Sunnahs of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) for daily life, in 10 categories, each with the reference of the hadith it rests on. Sunnahs without a basis in authentic sources are not included. The list matches the content of the Sunnah & Hadith app.
Eating & Drinking sunnahs
- Beginning with Bismillah: Beginning every meal with Bismillah comes first among the sunnahs.
- Eating with the Right Hand: Using the right hand while eating and drinking is a sunnah.
- Drinking While Seated: Drinking water and other drinks while seated is a sunnah of the Prophet.
- Eating in Moderation: Leaving a third of the stomach for food and a third for water is part of the sunnah.
- Praising Allah After Eating: Praising Allah after eating or drinking is gratitude for His blessings.
- Sharing the Meal: Sitting together at the table and sharing increases the blessing.
- Never Criticising Food: Not criticising food is a mark of respect for the blessing of Allah.
- Washing the Hands: Washing the hands after eating is the sunnah of cleanliness at the table.
- Eating from What Is in Front of You: Eating from the side of the plate nearest you is a sunnah of table etiquette.
- Eating Seated on the Floor: Eating seated on the floor, and not eating or drinking standing, is humility reflected in the sunnah.
- Eating the Fallen Morsel: Cleaning and eating a morsel that has fallen is refusing to belittle a blessing.
Greetings sunnahs
- Greeting Everyone: Greeting every Muslim, known to you or not, is a sunnah.
- Returning a Greeting Well: A greeting must be returned with at least its like, and if possible with something better.
- Greeting When Entering a Gathering: Giving the greeting when entering and leaving a gathering is a sunnah.
- Greeting When Entering the Home: Greeting the household as you enter your home brings blessing to it.
Cleanliness sunnahs
- Using the Miswak: Using the miswak is the finest sunnah of dental care.
- Sleeping in a State of Wudu: Making wudu before sleeping is the sunnah that brings peace to the night.
- The Friday Ghusl: Performing ghusl on Friday is to take a share of the blessing of that day.
- Removing an Obstacle from the Road: Removing something harmful from the road is an act of charity.
- Wearing a Pleasant Scent: Wearing a pleasant scent follows the sunnah and is a gift to those around you.
- Applying Ithmid: Applying ithmid kohl to the eyes before sleep shows the care the Prophet gave to eye health.
- Not Entering the Mosque After Onion or Garlic: Not approaching the mosque smelling of onion or garlic shows respect for those around you.
Sleep Etiquette sunnahs
- Lying on the Right Side: Lying on the right side with the right hand under the cheek is a sunnah of sleep.
- Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas Before Sleep: Reciting Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas before sleep is a beautiful part of the sunnah.
- Praising Allah on Waking: The first thing to do with eyes that open to a new life each morning is to praise Allah.
- Shaking Out the Bed: Shaking out the bed before sleeping is a sunnah of caution that the Prophet advised.
- Waking for Tahajjud: Waking from sleep for the night prayer is the deepest form of nearness to Allah.
- Qaylulah — The Midday Rest: A short sleep after the noon prayer is the sunnah that gives strength for night worship.
Clothing sunnahs
- Dressing Cleanly and Neatly: Dressing cleanly and neatly is a sign of self-respect and of valuing those around you.
- A Supplication for New Clothes: Praising Allah and supplicating when you obtain new clothes reflects the courtesy of the sunnah.
- Wearing a Turban: Wrapping a turban around the head is a sunnah found in the Prophet's dress.
Speech Etiquette sunnahs
- Speak Good or Stay Silent: Keeping away from idle and harmful speech is the tongue's most valuable use.
- Never Lying: Keeping away from lying, even in jest, builds trust.
- Keeping Away from Backbiting: Speaking about someone behind their back wounds them. The Prophet strongly warned against backbiting.
- Not Interrupting: Listening to someone without cutting them off while they speak is respect made concrete.
- Correcting Gently: Gentleness adds beauty to any task; the Prophet advised this.
- Controlling Anger: Controlling yourself in a moment of anger is the shortest way to be spared words you would regret.
- Beginning Speech in the Name of Allah: Beginning an important matter of speech by remembering Allah brings blessing to the words.
Social Life sunnahs
- Looking After the Neighbor: Treating the neighbor well and looking after them is a sunnah the Prophet valued greatly.
