Ihsaan Magazine June 2018 Issue - Sunnah Revival | Page 33

12 Life Events SIMPLE SUNNAHS that we should implement IN OUR LIVES today WHAT IS SUNNAH The word ‘Sunnah’ is used to describe the life and teachings of the Prophet (SAW); the perfect guidance for leading a productive and successful life The Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever revives my Sunnah then he has loved me. And whoever loved me, he shall be with me in Paradise.” [Tirmidhi] productivity daily? Would you do it? Here are a few Sunnan that we should aim to revive in our lives with the intention of seeking the Prophet’s (SAW) company in the Hereafter and that can help increase productivity in our lives. Productivity is key in today’s fast-paced world! As believers, we all know and understand that we should try to live our lives according to the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (SAW) as much as possible and should be active in learning about his life, as there is much to gain in our Hereafter from it. However, in today’s fast-paced world it becomes difficult to have the lessons that we learn become second nature, as efficiency in our lives usually take precedence. What if I said that being productive and following the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (SAW) go hand in hand? What if I showed you a handful of sunnan that you can implement in your lives that costs nothing but effort and can increase your Sleeping and waking up early Sleeping and resting play a major role in our ability to function effectively during the day. The hours after Fajr (early morning prayer) are among the most blessed of the day. Beginning your day by praying Salaah already sets you in the right frame of mind to perform at your best throughout the day, however in order for our body to arise and function in the early hours of the morning, it is imperative to get an adequate amount of sleep. Lack of sleep will hamper our body’s ability to function at its best and will ultimately cause our positive mindset (defined after praying) to dissipate. Aisha (RA) said about the Prophet (SAW): “He used to sleep early at night and get up in its last part to pray, and return to his bed.” [Bukhari] Today’s world is fast-paced and on a regular basis we all have a million things to do; it is very easy to fall into a horrible cycle of going to bed late and waking up late. This causes our sleep cycle to be skewed and ultimately, one day extends into the next as our body and mind are constantly tired from playing catch-up. Break that cycle today! Wake up early and sleep early to be the strong successful you that you want to be. ourselves and those around us. This characteristic is highly contagious and plays a massive role in building relationships with those around you. A positive mind and attitude are irreplaceable in the quest to be productive and achieve your goals in life. It is a simple, inexpensive and beneficial Sunnah act that helps lift your mood and make you feel more grateful and content. Best of all anyone can do it, the young, the old, poor, rich, it matters not; it’s a beautiful Sunnah easily applicable to all. So let’s follow along with this great Sunnah and benefit in both this life and the hereafter. Using the siwak Having a pleasant smile always Ibn Jaz reports: “I have not seen anyone who smiled more than the Messenger of Allah (SAW)” [Tirmidhi] Smiling has been shown to increase the natural antidepressant hormone, serotonin, causing the one who wears a smile to be happier. We underestimate the power of a smile on both Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) sa id: “If it were not that it would be difficult on my nation, then I would have ordered them to use the siwak for each prayer.” [Tirmidhi] Siwak comes from the Salvadora persica tree and has many anti-bacterial qualities, making it a great way to maintain hygiene Ihsaan | Issue 3 | 31