Sunan of Ablution and Salah
6. Rinse water and sniff in one go: 'Abdullah bin Zayd, radiallahu 'anh narrates that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam said: "Rinse water in your mouth, and sniff it with one hand (in one go" [Muslim:555]
7. Ablution before Ghusl: 'Aishah, radiallahu 'anha narrates that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam\ "Used to, if he wishes to wash from janaabah (complete impurity), began by washing his hands, then would do ablution as he would for salah, then he would enter his fingers into the water, and would touch the roots of his hair with it, then would pour (water) over his head with his palms, and then would let water cover his entire body" [al-Bukhaari: 248]
8. Tashahhud after ablution: 'Umar bin al-Khattaab, radiallahu 'anh said: The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam said: "None of you perfects his ablution, then says: Ashhadu al-Laa Haha ilia Allah, wa anna Muhammadan 'abduhu warasooluh, except that the eight gates of paradise open for him, and for him is to enter it from wherever he wants" [Muslim: 553]
9. Being economical with water: Anas, radiallahu 'anh said: "The Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam used to wash with a saa* to five amdaad, and would do ablution with a mudd' [Agreed upon: 201 8i 737]
(*): A s<?<?'is equivalent to four mudds. A mudd is a handful using two hands cupped together, of an average-sized man.
10.Two ruk'ah prayer after ablution/ The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam said: "Whosoever performs ablution like that of mine, then prays two ruk'ah without having any other concern on his mind, all of his past sins will be forgiven." [Agreed upon: 159 & 539]
11. Repeating the words of the adhan after the mu'adhdhin then supplicating for the Prophet (salla Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam)/It is narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that he heard the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam say: "When you hear the mu'adhdhin (caller to prayer) make the adhaan, then say what he says, and then supplicate for me, for whoever supplicates for me once, then Allah will do so for him ten times." [Muslim : 849]
*N.B. The dua to be made after the adhaan is:
'0 Allaah, Owner of this perfect call and Owner of this prayer to be performed, bestow upon Muhammad al-waseelah and al-fadeelah and send him upon a praised platform which You have promised him. Verily, You never fail in Your promise.'
12. Frequent use of the siwaak (tooth stick)/ It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam said: "If it weren't for causing difficulty for my nation, I would have ordered the use of the siwaak at every prayer" [Agreed upon : 887/ 589]
13. Going early to the Masjid/ It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam said: "Were the people to know [the reward] of going to the masjid early, they would race for it..." [Agreed upon 981/615]
14. Walking to the masjid/ It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam said:"Shall I direct you to that by which Allaah erases [peoples'] sins and raises them in rank?" [The people] replied, "Yes, 0 Messenger of Allaah." He sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam said:
"Performing the ablution thoroughly despite odds, frequently walking to the masjid, and waiting for the prayers from one to the next, and this is a Ribat [1] for you." [Muslim: 587]
[1] Ribat. Guarding the frontlines of the Muslims, the reward for which is very great. So in this context, the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam is saying that the reward for these things is very great.
15. Going to the prayer with dignity and tranquility/ It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam said: "When the Iqama is pronounced for prayer, do not go to it running but go walking with [calmness and] tranquillity. Pray however much [of the prayer] you are in time for, and make up whatever you miss." [Agreed Upon: 1359-908]
16. Making dua'a upon entering and leaving the masjid/It is narrated on the authority of Abu Humayd al-Saa'idee and Abu Usayd (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam said: "When any of you enters the masjid, he should say, ’O Allah, open the gates of Your Mercy for me,' [1] and when he leaves he should say, 'O Allah, I ask you from Your Favour. [2]" [Muslim : 1952]
17. Praying behind a sutra [barrier]; It is narrated on the authority of Musa ibn Talhah on the authority of his father who said: the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam said: "If any of you places something in front of him, [at least] equal [in height] to the back of a saddle, he should pray without caring who passes [in front of him] on the other side of it." [Muslim: 1111]
Note: A sutrah can be anything a person puts in front of himself while he is praying, such as a wall, or a long stick, and the such.
The back of a saddle is approximately two thirds of a cubit in height [so the sutrah should be at least the same length].
18. Sitting in al-iq3aa' between the two prostrations; It is narrated on the authority of Abu Zubayr that he heard Tawus say: We asked Ibn 'Abbas about a/-iq3aa'\l\. He said: "It is sunnah." We said to him: "We find it hard upon the feet." Ibn 'Abbas said: "It is the sunnah of your Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam." [Muslim: 1198]
[1] al-iq3aa'\s to prop up the two feet and sit on the heels. It is done when sitting between two sajdahs (prostrations).
