Sunna: To proceed to mosque for each prayers (salah) after making wudu at home.

Sunna: To make an intention to go for salah when leaving the home.

Sunna: To leave all the worldly activities and start preparing for salah once the call (adhan) for prayers is anounced.

Sunna: To offer every salah with congregation (jama’a), joining it at the initial opening takbir (takbir-e-ula). 

Hadhrat Shaykh Masihullah Khan (may Allah have mercy on him) said,

“Those treading the Path should strive to follow the method of Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) in everything.

Following the Sunna creates much light (nur) in the heart.

The Path to Perfection, page 121

This light (nur) makes it possible to differentiate between virtuous and sinful easy.  It also facilitates performance of virtuous and abstinence from sin.

Sunna of ablution (wudu):

1. To make intention (niyya). That is, remind yourself that I am making wudu for salat, etc.

2. To recite bismilla,

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

or

بسم الله العظيم و الحمدلله على دين السلام

3. To wash both hands till wrist three times

4. To use a tooth stick (miswak) to clean the teeth and mouth. If it is not available use finger to rub the teeth.

5. To rinse the mouth three times

6. To rinse the nose thrice

7. To blow and clear the nose three times

8. To wash all the wudu parts thrice

9. For men, to pass wet fingers (khilal) through their beard hairs while washing the face

10. To rub in between the fingers and toes while washing hands and feets.

11. To wipe on the whole head once (masah)

12. To wipe on the ears along with the head

13. To rub the part being wahsed

14. To complete the wudu in one go

15. To wash the body parts in sequence prescribed

16. To start washing the right side parts first

17. To recite the following after completion of wudu

اشهدان لا اله الا الله و اشهدان محمد رسول عبده و رسوله

18. To make wudu thoroughly even at times when one does not feel like making one.

(Nurul Idhah, Tirmizi)

Sunna: To perform ablution (wudu) at home and then proceed to mosque (for salah).

(Bukhari)

Sunna method of bath (ghusul):

1. Wash hands (including the wrists) three times.

2. Wash away semen and other filthy secretions on the body carefully three times.

3. Clean the private parts as described before, both front and back area.

4. Perform ablution (wudu) as per sunna. However, if the water is stagnating at the feet postpone washing feets till the end, otherwise wash them.

5. Pour water on the head first.

6. Then pour water on right shoulder and then on left, in a manner that it washes that side of the body completely.

7. Rub the body with the hands while pouring water making sure that it reaches everywhere and no place remains dry.

8. Repeat the steps 5, 6 and 7 twice more.

(Tirmizi)

Sunna: If one wakes up after the time of fajar has started and there is a need to perform bath (ghusul), he should not delay it and hasten up the process so that he is able to perform the morning prayers (salah) with the congregation (jama’t).

(Tirmizi)

Importance of following Sunnah!

Hadhrat Maulana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) told us:

“Hadhrat Mujaddid Alif Thani (Sheikh Ahmed Sirhindi Naqshbandi, may Allah have mercy on him) said,
‘Allah initially gave me the outward knowledge of Shariah and made me excel in it. Then I turned towards the inner wisdom Sufiya possess. All praise to Allah, He made me do extremely well in them also. And Allah bestowed all His bounties on me and eventually elevated me to such a high station that our lord, the mercy for the universe Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و اله وسلم)) conferred the royal cloak of honor to me by his very noble hands.

Furthermore, Allah made me move forward additionally to much higher stations to the level that if I speak of them, the scholars of the exoteric Shariah will give a verdict that I am an infidel (kafir) and Sufiya will label me to be a heretic (zindeeq). But how can I deny this reality? It is a fact.

However, after achieving all these exalted stations I make a prayer (dua). Whoever says ameen ((آمین after it, by God’s decree (inshaAllah) he will also receive salvation (magfirah).

The dua is,
O Allah!

Give me the tawfeeq to follow the example of Prophet (صلى الله عليه و اله وسلم)

(Ameen),

O Allah!

Keep me steadfast in following the example of Prophet (صلى الله عليه و اله وسلم) till I die

(Ameen).

This is because, after all this journey I found out that it is due to the following of Sunna of Prophet (صلى الله عليه و اله وسلم), that this was achieved.’

Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him)adds,

Therefore, we should make a solemn determination from today onwards that we are going to perform all the Sunna of Prophet (صلى الله عليه و اله وسلم). Then, inshaAllah, we will experience how contentment, ability to distinguish between good and bad (noor), blessings (barakah) and radiance are instilled in our lives.

I swear by Allah, the delight of life is not achieved by indulging in transgressions and sins. Ask regarding this pleasure from those individuals who have molded their lives in the example of Prophet (صلى الله عليه و اله وسلم). ”

(Islahi-mawaiz 236-7)

Sunna: After stepping out of the lavatory recite this,

غفرانك

الحمْدُ لِلهِ الذِىْ اَذهَبَ عَنى الاذى وَ اعَافانِىْ

(Tirmizi)

Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) tells that he was suprised to see out of season gourd (a vegetable) dish on his lunch platter. He inquired from his wife regarding this.

The respected wife of Hakim al-Umma (may Allah have mercy on them) told that she had instructed the servant to search for this vegetable and purchase it as long as it was available in the market. This was because she came to know that our master the holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) liked it.

Hadhrat Hakim al-Umma tells that this answer made him tremble from head to toe. I contemplated that an illiterate house wife has such love of the Prophet’s liking, whereas I as a scholar never thought about it. The impact was tremendous, for the next three days I took account of all my daily activities in minute details. I made an analysis of all my actions which of them I did just as a habit and a normal routine and which ones I did considering them to be Sunna.

I made sure that from now onwards all my actions were completely in accordance with the Sunna.

Sunna: When stepping out of the lavatory put right foot outside first. (Tirmizi)

Sunna: After urination and defecation use clean mud pieces (nowdays toilet paper) to remove all filth contaminating the skin prior to washing it away with water. (Tirmizi, Zarin)