The Forgotten Sunnah

Praying Towards a Sutrah (Barrier)

When praying alone — whether at home, in the masjid (for sunnah prayers), or anywhere else — the Prophet ﷺ instructed us to place a barrier (sutrah) in front of us. In congregational prayer, the Imam's sutrah serves as the sutrah for the entire congregation. But for individual prayer, this Sunnah is upon each person.

The sutrah can be a wall, a pillar, a chair, or even something as thin as an arrow stuck in the ground. Some scholars even held that drawing a line on the ground is sufficient if nothing else is available. The majority consider it strongly recommended (mustaḥabb), while some scholars held it to be obligatory.

Stopping Someone From Passing in Front of You

If someone tries to walk in front of you while praying — within the space of your sujūd — it is a Sunnah to stop them by putting your hand out. This is a separate ruling from the sutrah: even the person walking should avoid crossing in front of someone praying. If the person insists, the Prophet ﷺ used strong language to describe them.

Responding to the Qur'ān During Recitation in Prayer

When praying — or when the Imam is reciting — and you hear an āyah that mentions glorifying Allāh, you say "SubḥānAllāh." When you hear an āyah where Allāh encourages asking, you ask Him. When an āyah mentions seeking refuge, you seek refuge. This was the practice of the Prophet ﷺ in his night prayer, as reported by Ḥudhayfah رضي الله عنه.

Dry Spitting to Ward Off the Shayṭān's Whispers

Our goal in ṣalāh is to maximise khushū' (humility and focus). When you find your mind wandering and waswasah (Shayṭānic whispers) distracting you, the Prophet ﷺ taught a specific remedy: turn to your left, seek refuge in Allāh, and dry spit three times. This has both a spiritual effect (repelling the Shayṭān called Khanzab) and a psychological one — it refocuses your mind and signals a deliberate return to concentration.

Delaying 'Ishā' Prayer

The default rule is to pray every ṣalāh at the beginning of its time. However, the Prophet ﷺ made a special exception for 'Ishā': it is recommended to delay it. But praying in jamā'ah takes precedence — if the masjid prays 'Ishā' at a set time, attend the jamā'ah. The delay applies when you are praying alone (travelling, sick, or otherwise unable to attend the congregation).

Praying Taḥiyyat al-Masjid — Even During the Khuṭbah

Many people arrive late for Jumu'ah and sit down immediately. However, the Prophet ﷺ explicitly instructed a man who entered the masjid during the khuṭbah to stand up and pray two rak'ahs before sitting. This is a Sunnah that many people either don't know about or are too shy to practise.

Calling Upon Allāh by His Beautiful Names

When making du'ā', use the specific Name of Allāh that relates to what you are asking for. Asking for forgiveness? Call upon al-Ghafūr. Asking for mercy? Call upon ar-Raḥmān. Asking for provision? Call upon ar-Razzāq. This is a form of deep humility — you are acknowledging that only Allāh possesses that attribute, and you are in complete need of it.

Praising Allāh Before Asking & Sending Ṣalawāt

Just as you would speak kindly before asking someone a favour, you should praise Allāh and acknowledge His greatness before making your request. Then send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ. Only then should you ask. The Prophet ﷺ called a man "too hasty" for jumping straight to asking without praising Allāh first.

Pairing Good Deeds with Du'ā'

Du'ā' is elevated by good actions. When you want your du'ā' to be accepted, pair it with a righteous deed — give ṣadaqah, then make du'ā'. Fast a voluntary fast, then make du'ā'. Visit the sick, help someone in need, then call upon Allāh. The good deed lifts the du'ā' up.

The Prophet's ﷺ Morning Routine

The Prophet ﷺ had a precise routine upon waking that most Muslims today have completely abandoned. It involved wiping the face, saying a specific du'ā', clearing the nose, and washing the hands — all before starting the day.

Reciting the Last 10 Āyāt of Sūrah Āli 'Imrān & the Night Du'ā'

Ibn 'Abbās رضي الله عنه stayed at the house of his aunt Maymūnah with the Prophet ﷺ. When the Prophet ﷺ woke during the night, he wiped his face, then recited the last 10 verses of Sūrah Āli 'Imrān (starting from "Inna fī khalqi as-samāwāti wal-arḍ…"), then performed wuḍū' and prayed. Additionally, the Prophet ﷺ taught a comprehensive dhikr for anyone who wakes during the night.

