Theme
اتباع السنة
Following the Sunnah
Ittiba' as-Sunnah
A striking pattern runs through the lives of the Companions: when they learned what the Prophet ﷺ did or commanded, they acted on it at once. Wine was poured out in the streets of Madinah the hour it was forbidden. Old habits were dropped the day a ruling reached them.
These practices are about closing the gap between knowing and doing, gently, one Sunnah at a time.
أَنَّهُ جَاءَ إِلَى الْحَجَرِ الأَسْوَدِ فَقَبَّلَهُ، فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ حَجَرٌ لاَ تَضُرُّ وَلاَ تَنْفَعُ، وَلَوْلاَ أَنِّي رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُقَبِّلُكَ مَا قَبَّلْتُكَ.
“Had I not seen Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) kissing you I would not have kissed you”
30 practices from 25 companions
Open any practice to read it in full on the Companion's page, with the Arabic and English text of every source.
Abdullah ibn al-Zubayrعبد الله بن الزبير
Asking Aisha and acting on the Prophet's wish
Try this today
Learn what the Prophet wanted and act on it when you can.
Sit with this Is there something you know the Prophet ﷺ loved that you could act on this week?
Abdullah ibn Umarعبد الله بن عمر
Following the Prophet step by step
Try this today
Pick one thing the Prophet did and follow it exactly, rather than only broadly.
Sit with this Which single act of the Prophet ﷺ could you copy exactly, detail by detail?
Abdullah ibn Umarعبد الله بن عمر
Accepting every invitation
Try this today
Say yes to invitations from fellow Muslims, and go to bring joy, not for the food.
Sit with this Which invitation have you been avoiding that would bring someone joy?
Abdullah ibn Umarعبد الله بن عمر
Dropping an old habit the moment he heard the Sunnah
Try this today
When you learn the Sunnah on a matter, adapt your habit to it, even if you have long done otherwise.
Sit with this Is there an old habit you keep only because you have always done it?
Abu Ayyub al-Ansariأبو أيوب الأنصاري
Correcting himself immediately when he learned a ruling
Try this today
When you learn that a habit is wrong, change it immediately and ask Allah for forgiveness.
Sit with this What would it take to change a habit the very day you learn it is wrong?
Abu Dujanah al-Ansariأبو دجانة الأنصاري
Pouring out wine the moment it was forbidden
Try this today
When a clear command arrives, do not delay.
Sit with this What clear command are you still negotiating with?
Abu Talhah al-Ansariأبو طلحة الأنصاري
Obeying immediately
Try this today
When you learn something is forbidden, act on it the same day.
Sit with this What would you change today if you treated a ruling as urgent?
Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrahأبو عبيدة بن الجراح
Obeying a ruling the moment it is announced
Try this today
When you learn something is forbidden or required, act on it straight away, before it fades from your mind.
Sit with this What do you already know you should stop, and why not today?
al-Husayn ibn Aliالحسين بن علي
Washing hands after eating, before sleep
Try this today
Wash your hands after eating, before you sleep.
Sit with this Which small hygiene sunnah could you add to your evening?
Holding to the sunnah on the day of doubt
Try this today
Follow the sunnah where it is clear, and say it kindly.
Sit with this How do you hold to the Sunnah kindly when others do differently?
Obeying a new ruling at once
Try this today
When the ruling comes, act on it immediately.
Sit with this What would you do differently today if you obeyed at once?
Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamanحذيفة بن اليمان
Using the siwak when waking at night
Try this today
Keep a siwak or toothbrush by your bed and use it before night prayer.
Sit with this Is there a siwak or toothbrush waiting by your bed for the night prayer?
Jabir ibn Abdullahجابر بن عبد الله
Two rak'ahs in the masjid on returning from a journey
Try this today
On returning from a trip, begin with two rak'ahs in the masjid.
Sit with this Could your next homecoming begin with two rak'ahs?
Jarir ibn Abdullah al-Bajaliجرير بن عبد الله البجلي
Wiping over leather socks
Try this today
Use the concessions the Prophet gave, and be confident in them.
Sit with this Do you use the concessions Allah gave you, or make your worship harder than it is?
Juwayriyyah bint al-Harithجويرية بنت الحارث
Not singling out Friday for fasting
Try this today
Learn the limits of voluntary worship and follow the sunnah rather than your own preference.
Sit with this Do your voluntary acts follow the Sunnah, or your own preference?
Khawlah bint Tha'labahخولة بنت ثعلبة
Asking and following the ruling of Allah and His Messenger
Try this today
Accept the ruling, even when it differs from custom or your first expectation.
Sit with this Which ruling do you resist because it differs from custom?
Nusaybah bint Ka'b (Umm Ammarah)نسيبة بنت كعب (أم عمارة)
Observing and passing on the Prophet's wudu
Try this today
Be economical with water when making wudu.
Sit with this How much water does your wudu actually need?
Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqasسعد بن أبي وقاص
Praying as the Prophet prayed
Try this today
Learn the Prophet's prayer and keep to it, not more and not less.
Sit with this Is your prayer modelled on the Prophet's, not more and not less?
The full Friday routine
Try this today
Treat Friday as a prepared day: bathe, perfume, arrive early, stay silent for the khutbah.
Sit with this What would it take to prepare for Friday properly this week?
Learning the etiquette of everyday life
Try this today
Learn the small manners of the sunnah; they train you for the large ones.
Sit with this Which small everyday manner of the Sunnah could you learn this week?
Sawda bint Zam'ahسودة بنت زمعة
Asking permission and using the concession
Try this today
Use a religious concession when you truly need it, and ask first.
Sit with this Is there a concession you need but have not asked about?
Umar ibn al-Khattabعمر بن الخطاب
Following the Prophet even when the reason is not obvious
Try this today
Do the act because the Prophet did it; the understanding often follows.
Sit with this Can you follow the Prophet ﷺ even before you understand why?
Umm Atiyyah al-Ansariyyahأم عطية الأنصارية
Keeping the limit of mourning
Try this today
Let grief be sincere but follow the guidance given; do not let it last forever.
Sit with this Can your grief be sincere and still follow the guidance given?
Umm Habibah bint Abi Sufyanأم حبيبة رملة بنت أبي سفيان
Keeping the limit of mourning, even for a father
Try this today
Honour grief with limits, following the guidance you heard.
Sit with this How do you honour grief within the limits given?
Umm Habibah bint Abi Sufyanأم حبيبة رملة بنت أبي سفيان
Using the Prophet's concession for the weak at Muzdalifah
Try this today
Know the rulings of Hajj and use the concessions for weak travellers.
Sit with this Do you know the concessions available to the weak and elderly?
Following the plague guidance
Try this today
Follow safe and sound public health guidance in an outbreak.
Sit with this Do you follow sound public health guidance as part of your faith?
Uthman ibn Madh'unعثمان بن مظعون
Following the Prophet's way, not one's own extremes
Try this today
Adopt the sunnah, not invented austerity.
Sit with this Are you adding hardships the Sunnah never asked of you?
Returning to his father's name
Try this today
When Allah's command changes a long-held custom, follow it right away.
Sit with this Which long-held custom would you give up at once if Allah asked?
Taking suhoor late, with the Prophet
Try this today
Keep suhoor a part of every fasting day, eaten late rather than skipped.
Sit with this Do you eat suhoor late, or skip it?
Holding to the Prophet's practice over local custom
Try this today
Compare your habits to the Sunnah and gently correct them.
Sit with this Which habit of yours could you gently bring back to the Sunnah?
Other themes
Religious content on this site is pending scholar review. Spot a mistake? Let us know.