Sunnah of the Week

Posted under hadith, sunnah of the week, the Prophet (saws) by rahma

There is indeed a good model for you in the Messenger of Allah - for the one who has hope in Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah profusely. (33:21)

Anas (ra) reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) said, “Whoever brings the sunnah to life has brought me to life. Whoever brings me to life will be with me in the Garden.” (Al-Isbahn)

What do we know of our beloved Messenger of Allah (subhana wa tala)?  I’d be willing to bet (that is, if gambling weren’t haram) that we all know quite a bit.  We can probably rattle off something about his physical appearance, and his character.  We know how he dressed, how he fought, how he made peace, how he ate, how he slept, how he acted towards those around him (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam).

But to know is not enough.  His life, his example, his sunnah provides a framework for every aspect of our lives.  How much of his sunnah do we implement, and how much do we read or hear, smile, nod, and then ignore?  Are you like me, and focus on his character, while ignoring his outward acts?  Or are you like those I often scoffed at, who seem to obsess about imitating the Beloved (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) in dress while seeming to ignore his manners? 

I have been reading Martin Lings’ Muhammad, and listening to the Prophetic Characteristics class with Ustadh Yahya Rhodus.  The Slave (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) of Allah (subhana wa tala) is one of the major reasons I submitted to God in Islam.  The more I learn about this man (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam), the more I love him (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam).  But, I do not do much to bring his (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) sunnah to life.  I say subhanAllah, this man (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) was truely amazing in everything he did, and then I move on and forget.

So, I’ve decided to do something about that.  inshaAllah, each week I will pick a sunnah of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam).  I’ll post it here on the blog, and inshaAllah I will work to implement it in my life.  Please join me in this quest to really know the Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam), and to live as he did, the Beloved (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) of Allah (subhana wa tala).

Sunnah of the Week 1

March 10th through the 16th, 2008; Rabi al-Awwal 2nd through the 8th, 1429

from Riyad as-Saliheen, Abu Dawud and others

1394. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Every matter of importance which is not begun with, ‘Praise be to Allah’ is defective.”

If you began everything praising God, how would it effect your behavior?  Would you still act against Allah (subhana wa tala) and His Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) if you began every action thinking of them?