perform at least two rakaats or a maximum of 8 rakaats of
Tahajjud prayer. This is sunnat, however, there is no limit for
66
nafl prayers. One may also do other Ibadat (worship) or sleep
provided the Fajr prayer is not missed

Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) liked wearing kurta (long shirt)

67 the most. His sleeves reached up to his wrists and the collar or
neckline of his Kurta was towards his chest
Our Nabi’s (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) kurta used to be above
68
his ankles, reaching up to the mid-calf
69 Men should wear their pants (lower garments) above their ankles
Our Nabi’s (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) clothes consisted of
sheet, lungi (loin-cloth), kurta (long shirt) and amamah (turban).
He also had a cloth (towel) with which he would dry his face
after wuzu. He like striped sheets. He used to wear a topi
70
(fez/hat) below the amamah and sometimes he used to wear only
Sunnahs of Dressing

a topi. Sometimes the amamah had a tail, whilst other times it

didn’t. The tail of the amamah used to fall between the shoulders
of his back
Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) wore a black amamah on the Day
71
of the Conquest of Makkah
It is disallowed for men to wear silk and gold but it is allowed for
72
the ladies
Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) preferred white clothing but he
73
also used a black blanket as well.
When wearing shoes or clothing, to begin with the right and then
74
the left
When removing shoes or clothing, to begin with the left and then
75
the right
76 It is disallowed to walk with one shoe only
Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) would not throw away clothing
77
until worn patched
Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) wore strapped sandals and
78
leather socks

4
 Whenever he lifted his shows, he did so with the fingers of his
79
left hand
Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) cursed the man who puts on
80
woman’s clothing and the woman who puts on man’s clothing
When wearing new clothes Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) used
to praise Allah with any suitable praise, then would perform 2
81
rakaats of nafl (optional) prayer and give the old clothes away to
the needy person

Regarding which occupation is best to engage in, Nabi (Sallalahu-

82 alayhe-wasallam) said, ‘trade and work, which is done with ones
own hands’
One must always be honest in all one’s business dealings (he/she
83 who is will be in the shade of the Throne of Allah on the Day of
Judgement)
84 One must not break one’s promise
85 One must not condemn the goods that one seeks to purchase
One must not unduly praise or exaggerate one’s goods when
86
selling (them)
One must not avoid payment of one’s debt (or even prolong its
87
payment)
Sunnahs of doing Business

88 One must not pressurise the person who owes one money
One must assist others who seek to enter into business and
89
trade
Be gentle at the time of buying, selling and requesting payment
90
(Allah’s Mercy descends on such a one)
In a Hadith Qudsi Allah says, ‘I am a one third partner of a two
91 man partnership until one of them acts dishonestly to his partner
and, in such an event, I then leave them’
Hazrat Umar (radi-allahu-anhu) declared, ‘only one who has
92 knowledge of the Islamic business laws of trade shall trade in
our business area’
Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) has said, ‘he who cheats (when
93 buying or selling) is not of us and one who swindles, embezzles or
indulges in any fraudulent conduct shall be in the fire’
Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) said, ‘whoever sells a defective
article without disclosing its defects to the purchaser, shall earn
the permanent Anger of Almighty Allah and the angels
94 continuously curse such a person’

5
 When Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) intended to go out on a
95 journey or was sending someone out, he preferred to set out on a
Thursday.
If Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) stopped over at any place
96 during a journey for the night, he generally used to set out again
very early in the morning.
When Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) returned home from a
97 journey, or stopped over at any place, he would not sit down until
he had made two Rakaahs of Nafl prayer.
When Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) stopped over at any place
98 in the early part of the night, he would sleep on his right hand
side with his right cheek resting on the palm of the right hand.
If Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) stopped over at any place
during the last part of the night (i.e. near dawn), then he would
99
rest with his right arm upright and resting on the elbow and his
head resting on the palm of the hand.
When any traveler returned from a journey and presented
100 himself, then Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) would hug him and
kiss him on the forehead.
Sunnahs of travelling

When Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) saw anyone off on a

101 journey he would ask him for Duaa, saying; “Remember us in your
Duaas, don’t forget.”
When Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) returned from a journey
at night, he would never go to his home at that time. He would
102
stop somewhere along the road and pass the night there, and
then go to his house in the morning.
When returning from a journey, Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam)
would not go directly to his house. First he would go to the
103
Masjid and make two Rakaahs Nafl Salaah and then proceed to
his home.
Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
When we ascended (a height) we would proclaim: "Allahu Akbar
104 (Allah is Greatest)," and when we descended (from the height)
we would proclaim: "Subhan Allah (Allah is free from
imperfection)."
To share your food with fellow travelers others whilst on a
journey. Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him)
reported:While we were travelling with the Messenger of Allah
(�), a rider came and began to stare on the right and on the left.
The Messenger of Allah (�) said, "He who has an extra mount
105 should hand it over to one who has none, and he who possesses
surplus provision, should give it to him who is without provision."
He named various kinds of possessions until we began to think
(realize) that none of us had any right to anything surplus.
[Muslim].

6
 When three persons set out on a journey, they should appoint
106
one of them as their leader.
Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) used to lag behind while
107 travelling and urge the weak to walk quickly. He used to take up
someone behind him and make supplication for him.

When Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) spoke, he used to speak

108 so slowly and clearly, those who heard him could easily memorise
his words and if anyone wanted to, he could even count them.
When speaking Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) would usually
109
repeat whatever he said thrice.
When talking of matters which were not appropriate to speak of
110 in public, Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) would refer to it
indirectly.
Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) used to smile when speaking and
111 Sunnahs would speak in an extremely cheerful manner.
of When speaking, if Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) wanted to
112 speaking point to anything he would do so with his whole hand, not with
one finger.
When Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) spoke, he would turn the
113
palm of his hand up as a gesture of surprise.
When Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) was leaning against
something and he wanted to stress some point, he would sit up
114
straight and would speak the particular words or sentences
several times.
To make a point clear, Nabi (Sallalahu-alayhe-wasallam) would
115
often make gestures with his hand.

