Life Events
of the mouth. Hygiene, in general, is extremely important in Islam; this includes oral hygiene as indicated in the above hadith. It is narrated that the Prophet( SAW) would use siwak upon waking and throughout the day. The teeth are delicate and when dental problems occur it can cause tremendous amounts of pain; this Sunnah introduces preventative measures against this and encourages proper oral hygiene. Siwak can be easily found today and is relatively inexpensive, making it an easy Sunnah to uphold. Abdur-Rahman bin Abu‘ Atiq said:“ My father told me:‘ I heard‘ Aishah say,( narrating) from the Prophet( SAW):“ Siwak is a means of purification for the mouth and is pleasing to the Lord.” [ Sunan an-Nasa’ i ]
Oiling Hair I heard Jabir bin Samurah being asked about the grey hairs of the Prophet( SAW). He said:“ If he put oil on his head they could not be seen, but if he did not put oil on his head, they could be seen.” [ An-Nasai ] Oiling is something many of us may not think of as a Sunnah act, however, this hadith alludes to the idea of using oil to prevent grey hairs from being visible. Highlighting that the Sunnah of the Prophet( SAW) encompasses every aspect of life we can appreciate that this act is also of the Sunnah. Oiling hair on a regular basis also prevents hair loss and greying, promotes strong and lustrous hair by strengthening hair protein and rejuvenates and relaxes the mind by soothing the brain’ s nerves and capillaries. We seek all this by spending a great deal of money at hairdressers and spas, yet this simple Sunnah can save us a great deal of money, time and effort whilst we continue to live like our beloved Prophet( SAW).
Maintaining the 1 / 3rd rule when eating Miqdam bin Madikarib said:“ I heard the Messenger of Allah( SAW) say:‘ A human being fills no worse vessel than his stomach. It is sufficient for a human being to eat a few mouthfuls to keep his spine straight. But if he must( fill it) then one-third of food, one third for drink and one third for air.’” [ Ibn Majah ]
It is an underestimated fact that food has a dramatic effect on your body’ s and brain’ s performance. This hadith clearly highlights that overeating is a reprehensible quality we should stay away from. However, it is also important to remember that eating a proper meal is also extremely important. In order to function, we need to have a balanced meal; your quantity and type of food consumption should not leave you feeling tired or bloated as this is a state that leads to laziness, which is a vice we seek refuge in Allah( SWT) from. Instead, we should consume foods that give us energy and are beneficial to our bodies and mind. This Sunnah may take some time to master but it costs us nothing and will help keep our body and minds healthy and energetic.
Speaking good or keeping silent The prophet( SAW) said:“ He who believes in Allah and the Hereafter if he witnesses any matter he should talk in good terms about it or keep quiet.” [ Muslim ] We often find ourselves in situations where we sit and talk about things that do not concern us. We waste precious minutes, even hours, just by talking about matters that will not increase us in knowledge, character or anything for that matter. When speaking ill of a person or situation, the conversation becomes elongated, sadly due to the desire to gossip. The beauty of this particular sunnah is that it will help you save time and reduce the amount of energy used to contemplate over irrelevant matters being discussed. This energy and time could be well spent on something beneficial, such as reading Qur’ an or doing vital tasks, or only speaking things that benefit oneself and others in Dunya( this life) and Akhirah( the hereafter).
Doing hijama( cupping) The Prophet( SAW) said:“ If there is any healing in your medicines, then it is in cupping, a gulp of honey or branding with fire( cauterization) that suits the ailment, but I don’ t like to be( cauterized) branded with fire.” [ Bukhari ] The Prophet( SAW) would be cupped on a regular basis. This form of treatment has been used throughout history because of its significant benefits to the body. The benefits of cupping are vast, including the removal of toxins from the blood. Studies have shown cupping to be beneficial in the treatment of migraines, fertility and joint pains. This can be taken as a therapeutic measure against stress, helping to relieve a person of thoughts that impinge on their ability to complete their daily tasks. This sunnah can be very beneficial to those with chronic ailments, it is relatively inexpensive but is also an investment in your health. Its schedule can be done based on your budget so that does not become a burden on you financially.
Visiting the sick The Prophet( SAW) said:“ Fed the hungry, visit the sick and set free the captives.” [ Bukhari ] The concept of looking out for others is found throughout the teachings of the Prophet( SAW). Sadly, we are regularly aware of people within our circle of acquaintances who are tested with an illness, big or small and too often do little with this awareness. Visiting and spending time with them has two major benefits; you demonstrate love towards another, instantly tightening the bonds of kinship / friendship and seeing someone who is unable to function as well as they normally can, is a strong reminder to us all of the blessing of health that we currently have and generally take for granted. The next time you hear of someone who is ill, try your best to go beyond sending them‘ well wishes’ and practice a forgotten sunnah: make the effort to be physically present and comfort them.
Sitting when eating / drinking It was narrated from Anas( RA):“ The Prophet( SAW) prohibited that a man should drink while standing.”( Qatadah said) So it was said:“ And eating?” He( Anas) said:“ That is worse.” [ Tirmidhi ] Those who stand to eat or drink always look like they are in a rush. Sitting down to eat slows a person in their eating habits, reducing the amount they are likely to eat and the unhealthy speed by which they do so. Slowing your eating has many benefits including, aiding your digestion causing less fatigue, as well as slowing or calming your mind allowing it to rest for a few minutes before resuming your activities. As mentioned above, eating consciously prevents a person from becoming fatigued, more importantly, eating together as a family or with friends, which requires you to sit, is a crucial way to build relationships.
Sleeping on your right side“ When Allah’ s Messenger( SAW) went to bed, he used to sleep on
32 | Ihsaan | Issue 3