Category Archives: S. Sunna

Sunna 11

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)

Sunna 9

Sunna: Carefully avoid splashes from urine and other filth while using the lavatory.

(Tirmizi)

Sunna 8

Sunna: While cleansing one’s self in lavatory do not touch the private parts with right hand, use left hand instead. (Bukhari & Muslim)

Importance of following the Sunna

Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said,

 “In our path (tareeq) the goal is achieved comparatively quickly.

The reason being the extraordinary emphasis laid on following the Sunna of Allah’s beloved Prophet (Allah’s blessing and peace be on him) . This makes the achievement of goal by Divine attraction/pull (jazb) rather than personal effort and toil (sulook ).

As it is said in the holy Quran;
(O Prophet!) Tell (them) that if you want to love Allah , then you should follow me. (By this) Allah will love you and forgive all your sins. Indeed! Allah is all forgiving and merciful. (3:31)”

From: T’aluq ma’Allah

Sunna 7

 

 Sunna: Not talking while using the lavatory, except in emergency situations.

Even remembrance of Allah with the movement of tongue should not be done.

(Mishkat)

Sunna 6

Sunna: Neither to face qibla (direction of Holy K’aba) nor to keep one’s back in that direction while using the lavatory. 

(Tirmizi) 

Sunna 4

Sunna: Prior to entering the restroom recite the following,

بسم الله اللهم إني أعوذ بك من الخُبث والخبائث

(Tirmizi)

Sunna 3

Sunna: Prophet (Allah’s blessing and peace be on him) used to cover his head and put on footwear prior to entering the restroom. (Ibn S’ad)

Sunna 2: Clothing

Sunna: When putting on clothes and shoes begin with the right side first. That is, put in the right arm in the sleeve and then the left; do similarly with right leg and foot.

When removing the clothing and shoes remove the left first and right last.

(Tirmizi)


Sunna 1

On wakening up from sleep 

Sunna: Rub the face and the eyes with both hands to remove the haze of sleep.(Shamail e Tirmizi) 

Sunna: Recite الحمد لله الذي أحيانا بعدما أماتنا وإليه النشور(Shamail e Tirmizi) 

Sunna: Clean the mouth using miswak. (Abu Dawud)

This is a Sunna separate from using miswak in wudu.

Etiquettes of being a Civilized Individual

The rulings of Shariah have been broadly classified into five categories. They are:
1. those related to the beliefs (‘aqaid)
2. those pertaining to the forms of worship (‘ibadaat)
3. those related to the mutual financial transactions (ma’amlaat)
4. those associated with manners of civilized living (ma’ashrat) and
5. finally, those dealing with the inner morals (ikhlaq)

It is sad to see that most of us, Muslims, only consider a’qaid and ‘ibadaat to be the components of deen and are completely ignorant of the rest.

Few select practicing ones include ma’amlaat to be deen also.

Ikhlaq, all praise to Allah SWT is practiced by those involved in tasawwuf.

The Shariah ruling regarding how to live a civilized life is abandoned by most of us.
However, it is ironic that we brothers/sister who are involved in discussions of higher & lofty realities of Tasawwuf are disregarding the rights of fellow individuals. The fact remains true that the rights of fellow human beings (haqqul ‘abd) can not be forgiven by repentance alone. It require asking forgiveness from the aggrieved individual. Most of us are totally unaware of the rulings of Shariah pertaining to the etiquettes of civilized living. The extent of this ignorance is so great that enemies of Muslims regard Islam to be incompatible with the civilized world life. Post 9/11 western strategy is to modify Islam to make it civilized.Hakeem ul Ummat Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi ra being the mujaddid high lighted the importance of these rulings in most of his discourses and writings. The most beneficial of these is a concise treatise “Aadab ul Ma’ashrat” (Etiquettes of Civilized living).
The importance of this book is evident by the fact that it is the first reading in the nisab e Tasawwuf (curriculum for salikeen) recommended by Hakeemul Ummat ra.
The basic principle underlying the rulings of civilized living is,
“My words, actions and attitude should not be the source of any discomfort or annoyance for fellow human beings at all.”
InshaAllah, quotes from this book regarding some important and common lapses in our every day (uncivilized) life will be posted here.
Allah SWT give us the tawfeeq. Ameen!