- Visiting the Sick: Visiting and consoling sick friends and loved ones is a beautiful part of the sunnah.
- Exchanging Gifts: Giving a gift and receiving it graciously nourishes love between hearts.
- Saying That You Love Someone: Telling someone you love them is a sunnah the Prophet recommended.
- Honoring the Guest: Meeting guests with a smiling face and generosity is one of the beautiful reflections of the sunnah.
- Forgiveness and Keeping One's Word: Forgiving the one who wrongs you and answering with kindness was the way of the Prophet.
- Giving Charity: Giving charity, however little, protects its giver and softens the heart.
- Faithfulness to a Trust: Guarding what is entrusted to you and returning it to its owner is the most basic sign of trustworthiness.
- Wanting for Your Brother Too: Wanting for your brother what you want for yourself is a sign of mature faith.
- Seeking Knowledge: Allah eases the path to Paradise for one who sets out in search of knowledge.
- Never Saying "I Have None": A generosity that made a principle of never saying "I have none" when asked for something.
Prayer & Worship sunnahs
- A Supplication on Leaving Home: Reciting a supplication every time you leave home means setting out in Allah's name and trusting in Him.
- Tasbih After Prayer: Saying subhanallah, alhamdulillah and Allahu akbar thirty-three times each after every prayer is a remembrance the Prophet taught.
- Fasting on Monday and Thursday: Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays is a sunnah the Prophet carefully observed.
- Salawat on Friday: Sending abundant salawat on Fridays is a beautiful expression of love and devotion to the Prophet.
- Making Repentance a Habit: Repenting a hundred times a day stands for the heart's constant cleansing and turning to Allah.
- Reflection and Remembering Death: Remembering death and reflecting deeply protects the heart from attachment to the world.
- Reading the Qur'an with Understanding: Reading the Qur'an slowly and with understanding carries it not merely to the voice but to the heart.
- Lawful Provision: Eating what is pure and lawful, and keeping away from the doubtful and the forbidden, is required by faith.
- Praying with Humility: Praying with humility and calm is a sunnah the Prophet both practiced and advised.
- Praying the Fajr Sunnah at Home: Praying the sunnah of Fajr at home and the obligatory prayer in congregation at the mosque was the Prophet's practice.
Family & Visiting sunnahs
- Treating One's Spouse Well: Treating one's spouse well and putting love into words is a sunnah the Prophet valued.
- Loving Children: Loving children, showing them affection and giving them time reflects the warmth of the sunnah.
- Visiting Relatives: Visiting relatives regularly — silat ar-rahim — brings great reward.
- Kindness to Parents: Being kind to one's mother and father is among the most virtuous deeds.
Everyday Courtesy sunnahs
- Alhamdulillah When Sneezing: Saying "Alhamdulillah" when you sneeze is a short remembrance the Prophet taught.
- A Smile Is Charity: Smiling at your brother's face is charity. The Prophet's own laughter was a smile.
- Respect for Elders, Love for the Young: Showing mercy to the young and honoring the rights of elders was the Prophet's counsel.
- Removing an Obstacle from the Road: Removing something harmful from the road is charity.
- Answering an Invitation: Going where you are invited is a sunnah that gladdens the one who invited you.
- Turning with the Whole Body: When turning to someone, turning your whole body and not just your head shows them your full attention.
- Asking Permission Before Entering: Giving the greeting and asking permission before entering a door is a fine lesson in the etiquette of the sunnah.
- Suppressing a Yawn: When a yawn comes during prayer, holding it back as much as one can was the Prophet's counsel.
- Being Self-Sufficient: Meeting your own needs without asking anything of others is safeguarding your dignity.
- Bismillah in Daily Tasks: Remembering Allah's name while closing a door and in daily tasks is beginning one's work with Bismillah.
- Walking with Purpose: Walking with quick, decided steps and a slight forward lean was the Prophet's way of walking.
- Running and Sport: On a journey, the Prophet raced on foot with his wife Aisha.
- Not Judging by Appearance: Allah looks not at forms and wealth but at hearts and deeds. Judge no one by appearance.
The Sunnah & Hadith app sends this and other sunnahs as short reminders spread across your day. Free for iPhone, no ads: download on the App Store.