40 Traditional Practices of the Holy Prophet (pbuh)

40 Traditional Practices of the Holy Prophet
(Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)

Source: irca.org.au
by Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Qadri

As Muslims, we should try to imitate Prophet Muhammad (saw) in every aspect of life, as much as possible. This includes even the smallest things like how to put on our clothes. To act in contrast to these practices means to be thinking of the Prophet (saw) at all times insh'Allah and for such remembrance, the reward will insh'Allah be great. May Allah (swt) guide us all along the straight path and give us the strength to follow in our beloved Prophet's (saw) footsteps. Ameen.

Non-Muslims and New-Muslims reading this should note that a Muslim's love for the Prophet Muhammad (saw) is immense. The human mind's highest level of understanding is where a Muslim's love for the Prophet (saw) resides. As for God, a Muslim's love for Him is beyond the human mind's limit of understanding. Subhan'Allah. Therefore, acting in accordance with the following practices is not extremism, but rather, a token of love and affection for the Prophet (saw).

1. Every good/virtuous and lawful (piece of) work should be started after reciting the sacred "Bismillah" - "In the name of Allah (swt)". Of-course, no recitation of the sacred "Bismillah" be done, before starting to do (any) unlawful and non-permissible work, at all.

2. When a Muslim intends meeting any other Muslim (of the same sex) then extending him/her salutations & sending one's compliments to him/her is the (sacred) traditional practice of the Prophet (saw).

3. Shaking of hands becomes the traditional practice of the Prophet (saw) only when after the two Islamic brothers have met they extend salutations/send compliments to each other first and then shake hands.

4. The traditional practice of the Prophet's (saw) at the time of shaking of hands being that no handkerchief etc. stands in the way; both side hands are empty and the palm should join/embrace the palm.

5. To talk/converse smilingly and cheerfully is the (sacred) traditional practice of the Prophet (saw).

6. To talk screamingly / shriekingly as friends are prone to do these days in frankness / informality between themselves is against the sacred tradition of the Prophet (saw).

7. For the "One" who sneezes to say "Al-Hamdulillah", is acting according to the traditional practice of the Prophet (saw). It is better/preferable that "Al-hamdulillah Hi Rabbil Aala-meen" - (All praise(s) being for Allah who (alone) is the cherisher/sustainer of all the universe - eighteen hundred or eighteen thousand) is said.

For the one who hears (the sound of) sneeze, it is expedient/proper that be says immediately "Yerhamuk'allah". These words should be said loudly so that the one who sneezed is able to hear it. If the "one" answering the "Sneeze" causes delay (in uttering the words "Yerhamuk'allah"), he shall be regarded sinful, and could not be absolved of the sin merely by the late answer to the "sneeze"; Rather along with that penitence in the courts of Allah shall have to be caused (mandatorily) (BAHARE-SHARIAT).

8. After hearing the answer to his sneeze the "One" who sneezed is to say "Yagh'firullahu Lanaa Walakum" - (May Allah cause yours/and ours forgiveness). The following may also be said instead of the previous: "Yahdikum Ullahu Wa-Yuslihu Baalakum" - (May Allah show you the path of righteousness and cause your reformation).

9. The tradition of the Prophet (saw) with regard to the collar-less long and loose traditional shirt being that length of its skirt is up to the shin/calf of the leg, the length of sleeve up to the phalange of fingers the maximum and the width of the sleeves the length of a span.

10. Tieing of leg sheet (the loose sheet of cloth for the lower part of the body of a male member) around the waist is the tradition of the Prophet (saw); wearing of (traditional) trousers (eastern style) is permissible / lawful too as the Lord liked (approved) the same and the companions of the Prophet (saw) have worn it too.

11. Keep the (fall of) trousers or leg sheet above the ankles of feet.

12. Put on trousers while in sitting position / posture and tie the turban while in standing position. Any one who conducted/executed these exercises in reverse order shall fall a prey to such disease which is incurable (ZIA-UL-QULOOB-FI-LIBAS-UL-MAHBOOB).

13. Put on the shirt first and then the trousers.

14. While beginning to put-on clothes start from the right side. For example first enter the right hand in the right sleeve of the shirt then (the left hand) in the opposite sleeve. Similarly enter the right foot in the right leg of the trousers and then the left foot in the left leg of trousers.

15. When about to take off clothes recite "Bismillah" first. By its auspiciousness the private parts of your body (i.e. from the "Navel" to the "Knees") would remain concealed / obscured from "Satan".

16. While taking off the clothes start in the order reverse to the order (as in Point no. 14 above).

17. Start to wear new clothes from Fridays as that is the tradition of the Prophet (saw).

18. While taking off clothes or getting up from the bed after sleep, keep the clothes in folded form and the bed in rolled up form. Don't leave these (things) in the state that they happen to be in, otherwise "Satan" would use the same. (Fatawaa-e-Razvia)

19. Place (both of your) buttocks over the ground and keep both the knees in upright position (and then) enclose/blockade the knees by means of the two arms holding one hand by the other; To sit in such posture being the tradition of the Prophet (saw).

