Rabi ul Awwal

 

10 Sunnahs of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ We Can Revive Today

In a world filled with noise, stress, arguments, distractions and endless scrolling, the life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ offers something deeply valuable: a way of living with mercy, dignity, patience, gratitude and remembrance of Allah.

Rabi ul-Awwal is a beautiful opportunity to learn about the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and, more importantly, to ask ourselves:

How can I bring his Sunnah into my everyday life?

Following the Sunnah is not limited to learning historical facts about the Prophet ﷺ. It means trying to follow his guidance in our worship, character, family life, speech, relationships and daily habits.

Here are 10 Sunnahs and Prophetic practices that we can consciously revive in our lives today, based on authentic teachings.

---

1. Begin with Bismillah

The Prophet ﷺ taught Muslims to remember Allah when beginning everyday activities.

We can make it a habit to say:

Bismillah

before eating, drinking and beginning appropriate activities.

This simple remembrance changes our mindset.

Instead of treating an ordinary action as something meaningless, we begin it while remembering Allah.

Try this today

Before eating, pause for a moment and say Bismillah.

Then eat with gratitude and remember that the food is a blessing from Allah.

---

2. Spread Salam

One of the simplest Sunnahs we can revive is greeting fellow Muslims with As-salamu alaykum.

Allah's Messenger ﷺ encouraged Muslims to spread salam.

The greeting is more than a social habit.

It is a dua for peace.

Imagine entering your home and greeting your family with salam instead of immediately asking:

"Why hasn't this been done?"

Imagine meeting someone after a difficult day and giving them a sincere greeting.

Sometimes a few words can change the atmosphere of an entire interaction.

Try this today

Be the first person to say:

As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

Say it sincerely, not mechanically.

---

3. Smile and Show Kindness

The Prophet ﷺ was known for his excellent character.

He encouraged kindness and good treatment of others.

A smile costs nothing.

Yet a sincere smile can make another person feel noticed and respected.

This is especially important within our homes.

We sometimes show our best manners to strangers while giving our worst moods to the people closest to us.

Revive this Sunnah

Try smiling when:

• You greet your children
• You see your parents
• You meet a neighbour
• You speak to a colleague
• You welcome a guest

Kindness is not weakness.

It is part of beautiful character.

---

4. Eat With the Right Hand

The Prophet ﷺ taught Muslims manners concerning eating and drinking.

Among them is eating with the right hand.

He ﷺ also taught that when eating, a person should mention Allah's name, eat from what is in front of them and avoid wasteful behaviour.

This is an everyday Sunnah that can be practiced by children and adults.

Make it a family habit

Teach children gently rather than harshly.

Instead of constantly correcting them with anger, explain:

"This is how our beloved Prophet ﷺ taught us to eat."

When children associate the Sunnah with love for the Messenger ﷺ, the lesson becomes more meaningful.

---

5. Say Alhamdulillah

The Prophet ﷺ taught Muslims to praise Allah.

One of the easiest ways to revive this habit is to become conscious of saying:

Alhamdulillah

throughout the day.

Not only when something extraordinary happens.

You can thank Allah for:

• Food
• Water
• Health
• Family
• Safety
• A home
• Work
• Knowledge
• Another morning
• Another opportunity to repent

Gratitude changes how we look at what we already have.

A simple challenge

Tonight, before sleeping, think of five blessings Allah gave you today.

Say:

Alhamdulillah.

---

6. Remember Allah Frequently

Our phones receive hundreds of notifications.

But how many times do we intentionally pause to remember Allah?

The Prophet ﷺ encouraged abundant remembrance of Allah.

You can incorporate simple dhikr into ordinary moments:

SubhanAllah

Alhamdulillah

Allahu Akbar

La ilaha illallah

Astaghfirullah

You don't need to wait for a special occasion.

You can remember Allah while walking, travelling, doing household work or waiting.

The important thing is to keep the tongue and heart connected to Allah.

---

7. Be Gentle With People

The Prophet ﷺ taught the importance of gentleness.

This is a Sunnah our homes desperately need.

Being religious does not give us permission to humiliate people.

A person can correct someone without insulting them.

A parent can discipline a child without crushing their confidence.

A husband and wife can disagree without destroying each other's dignity.

A teacher can correct a student without making them feel worthless.

Ask yourself

Before speaking, ask:

Can I say this in a kinder way?

If yes, choose the kinder way.

Gentleness does not mean ignoring wrongdoing.

It means dealing with people with wisdom and dignity.

---

8. Control Anger

Anger can destroy relationships in minutes.

The Prophet ﷺ gave guidance concerning anger and taught practical ways of dealing with it.

