Sunnats and Duas Upon Entering And Leaving The Toilet

Bismihi Ta'ala

1.)           For the purpose of  Istinja, take along water and lumps of clay. To use three lumps of clay or three stones is Mustahab (preferable). If circumstances prevail, then this will be sufficient.

Due to (clay lumps), difficulties are experienced in flushing the toilets. Thus, the Ulama have advised that toilet tissue should be used so that the flush is not spoilt.

2.)         It was the practice of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) to visit the toilet with his head covered and with his shoes on.

[Alaikum besunnati]

3.)              Before entering the toilet recite this Dua:

Note: Mullah Ali Qari (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) has written in Mirqaat that with the blessings of the recitation of this Dua, a veil is cast between the person visiting the toilet and the evil Jinns. Hence they are unable to see one’s private parts. 
He has also written that the (ب) of the word

can be read with either a dhamma (Pesh) or a Saakin (Jazm).

[Mirqaat - Vol. 1, pg. 361]

4.)              When entering the toilet, enter with the left foot.

[Alaikum besunnati quoting from Ibn Majah]

5.)          When removing the undergarment, it is better to lower oneself towards the ground as much as easily possible and thereafter remove the garment.

[Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood]

6.)              When coming out from the toilet, step out with the right foot first and then recite this Dua:

7.)           Before entering the toilet, remove any ring etc. upon which any Ayat or the name of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) is visible.

[Nasai]

If a Ta’weez is covered with a cloth and sewn, it will be permissible to enter the toilet while wearing it.

8.)              When relieving oneself, do not face the Qibla nor turn the back towards it.

[Mishkaat , Tirmidhi , Ibn Majah]

9.)             When relieving oneself, do not speak except out of absolute necessity. Also, do not engage in any Zikr whilst in the toilet.

[Mishkaat, Abu Dawood - pg. 3]

10.)         Be extremely careful and ensure that droplets of urine and stool do not splash upon one as most of the punishment of the grave is due to not protecting oneself from urine splashes.

[Bukhari, Ibn Maajah]

11.)      Do not touch the private parts with the right hand during Istinjaa. Use the left hand for this purpose.

[Bukhari, Abu Dawood]

12.)         Where a toilet is not available, relieve oneself behind some barrier so that one is not exposed to others.

[Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah]

13.)        Search for soft ground (when relieving oneself in the open) so that urine does not splash but is rather absorbed into the ground.

[Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood]

14.)         Sit and urinate. Do not urinate while standing.

[Tirmidhi]

15.)         After urinating, if one needs to dry himself he should do so behind some barrier (i.e. wall etc.)

[Behishti Zewar]

16.)         Perform Wudhu according to the Sunnat at home.

17.)         Perform the Sunnats  at home before going to the  Masjid.  If there is no time for this, the same could be performed in the Masjid.

Note: In today’s times, due to Sunnats being neglected, it is preferable to perform them in the Masjid.

[Kamaalate Ashrafiya]

From "BEAUTIFUL SUNNATS OF THE BELOVED 

NABI (SALLALLAAHU 'ALAYHI WASALLAM) 

By Hadhrat Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb 

(Daamat Barakaatuhum)

Download the book here

The Goodness and Benefits of a Muslim

Bismihi Ta'ala

Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim narrate on the authority of Hazrat 'Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA) who said :

"We were sitting in the company of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)  when a palm core (an edible tuber growing at the upper end of the palm trunk) was brought to him. While eating it, he said: 'From among the many trees, there is a green tree. Its goodness and benefits are like that of a Muslim. Its leaves do not fall, nor do they scatter about. It produces its fruit at its appropriate time by the permission of its Sustainer. It is similar to a Muslim. Tell me, what tree is it?'

Hazrat Abdullah says : ‘The people began thinking about the different trees in the forests. Some of them said : It is such and such tree. It occurred to me that it is the date-palm. I wanted to say this [to Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)] but became scared to utter anything. When I looked at myself, I saw myself merely ten years old – the youngest and smallest of all who were present. When I looked around me, I saw Abu Bakr and ‘Umar sitting silently. So I also remained silent.’