20. To sit in cross-legged squatting posture too is, the tradition of the Prophet (saw).

21. To sit at the place, where there is some sunshine and some shade, is (as per Islamic law) forbidden.

22. Whenever you come to attend (any) congregation or party don't (try to) go forward jumping/striding across the people; Rather! get seated where-ever you find room to sit.

23. While sitting take off your shoes; your feet would be relieved/be at ease. (AL-HADEES)

24. When someone arrives, to make room for that person to sit is the (sacred) tradition of the Prophet (saw).

25. As far as possible sit with the face set towards the direction of sacred Ka'aba as our dear Prophet (saw) used to sit often on the hams (i.e. with folded legs). In this position, his face would be set towards the direction of sacred Ka'aba and both the auspicious hands placed on the knees. In addition to this, there are other ways/methods of his sitting too that have already been described before.

26. If there are two women standing in the way or walking don't (try to) pass from in between themselves.

27. While walking on the path way guard yourself from walking in confused/perplexed state (i.e. looking hither and thither or right and left).

28. In walking be cautious as well that the shoes don't create any sound.

29. Put on the right shoe first then the left and while taking the shoes off take out the left foot first then the right foot.

30. To wash both hands up to the wrists before and after taking meals. To gargle/rinse the mouth and to wash the front (outside) portion of the mouth is the (sacred) tradition of the Prophet (saw). Of course even if "One" did not wash the mouth after having taken the meals it won't be said (considered) that the tradition of the Prophet (saw) was not discharged/complied with.

31. While taking meals, laying the left foot (on the floor) and keeping the right foot in upright/erect position or sitting on the buttocks and keeping both the knees in upright position or sitting on the hams (sitting with folded legs) - By sitting (while taking meals) in any of these three positions/forms, the sacred tradition of the Prophet (saw) would stand having been followed/acted upon.

32. Hold (the loaf of) bread in left hand and break the same with right hand as this is the tradition of the Prophet (saw).

33. If a morsel (of food) or a piece of bread or particles of grain etc. fall on the ground/table cloth then pick those up. Wipe/clean the same and eat those up, as for the "One" doing so, there is the divine inspiration (glad tidings) of him being salved/pardoned "Al-hamduilillah."

34. To eat by means of one finger (only) is the rite/course of "Satan" and to eat with two fingers is the way/custom of the proud/self-conceited people (and) to eat with three fingers is the (sacred) tradition of the Prophet (saw).

35. After having taken the meals pick the teeth by means of a straw/dried stalk as that is the tradition of the Prophet (saw).

36. Drink water while in sitting posture, in the (broad) day light, with the glass (of water) held in the right hand and after reciting "Bismillah Hir-Rahman Ir-Raheem" - (In the name of Allah, Most Beneficient, Most Merciful) by looking at the glass (water).

Drink in three breaths in such a way that each breath is inhaled when the glass (of water) is removed away from the mouth. In the first and the second turns (i.e. breaths) take one drought/gulp (of water) each and in the third breath take as many droughts (of water) as you wish to take. After having taken the water (to your satiation) say/recite "Al-hamdulillah".

37. After having drank the water (to your satiation) don't, on any account, throw away the water remaining in the glass as to do so is extravagance, and extravagance is unlawful. Have the remaining water in the glass taken by some one else. It is stated in the sacred saying of the Prophet (saw):- (There is cure/healing in the residue food or the drinking stuff of a Muslim believer)."

38. To wash the teeth using "Miswak" before going to bed/sleep is the tradition of the Prophet (saw) and to sleep with the ablution purification performed (too) is the (sacred) tradition of the Prophet (saw).

39. Before going to bed/sleep (and) after reciting "Bismillah", dust the bed three times so that if there are any pernicious (harmful) animal species i.e. insects/worms in the bed, the same get dispelled.

40. Sleep sometimes on the (palm) mat, sometimes on hide/skin, sometimes on bed stead, sometimes on the floor for no reason, and sometimes form a pillow-like support of the right forearm and the right hand (for sleeping).

All these (modes) are the (sacred) traditions of the Prophet (saw). By appropriating these practices (for the purposes of following the same) the spiritual love for the Madni Sovereign would (tend to) grow/prosper. By the Will of Allah (swt).

"O' Our Dear Allah (swt). Grant us continuous help and guidance in practicing the traditions of the Prophet (saw) in getting up and sitting down (i.e. His manners and etiquettes there-of.)" Ameen.

--- This article is adapted from the book 'Faizan-e-Sunnat' with the introduction written by IAA. Visit the website of dawat-e-islami for more information.