Saying Bismillāh — And What to Say If You Forget

We all know to say Bismillāh before eating. But what most people don't know is the specific du'ā' the Prophet ﷺ taught for when you forget to say it at the beginning. This forgotten du'ā' covers the entire meal retroactively.

Eating with Three Fingers & Passing Food to the Right

The Prophet ﷺ ate with three fingers — the thumb, index finger, and middle finger — and would lick them after finishing. When sharing food or drink, he ﷺ would always pass it to the person on his right first, even if the person on his left was more senior.

Don't Recline, Don't Criticise, and Eat Together

Three powerful eating Sunnah that most people have abandoned: the Prophet ﷺ never ate while reclining, he never criticised any food, and he encouraged eating collectively from one plate — saying it brings barakah.

Saying Allāhu Akbar When Ascending & SubḥānAllāh When Descending

When you go up — a mountain, a flight of stairs, even an elevator — say Allāhu Akbar. When you come down, say SubḥānAllāh. The wisdom: when you are elevated, you proclaim that Allāh is greater than any height you reach, preventing arrogance. When you descend, you glorify Allāh's perfection. Some scholars restrict this to travel; others apply it to stairs, elevators, and any ascent or descent. This ḥadīth is in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, yet most people don't know it exists.

Making Istikhārah for Every Decision — Not Just the Big Ones

Most people only pray istikhārah for marriage, a new job, or buying a house. But the Ṣaḥābah used to make istikhārah for everything — even buying a new pair of shoes. The Prophet ﷺ taught istikhārah with the same emphasis as he would teach a sūrah of the Qur'ān.

Saying Bismillāh When You Stumble

When you trip, stumble, your car swerves, or you lose traction on a wet road — most people curse or blame the Shayṭān. The Prophet ﷺ corrected this directly: saying "May the Shayṭān perish!" actually inflates the Shayṭān's pride. Instead, say Bismillāh — and the Shayṭān shrinks until he becomes as small as a fly.

Giving Salām When Entering Your Home

When you walk through your front door, say Assalāmu 'alaykum wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh — whether or not anyone is home. Allāh commanded this in the Qur'ān. Unfortunately, many of us do the opposite: we come home yelling, stressed, or distracted. The Sunnah is to greet your family with peace — your wife, your children, your parents. This simple act transforms the atmosphere of the entire household.

Walking Barefoot Sometimes

The Prophet ﷺ used to command his companions to walk barefoot sometimes. It humbles a person, connects them to the earth, and prevents excessive indulgence in the comforts of the dunyā. A companion who was governor of Egypt was once asked why he had no shoes — he replied that the Prophet ﷺ had commanded them to go barefoot sometimes and not to indulge excessively in worldly comforts.

Letting the Rain Fall on Your Body

When it rains, the Prophet ﷺ would remove part of his garment and allow the rain to touch his body. Why? Because rain is a completely fresh ni'mah (blessing) — it has never touched the earth before. Unlike food that has been grown and processed, rain descends brand new from the command of Allāh. The Prophet ﷺ wanted to physically receive this blessing. This is done within reason — not in lightning storms, and not exposing your 'awrah.

Praying Two Rak'ahs Upon Returning from a Journey

Whenever the Prophet ﷺ returned from a journey — whether a military expedition, a trip, or any travel — he would pray two voluntary rak'ahs. This applies whether you've returned from overseas, or even from a trip to Sydney where you were shortening your prayers. Upon arriving home, pray two rak'ahs as gratitude for your safe return.

Beautifying Yourself for Your Spouse

When the Prophet ﷺ and the army were approaching Madīnah after a journey, he told Jābir رضي الله عنه to slow down — so the women at home would have time to comb their hair and prepare themselves for their husbands' return. The Prophet ﷺ actively created space for spouses to look their best for each other.

This goes both ways. Men are naturally more attracted physically; women are more drawn to emotional effort. But both should care about how they present themselves at home. A marriage is a job — harder than any 8-hour workday — and it requires active, practical effort from both sides.

Appreciating the Good in Your Spouse

Your spouse will have good days and bad days. Some days you'll think they're a complete write-off. The Prophet ﷺ taught us the antidote: if you dislike one trait, you will find another that pleases you. The key is to actively prioritise the good. This doesn't mean ignoring serious issues (bad akhlāq, abuse, neglect of rights) — those must be addressed. But small frustrations? Overlook them.

