10 Sunnahs

1. Starting With Hamd (Praising Allah)

As narrated by Abu Hurayra (radiyallahu anh), Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Every important matter that does not start with praise of Allah, is devoid (of blessings).” (Sunan Ibn Majah, 1894)

2. The Virtue of Fasting in Shawwal

Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

“If anyone fasts during Ramadan, then follows it with six days in Shawwal, it will be like a perpetual fast.” (Sunan Abi Dawud, 2433)

Explanation: This hadith promotes fasting for six more days in Shawwal after the sawm (fasting) of Ramadan. Thus, the reward (thawab) of fasting for a whole year is promised. Islamic scholars explain this as such: Allah (jalla jalaluhu) informs us that, “Whoever comes with a good deed will be rewarded tenfold.” (Al-An’am, 160). Therefore, fasting in Ramadan counts as ten months. Six days tenfold count as sixty days. This adds up to two months, so in the end, the sawm of Ramadan and the six days of Shawwal are equal to one whole year. (Kutub al-Sittah)

3. The Proper Way (Adab) of Drinking Water

Abu Hurayra (radiyallahu anh) said:

“Rasulullah drank in three sips. He recited basmalah when he put the vessel to his mouth, did hamd (saying alhamdulillah) and did this three times.” (Ibnu’s-Sunni, Amalu’l-Yawm wa’l-Layl).

4. Going to Salatu’l-Eid by Walking

Sa’d al-Quraz and Ibn Umar (radiyallahu anhuma) narrate:

“Rasulullah used to go to Salatu’l-Eid by walking, and used to return back by walking.”

Explanation: There are other narrations concerning Rasulullah’s going to Salatu’l-Eid and returning by walking. Either the companions or other significant Islamic personalities among the tabiin (those who saw the companions) considered going to and returning back from Salatu’l-Eid by foot to be “mustahsan” (beautiful, liked). Imams (leaders) of madhhabs also said it is mustahab (a non-obligatory but recommended and liked act, mandub). (Kutub al-Sittah)

5. The Virtue of Giving a Meal

As narrated by Abdullah bin Amr (radiyallahu anh), Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Worship Ar-Rahman, feed others, spread the (greeting of) salam, then you will enter Paradise in security.” (Tirmidhi)

6. Going to and Returning from Salatu’l-Eid

Abu Rafi’ (radiyallahu anh) narrates:

“Rasulullah used to go to Salat’ul-Eid by foot, and returned by another route.”

Explanation: One of the adabs regarding Salatu’l-Eid is choosing different routes for going to and returning from the masjid. Islamic scholars considered this to be mustahab based on the hadiths on this matter. It is said that the beings on these different routes would testify on that person’s behalf. In addition, it is an open expression of an Islamic practice. (Kutub al-Sittah)

7. Importance of Non-obligatory Worship (Nafilah)

Abu Hurayra (radiyallahu anh) narrated this saying of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam):

“Verily Allah Taala has said: ‘Whosoever shows enmity to a wali (friend) of Mine, then I have declared war against him. And My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more loved to Me than the religious duties I have obligated upon him. And My servant continues to draw near to me with nafilah [non-obligatory] deeds until I Love him. When I Love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, and his sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him; and were he to seek refuge with Me, I would surely grant him refuge. I never hesitated in any matter as much as I hesitated in taking the life of a believer. My servant does not like death. I do not like what my servant does not like.’” (Bukhari)

8. Sunnah of Ghusl on Eid Days (Full Ablution)

Ibn Abbas (radiyallahu anh) narrates:

“Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) made ghusl in both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha [Ramadan and Sacrifice].” (Kutub al-Sittah)

9. Eating Before Going to Salatu’l-Eid (of Ramadan)

Ibn Umar (radiyallahu anh) narrates:

“Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) did not go out for Salatu’l-Eid on Eid al-Fitr until he offered food from his alms [sadaqa].” (Kutub al-Sittah)

10. Spending the Nights of Eid Conscientiously

Abu Umamah (radiyallahu anh) narrated that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Whoever spends the nights of the two Eids in praying voluntary prayers, seeking reward from Allah, his heart will not die on the Day when hearts will die.”

Explanation: One of the nights on which Muslims are recommended to stay awake in worship is the night that links Ramadan to Eid al-Fitr, and the other is the night that links the day of Arafah (the day before) to Eid al-Adha. One  who spends a significant part of these nights in devotion to Allah earns the reward promised in this hadith. In addition, according to a narration from Ibn Abbas (radiyallahu anh), a person who performs the salahs of maghrib and isha in a masjid is considered to have “fulfilled” that night. Therefore, those who have done this can gain “the secret of spending a night fulfillingly.”

(Kutub al-Sittah)

Salih Selçuk