In the final verse of his famous poem Jawab-e-Shikwa, renowned poet, Allama Iqbal, offers a response from Allah ﷻ to the Muslim’s lament:

“Ki Muhammad ﷺ se wafa tu ne toh hum tere hain, 

Yeh jahan cheez hai kya, lauh o qalam tere hain.” 

Meaning:

If you are loyal to Muhammad ﷺ, then We are yours. 

This world is nothing; the Tablet and the Pen are yours. 

It’s a verse rich with spiritual depth, pointing to the power and responsibility we hold when we choose to emulate our beloved ﷺ. It also echoes the Qur’anic verse, “Say, [O Prophet], ‘If you sincerely love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive your sins.’” (Surah Ali ‘Imran 3:31)

Al Hassan Al Basri said, explaining the above mentioned ayah, “The sign of their love to Allah is following the Sunnah of His Prophet ﷺ because the rank of the believer can be measured by the extent of following the Prophet ﷺ, therefore, as much as he is following the Sunnah, Allah will give him a higher rank.”

It is a reminder that our relationship with the Prophet ﷺ is not just historical, but intimate, ongoing, and alive in the choices we make every day. Slowing down a fast-paced day with intention and bringing a thread of remembrance into the most ordinary of acts mindfully can feel like a kind of resistance as well as a form of devotion. Following the Sunnah also brings immense barakah for us, healing our body, mind and soul in many ways. 

Some examples of sunnahs are eating/drinking with your right hand, saying bismillah before doing anything, drinking water in three slow sips, smiling, etc, that we know from the Seerah. There are also some lesser-known ones that might seem mundane, yet carry spiritual weight when done to follow the Prophet ﷺ.

Upon Waking

The Prophet ﷺ would begin his day by rubbing his face with his hands, wiping away the traces of sleep. It is a simple gesture that many of us do every day when we wake up, and a sunnah we can easily revive. Before the phone screen, before the to-do list, take a pause and start the morning with a mindful intention. 

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Abbas: “Allah’s Messenger ﷺ slept till the middle of the night, either a bit before or a bit after it and then woke up, rubbing the traces of sleep off his face with his hands. He then recited the last ten verses of Sura Al-`Imran, got up and went to a hanging water-skin. He then performed the ablution from it, and it was a perfect ablution, and then stood up to offer the prayer.” (Sahih al-Bukhari) 

Walking Barefoot

For many of us, going barefoot happens indoors, on the beach, or when we’ve misplaced our slippers. We have also heard about the benefits of walking barefoot on grass, the way it grounds us, improves circulation, and brings a moment of calm in a busy day. But did you know it is also a sunnah? Fadaalah bin ‘Ubayd RA shared that the Prophet ﷺ sometimes instructed his companions to go barefoot, reminding them not to grow too attached to life’s comforts. (Abu Dawud) 

Feeling the cool grass or earth under your feet not only offers a simple pleasure in the middle of a hectic day, a chance to reconnect with the natural world, but also a chance to follow the quiet example of our beloved ﷺ.

Eating Together

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said. “Eat together and do not eat separately, for the blessing is in being together.” (Ibn Majah)

Among our families, friends, and communities, shared meals have been a regular part of life, at iftars, over chai, at weddings, even during a quick lunch break at work. However, in today’s busy, hyper-connected world, it’s easy to miss out on these moments as everyone is distracted by phones, rushing through meals solo, or eating on the go. 

This sunnah isn’t just about the food itself; it’s about the intention to show up for one another and being present. The shared laughter and stories over dinner, passing the bread, waiting until everyone is served, all of it can become a form of worship and an easy way to earn rewards. 

Speaking with Care

A sunnah that may be harder to observe in the current world, where news, opinions, and conversations travel faster than ever. There is often an unspoken pressure to have an opinion on everything, to weigh in instantly, to speak before the moment passes. 

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let them speak good or remain silent.” (Bukhari)

This isn’t a call to silence yourself or to step back from necessary conversations. It’s an opportunity to choose your words with care, to pause and ask, Is this beneficial? Will it heal or harm? Sometimes speaking the truth courageously is the sunnah. Other times, holding back is. Both are acts of strength when done with intention.

Hair Care

For many of us, hair oiling was part of the weekend routine growing up, our grandmas and mums working oil into our scalps while we sat cross-legged on the floor, listening to wise words, sharing stories, and laughing through silly conversations. It was a complete intergenerational love language.

It is also a sunnah. Jabir bin Samurah was asked about the grey hairs of the Prophet ﷺ and 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-Nasa’i)

We may now pay for salon treatments that promise the same results, but this is a practice that costs little and carries the reward of following the example of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

Bedtime Sunnahs

Before going to sleep, the Prophet ﷺ would make wudu, dust his bed with the hem of his garment, say Allah’s name, and lie on his right side with his hand under his cheek. He didn’t like staying up too late, a reminder to prioritise rest and avoid the trap of late-night scrolling or distractions, inviting softness, rest, and wellbeing back into our nights.

Narrated Al-Bara bin `Azib, Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said to me, “When you want to go to bed, perform ablution as you do for prayer, then lie down on your right side and say: ‘Allahumma aslamtu wajhi ilaika, wa fawwadtu ‘amri ilaika wa alja’tu dhahri ilaika, raghbatan wa rahbatan ilaika, la malja’a wa la manja minka illa ilaika. Amantu bikitabik al-ladhi anzalta wa binabiyyika al-ladhi arsalta’. If you should die, then (after reciting this) you will die on the religion of Islam (i.e., as a Muslim); so let these words be the last you say (before going to bed).” (Bukhari)

اللّهُـمَّ أَسْـلَمْتُ نَفْـسي إِلَـيْكَ، وَفَوَّضْـتُ أَمْـري إِلَـيْكَ، وَوَجَّـهْتُ وَجْـهي إِلَـيْكَ، وَأَلْـجَـاْتُ ظَهـري إِلَـيْكَ، رَغْبَـةً وَرَهْـبَةً إِلَـيْكَ، لا مَلْجَـأَ وَلا مَنْـجـا مِنْـكَ إِلاّ إِلَـيْكَ، آمَنْـتُ بِكِتـابِكَ الّـذي أَنْزَلْـتَ وَبِنَبِـيِّـكَ الّـذي أَرْسَلْتَ

“O Allah, I submit myself to You, entrust my affairs to You, turn my face to You, and lay myself down depending upon You, hoping in You and fearing You. There is no refuge, and no escape, except to You. I believe in Your Book (the Qur’an) that You revealed and the Prophet whom You sent.”

So many of these sunnahs are already part of our routines, but when we pause to act upon them with intention, it becomes an echo of the Prophet ﷺ in our lives. These aren’t just habits; they’re pathways to being closer and loving Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.