Sunnahs of eating

Wash your hands properly and rinse your mouth before eating. It is also called Wudu [ablution] of eating. Spread the dining-mat on the floor. Put off your shoes and sit down. The way of sitting is: Keep the right knee erect and fold the left leg or sit on your hams. Recite ‘بسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ’ and then recite ‘بِسْمِ اللہِ وَ عَلٰی بَرَ کَۃِ اللہِ’ before eating. If you have forgotten to recite ‘بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ’ before eating, recite ‘‘بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ’ upon remembering. Make a small morsel with your right hand and eat from your side. If a morsel or a grain of rice falls on the dining-mat, pick it up and eat it. Clean your plate properly and lick your fingers as well. After eating, recite ‘‘ا لْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ الَّذِیْ اَطْعَمَنَاوَسَقَانَا وَجَعَلَنَا مُسْلِمِیْنَ’. At the end, wash your hands properly and rinse your mouth.

Sunnahs and manners of Salam

It is a Sunnah of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم to say Salam while greeting. The following words are excellent to say Salam: ‘اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْکُمْ وَ رَحْمَۃُ اللہ وَبَرَکَا تُہٗ ط’ The one who is given Salam should reply like this: ‘وَعَلَیْکُمُ السَّلَام وَ رَحْمَۃُ اللّٰہِ وَبَرَکَا تُہٗ ط’ It is stated in a blessed Hadith that you get 10 good deeds by saying اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْکُمْ. You get 20 good deeds by saying اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْکُمْ وَ رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ. You get 30 good deeds by saying اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْکُمْ وَ رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ وَبَرَکَا تُہٗ. Therefore, Salam should be said and answered completely. یَغْفِرُ اللہ لَنَا وَلَکُمْ ط: After Salam, this Du’a should be recited. Salam should be said in such a loud voice that another person can hear it. Likewise, the answer should also be given in such a loud voice that the one who says Salam can hear it. You should say Salam first. The one who says Salam first gets more reward.

Sunnahs and manners before sleeping and after waking up

Before sleeping, recite بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ and dust your bedclothes. اَللّٰھُمَّ بِا سْمِکَ اَمُوْ تُ وَاَحْیٰی: Recite it before sleeping. Lie down and face the Qiblah. Place your right hand under your right cheek. Sleeping on your stomach is not liked by Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. Therefore, you should not sleep on your stomach. Do not point your feet towards Quran and other books. Likewise, do not sleep while pointing your feet towards the Qiblah. اَ لْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ الَّذِیْ اَحْیَانَا بَعْدَمَا اَمَا تَنَا وَاِلَیْہِ النُّشُوْرُ: Recite it after waking up.

Sunnahs of drinking water

You should sit down and drink water. You should drink with the right hand. You should drink in the light. You should recite بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ and then drink. You should drink in three breaths. At the end, you should say اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـهِ and thank Allah Almighty.

Manners of going up and coming down

While walking, going up and coming down the stairs, ensure that your shoes should not make a noise.

Manners of sneezing

When sneezing, lower your head and cover your mouth. Ensure that you make a low noise. When sneezing, say اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـهِ (i.e. all praise be to Allah Almighty) in a loud voice while thanking Allah Almighty. In response, the listener should say یرْحَمُكَ اللہ (i.e. may Allah Almighty have mercy upon you). Then the one who sneezed should say یَغْفِرُاللہُ لَنَا وَلَکُمْ (i.e. may Allah Almighty forgive you!). The listener should say اٰمین. If an unbeliever sneezes and says اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـهِ, in response, the listener should say یَھْدِیْکَ اللہ (i.e. may Allah Almighty guide you!). We should not response to another person’s sneeze during Khutbah (sermon) and while performing Salah.

Manners of shaking hands

While shaking hands, the Sunnah is that you should not carry a handkerchief, etc. in your hand. Both palms should be empty, and one palm should come into contact with another palm. When two Muslims meet, say Salam, and shake both hands, it is Sunnah. When leaving, say Salam as well, and you can also shake hands. It is not Sunnah to shake hands using one hand only. Shaking with both hands is Sunnah.

Manners of acquiring knowledge

It is a Sunnah to go to the teacher and not call him at your home. It is best to wish for an increase in knowledge. It is necessary to respect the teacher. We should not object to the teacher’s opinion.