19. Sitting in the tawarruk [1] position in the second tashahhud; It is narrated on the authority of Abu Humayd al-Sa'di (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "When the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam sat in the last rak'ah he would push his left foot forward, prop up his right foot, and sit on his buttock." [al-Bukhari:828]
[1] al-tawarruk is to rest the body, while sitting, on the left thigh; put the the left foot under the right leg, while setting the right foot upright; and support the body by grasping the left knee with the left hand.
20. Making lots of supplication before ending the prayer with 'as-salaamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullaah'.'It is narrated on the authority of 'Abd-Allah ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) who said: "We used to when we were with the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam ...he said, 'Then let him be free to choose whatever supplication impresses him and supplicate with it.'" [al-Bukhari:835]
21. Performing the Sunan and regular non-obligatory prayers (rawaatib); It is narrated on the authority of Umm Habeeba (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam say 'There is no Muslim slave who prays twelve units of voluntary prayer besides the obligatory ones to Allah every day except that Allah builds for him a house in paradise'" [Muslim :835]
They are: two before /ayr(dawn) prayers; four before zuhr (afternoon) prayers and
two afterwards; two after maghrib (evening) prayer and two after ishaa ' (night) prayers.
22. The Forenoon Prayer (Salaat al-Duhaa); It is narrated on the authority of Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam said
"Every morning charity is due for every one of your joints: every tasbeeh (i.e. saying subhaanallaah) is charity; every tahmeed (i.e. saying al- hamdu-lillaah ) is charity; every tah/eel (i.e. saying /aa Haaha illallaah) is charity; every takbeer( i.e. saying Allaahu akbar) is charity; every act of enjoining good is charity and every act of prohibiting evil is charity; and doing two units of prayer in the forenoon suffices all that." [Muslim: 1671]
23. The Night Prayer (Qiyaam al-layl)/It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam was asked what the best prayer is after the obligatory ones. He said: "The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the prayer in the middle of the night." [Muslim: 2756]
24. The Witr ('odd') Prayer/ It is narrated on the authority of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam said: "Make your last prayer at night an odd number" [Muslim: 998-1755]
25. Praying in shoes when pure/ Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked, "Did the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam pray in his shoes? He said, "Yes." [al-Bukhari: 386]
26. Praying in Masjid al-Qubaa '/It is narrated on the authority of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam used to go to Qubaa' riding and and by foot. Ibn Numayr added: 'Ubaydullaah narrated to us on the authority of Naafi', "And he prayed two units of prayer there" [Agreed upon: 1194-3390]
27. Performing voluntary prayers in one's house/ It is narrated on the authority of Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said the Messenger of Allah sallallahu
'alayhi wa salam said: "If one of you has finished the prayer in his mosque, let him make a portion of his prayers for his home, as Allah will certainly put goodness in his home from his prayer." [Muslim: 1822]
28. Prayer for divine guidance (Istikhaara)/It is narrated on the authority of Jaabir bin 'Abd-Allaah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said the Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam used to teach us istikhaara like he used to teach us a chapter from the Quran" [Bukhari: 1162]
29. Sitting in prayer area after dawn prayers (fajr) until the sun rises/ It is narrated on the authority of Jaabir bin Samra (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam used to sit in his prayer area when he prayed fajr until the sun had rose well [Muslim: 1526]
30. Bathing on the day of Jumuah/It is narrated on the authority of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) that he said the Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam said: "If one of you comes to Jumuah, let him have a bath." [Agreed upon: 1951 8i977]
31. Going early to Jumuah prayer/ It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said the Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam said: "When Friday comes, at each door of the mosque there are angels who write down the first ones to come to the mosque. The one who
comes early is like who sacrificed a camel, then those who come after him are like one who sacrificed a cow, then one who sacrificed a horned ram, then one who sacrificed a chicken, then like one who offered an egg. Then when the imaam sits down they close their books and come to listen to the sermon." [Agreed upon: 929 & 1964]
32. Seeking the hour of having one's prayer answered on Jumuah day/ It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) that the day of Jumuah was mentioned and the Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam said : "On this day there is a time when no Muslim stands and prays, asking Allaah for something, but Allaah will grant him it" - and he gestured with his hands to indicate how short that time is. [Agreed upon: 935 & 1969]
33. Going to the Eed prayer by one path and returning by another/ It is narrated on the authority of Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "The Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam on Eed day used to differ paths" [al-Bukhari: 986]
34. Funeral prayers (janaaza)zlt is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam said: "Whoever attends a funeral until the prayer is offered has a qeeraat, and whoever attends it until it is buried will have two qeeraats." It was
asked: "What are the two qeeraats ?" He said, "Like two mountains." [Muslim 2189]
35. Visiting graveyards/ It is narrated on the authority of Buraydah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam said: "I used to prohibit you from visiting graves, so visit them now..." [Muslim 2260]