Among the well-known teachings are seeking refuge in Allah from Shaytan and changing one's physical position when angry.

The Prophet ﷺ also praised the person who controls anger.

Try this when you're angry

Stop.

Don't immediately send the message.

Don't immediately make the phone call.

Don't immediately insult someone.

Say:

A'udhu billahi min ash-shaytanir-rajim.

Then step away from the argument if necessary.

Give yourself time to calm down.

Sometimes the most powerful response is the response you choose not to give.

---

9. Help Other People

The Sunnah is not only about personal worship.

Serving people and helping them is also part of beautiful Islamic character.

The Prophet ﷺ encouraged helping others and caring for people.

You don't need to be wealthy to help.

You can:

• Help an elderly person
• Teach a child
• Feed someone
• Visit someone who is sick
• Help a neighbour
• Give useful advice
• Make dua for someone
• Donate according to your ability
• Share beneficial knowledge

Never underestimate a small act of kindness.

What seems small to you may be significant in the sight of Allah.

---

10. Make Your Home a Place of Mercy

Perhaps one of the most important Sunnahs to revive is good character within the family.

It is easy to appear kind outside the home.

The real test can come when we are tired, frustrated or under pressure.

The Prophet ﷺ demonstrated kindness toward his family and encouraged good treatment.

So ask yourself:

What does my family experience when I walk through the door?

Peace?

Or tension?

Kindness?

Or constant criticism?

Warmth?

Or anger?

Revive the Sunnah at home

Try:

• Greeting your family with salam
• Speaking respectfully
• Helping with household responsibilities
• Listening patiently
• Showing affection appropriately
• Forgiving small mistakes
• Making dua for your family
• Eating together when possible
• Teaching children the Sunnah with love

A home doesn't become peaceful because everyone is perfect.

It becomes peaceful when people learn to show mercy to one another.

---

What Does It Really Mean to Love the Prophet ﷺ?

During Rabi ul-Awwal, Muslims may hear many reminders about loving Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

But love should not remain only a feeling.

If we truly love the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, we should want to learn his teachings and follow them according to the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah.

Allah says:

"Say, [O Muhammad], If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you."

Qur'an 3:31

Following the Prophet ﷺ means learning how he worshipped Allah, how he treated people, how he behaved with his family, how he responded to hardship and how he conducted himself with mercy and justice.

---

A 10-Day Sunnah Challenge

Why not make Rabi ul-Awwal the beginning of a practical Sunnah journey?

Day 1

Say Bismillah consciously before eating.

Day 2

Be the first to give salam.

Day 3

Smile more deliberately.

Day 4

Eat with your right hand and teach your children gently.

Day 5

Increase your Alhamdulillah.

Day 6

Increase your dhikr.

Day 7

Practice gentleness when correcting someone.

Day 8

Control one moment of anger.

Day 9

Help someone without expecting anything in return.

Day 10

Make your home a place of mercy.

Then don't stop.

Turn the challenge into a lifestyle.

---

Don't Turn the Sunnah Into a Seasonal Practice

Rabi ul-Awwal may remind us to learn about the Prophet ﷺ.

But the Sunnah belongs in every month.

In Muharram.

In Ramadan.

In Shawwal.

In Dhul-Hijjah.

And in every ordinary day between them.

The Prophet ﷺ should not be remembered only during a particular month.

His teachings should influence how we pray, speak, eat, work, parent, forgive, spend, give and treat people throughout our lives.

---

A Simple Sunnah Checklist

Before sleeping tonight, ask yourself:

Did I remember Allah today?

Did I say salam?

Did I control my tongue?

Did I show kindness?

Did I control my anger?

Did I help someone?

Did I treat my family well?

Did I send salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ?

Did I follow something from his Sunnah today?

And if the answer to some of these is no, don't become discouraged.

Tomorrow is another opportunity.

---

Final Reminder

We don't need to revive every Sunnah in one day.

Start with one.

Learn it.

Understand it.

Practice it.

Then add another.

The beautiful thing about the Sunnah is that it can transform ordinary moments into opportunities for reward.

Eating can become worship.

Greeting someone can become worship.

Helping your family can become worship.

Showing patience can become worship.

Controlling anger can become worship.

Giving charity can become worship.

And remembering Allah can accompany us throughout the day.

May Allah grant us genuine love for His Messenger Muhammad ﷺ, help us follow the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah correctly, beautify our character, bring mercy into our homes, and allow us to meet Him while He is pleased with us.

Allahumma salli wa sallim 'ala nabiyyina Muhammad ﷺ.

Ameen.