Showing Affection — Even When It Won't Lead to Anything

The Prophet ﷺ would show affection to his wives even when they were menstruating — lying with his head on their lap while reciting Qur'ān. The point: affection is not only a means to an end. Women need care, gentleness, and attention as a standalone act. Most men only show affection when it serves their interest. The Prophet ﷺ was different.

Helping Around the Home

When 'Ā'ishah رضي الله عنها was asked what the Prophet ﷺ did at home, she said: "He used to serve his family." He ﷺ would help with household tasks until the time for prayer came. The excuse "but their wives were Ṣaḥābiyyāt" doesn't hold — you need to be man enough to help and maintain boundaries. If you can't do both, the problem is with you, not your wife.

Spending Quality Time with Your Spouse

No one was busier than the Prophet ﷺ — his job was 24/7. Yet after finishing his night prayer, he would check on 'Ā'ishah. If she was awake, he would talk to her. If she was asleep, he would lie down. He ﷺ actively made time for his wife, despite having the weight of an entire Ummah on his shoulders.

Waking Your Spouse for Night Prayer

First establish qiyām al-layl in your own life. Then encourage your spouse. The Prophet ﷺ taught that if they refuse, you may gently sprinkle water on their face — not a bazooka nerf gun, just a gentle sprinkle. This is about building a household of goodness: if your home is good, your children will be good, and the community will follow.

Intimacy as an Act of Worship

Many people don't associate intimacy with the deen, but the Prophet ﷺ explicitly said there is reward in it. When the Companions asked in surprise — "We fulfil our desires and get rewarded?" — he ﷺ answered by pointing to the opposite: if you fulfilled those desires in ḥarām, wouldn't you be punished? So when done in ḥalāl, you are rewarded. Intimacy serves the preservation of the human race, the fulfilment of natural desire, and — as evidenced by Jannah — pure pleasure that Allāh has blessed us with.

The Du'ā' Before Intimacy — Protecting Your Offspring

Before being intimate with your spouse, the Prophet ﷺ taught a specific du'ā'. If Allāh decrees a child from that encounter, the Shayṭān will never harm that child. This is perhaps the most universally memorised du'ā' among men — and for good reason.

Making Wuḍū' Between Encounters

If a person is intimate with their spouse and wishes to repeat, the Prophet ﷺ advised making wuḍū' in between. This isn't about requiring ghusl between each time — it's specifically about the benefit: it revitalises and makes the experience more energetic. Even in intimacy, the Prophet ﷺ encouraged doing things well and with iḥsān.

Constantly Making Du'ā' for Your Children's Guidance

The Prophet ﷺ said that three prayers are undoubtedly answered — and one of them is the du'ā' of a father for his child. If you're a parent in Australia, your children face Shayāṭīn from both the jinn and mankind. Allāh gave you the greatest weapon — du'ā' — and the greatest time for it — qiyām al-layl. Make it second nature to get up at night and pray for your children.

Disciplining Children Regarding Religious Duties

A child fails a maths exam — you discipline them. They don't clean up — you discipline them. But they don't pray? "Oh, they're still young." This is backwards. The Prophet ﷺ gave a clear timeline: teach them to pray at seven, and at ten, if they haven't established it, you may discipline them. The deen comes first — then everything else. And if you wait until they're seventeen and bigger than you, it's too late.

Reciting Du'ā' of Protection Over Your Children

The Prophet ﷺ used to seek refuge with Allāh for his grandchildren al-Ḥasan and al-Ḥusayn رضي الله عنهما using a specific formula — and he told them that their forefather Ibrāhīm عليه السلام used to do the same for Ismā'īl and Isḥāq. This is a Sunnah that goes back to the Prophets.

Being Soft with Your Son-in-Law & Daughter-in-Law

When 'Alī and Fāṭimah رضي الله عنهما had an argument and 'Alī left the house in anger, the Prophet ﷺ didn't storm in demanding answers. He went to find 'Alī sleeping in the masjid, covered in dust. Smiling, the Prophet ﷺ gently brushed the dirt off his clothing and jokingly called him "Abū Turāb" (Father of Dust). 'Alī later said this became his most beloved nickname — because the Prophet ﷺ gave it to him with love.

Your daughter-in-law is like your daughter. Your son-in-law is like your son. Don't be the mother-in-law who is jealous that another woman cooks for her son. Don't be the father-in-law who intimidates his daughter's husband. Make their lives easy — especially after they get married.