7
 Sunna
hDua s
(
ProphetI
nvoc
ati
ons
)
 Forty Prophetic Supplications
to be recited on everyday
occasions

Tick if Learnt in

Tick if Learnt in
Own Language
Masnoon Du’aas (Supplications) to be
Number

Arabic
Learnt and Practiced

When awakening

Alhamdullilla hilathi ahyaanaa ba’da ma amaatna wa

ilaihinashoor

Before sleeping

Allahuma bismika amuutu wa ahyaa

9
 Before sleeping

Allah huma qinni ‘athaabak yawma tub’athu ‘ibaadaka

Entering Masjid

Allahumaf tahli abwaaba rahmatika

Leaving Masjid

Allahuma inii asaluka min faDlik

10
 Before entering toilet with left foot

Allahuma inii a’oothubika minal khubthi wal khabaith

After leaving the toilet with the right foot

Ghufraanaka alhamdu lillahillathi athhaba ‘anilathaa wa

‘aafaanii

Before eating

Bismillahi wa ‘alaa barakatillahi

11
 After eating

Alhamdu lillahillathi aT’amanaa wa saQaana wa ja’alanaa

minal muslimeen

After eating elsewhere

10

Allah huma baarik lahum feemaa razaqtahum waghfir lahum

warhamhum

12
 When Sneezing

11

Alhamdulillah

When thanking someone

12

JazakhAllahu Khair

Before intending to do something

13

Inshaa Allah

13
 For increase in knowledge

14

Rabbi zidnii ‘ilman

After drinking water

15

Alhamdu lilla hilathi saqaanaa ‘athban furaatan birahmatihi

wa lam yaj’alhu milhan ujaajan bithnubinaa

14
 After drinking milk

16

Allah huma baarik lanaa feehi wa zidnaa minhu

When wearing clothes

17

Alhamdu lilla hillathi kasaani haathaa wa razaqaneehi min

ghairi hawlin minii wa laa quwwata

15
 When looking in the mirror

18

Allah huma anta hassanta khalqi fahassin khuluqee

When getting into the vehicle

19

Bismillah Alhamdulillah. Subhaanalathi sakharalanaa haathaa

wa maa kunnaa lahoo muqrineen. Wa inna ilaa rabbinaa
lamunqaliboon

16
 When beginning a jounrey

20

17
 Allaho akbar Allaho akbar Allaho akbar
Allahuma inna nasaluka fee safarina hathal birra wattaqwa
wa minal ‘amali maa tarDaa. Allahuma hawin ‘alaina
safaranaa haatha waTwi’anna bu’dahu

Allahuma anta aSaahibu fisafar wal khaleefatu fil Ahal.

Allahuma inni a’oothubika min w’athaaisafar wa kaabatil
manThar wa suuil munqalabi fil maali wal ahlii wal waladi

When returning from a journey

21

‘Aaiboona taaiboona ‘aabidoona lirabbinaa haamidoon

When bidding someone farewell

22

Astadi’ullaha deenaka wa amaanataka wa khwaateema ‘amlika

18
 When an evil thought comes to mind

23

A’oothu billahi minashaiTaanirajeem

When entering the house

24

Allahuma inni asaluka khairal mawlaji wa khairal makhraji.

Bimillah wa lajnaa wa bismillah kharajnaa wa ‘alAllah
tawalnaa

19
 When leaving the home

25

Bismillahi tawakaltu ‘alallah wa laa hawla wa laa Quwata ilaa

billah

On hearing good news

26

Alhamdu lillahi ma shaa Allah

When things are in one’s favour

27

Alhamdulilla hilathi bini’matihi tutimuSaalihaatu

20
 When a loss occurs

28

Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raaji’oon

When in difficulty

29

HasbunAllahu wa ni’mal wakeel wa ‘alAllah tawakalnaa

When breaking the fast

30

Allah huma laka Sumtu wabika aamantu wa ‘alaa rizqika

afTartu

21
 Dua for parents
31

Rabir hamhuma kamaa rabyaanii sagheeraa

Du’a when leaving a gathering

32

SubhaanAllah wa bihamdihii. SubhanakAllah huma

wabihamdika ash-hadu alla ilaaha illa anta astaghfiruka wa
atuubu ilaika

22
 At the time of thunderclap

33

Allahuma laa taqtulnaa bighaDabika wa laa tuhliknaa

bi’athaabika wa ‘aafinaa qabla thalika

Du’a for going to market/shopping centre

34

LA ilaaha ilAllahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu lahul mulku wa

lahul hamdu yuhyee wa yumeetu wa huwa hayyun wa laa
yamuutu biyadihil khairu wa huwa ‘alaa kuli shai in qadeer

23
 When visiting the sick

35

Laa ba’sa Tahoorun inshaa Allah. Allah humashfihi. Allah

huma ‘aafihi

Dua for fever

36

Bismillahil kabeer. A’oothu billahil ‘atheem. Min shari kuli

‘irqin n’aarin wa min shari harrinnaari

24
 Du’a for protection against harm and injury

37

Bismillahillathi laa yaDurru ma’asmihi shaiun filarDi wa laa

fissamaai wa huwasamee’ul ‘aleemu

Du’a when entering the graveyard

38

Assalaamu ‘alaikum ahladiyaari minal mu’mineena

walmuslimeena wa innaa inshaa Allah bikum laahiqoon.
NasalAllah lanaa walakum al’aafiyah

25
 Before during wudu

39

Allahumaghfirli thanbii wa wasi’lii fii daarii wa barik lii fii

rizqii

Dua after Wudu

40

Allahumaj ’alnii minat-taw-waabeena waj ’alnii minal

mutaTahhireen

26
27