‘When these two [Abu Bakr and ‘Umar] did not speak, all the people said : You tell us what tree it is O Rasulullah!

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: ‘It is the date-palm.’

When we got up from there, I said to my father, ‘Umar : ‘O my father! I take an oath by Allah that it had occurred to me that it was the date-palm.’

He said: ‘What prevented you from giving the answer?’

I said : ‘I saw all of you remaining silent. I saw that you and Abu Bakr too were not speaking. And I am a young boy. I therefore felt shy and did not want to speak or say anything. I therefore remained silent.’

Hazrat ‘Umar said : ‘Had you given the answer, it would have been far more beloved to me than my having such and such thing.’

There are several reasons for comparing the date palm to a Muslim:

• It is considered to be the noblest of trees and the highest in rank.

• There is abundant goodness in it.

• It provides shade all the time.

• It produces wholesome fruit.

• It is found all the time.

• From the time its fruit appears, it is eaten in different forms till new dates appear and they are also harvested.

•  When the date palm dries, numerous benefits are taken from it.

• Its wood, leaves and branches are used for stumps, firewood, staffs, batons, rope, utensils, etc.

• The last thing used thereof are its date-pits. They are used as fodder for camels.

As for the beauty of its growth and leaves, its beautiful shape and fruit, its lofty and soaring height, its evergreen leaves, its firm roots which prevent the winds and storms from uprooting it, its noble shadow and shade - in all this are obvious benefits and numerous well-known and praiseworthy advantages for those who are living the Arabian Peninsula.

Allah Ta'ala has praised this tree greatly in several verses in the Qur`aan Sharief.

In a like manner is the Muslim or the Believer :

• He is an embodiment of goodness and benefit.

• His blessings are wide-ranging in all situations.

• His benefits are continual in his favour and in favour of others even after his death.

• He is one who does good deeds, speaks good, engages in various types of obedience; be they fasting, offering Salaah, reciting the Qur`aan Sharief, remembering Allah Ta'ala, reminding others of Allah Ta'ala, giving in charity, commanding good and prohibiting evil.

• He intermingles with people; he exercises patience over their transgressions against him.

• He is loving and attracts people towards him.

• He benefits people without causing them any harm.

• He is beautiful in his conduct and in his speech.

• His noble qualities are spent for the benefit of people.

• He gives and does not refuse.

• He gives preference to others and is not covetous.

• The passage of days only increases him in his aloofness and detachment from this world.

• Hardships and afflictions only serve to make him firm and steadfast on the truth, more lofty towards goodness and benefit, and further away from decline.

• His deeds are accepted and liked by his Sustainer.

• If you sit in his company, he will benefit you.

• If you become a partner with him, he will benefit you.

• If you accompany him, he will benefit you.

• If you ask his advice, he will benefit you.

• There is benefit in every state of his affairs.

• Whatever knowledge emanates from him is a source of nourishment for the souls and hearts.

• He is covered and encompassed by his religion.

• He does not become devoid of the clothing of piety.

• His deeds do not stop whether he is in a state of affluence or poverty, health or illness.

  In fact, his deeds do not stop even after his death.

• He looks at his life for his hereafter. He takes benefit from today for his tomorrow.

• Benefit is derived from everything that he does; be he alive or dead.

…The reason for this is that the basis of all his deeds and activities is belief in Allah Ta’ala and benefiting the servants of Allah. Glory be to Allah! How great a Believer is!

Extracted from the English Translation of  PROPHET MUHAMMAD (Sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam): 

THE TEACHER AND HIS TEACHING METHODOLOGIES 

Shaykh Abdul Fattah Abu Ghuddah (RA)

His Praise

Bismihi Ta'ala 

The Last 3 Verses of Surah Hashr

Bismihi Ta’ala

It has been narrated by Hadhrat Ma’qal Ibn Yasaar that Rasulullah (SallAllaahu 'alaihi wasallam) said that one who recites thrice in the morning:

followed by the last three verses of Surah Hashr once, Allah Ta’ala will appoint over him 70,000 angels who will beg for forgiveness on his behalf until nightfall, and if he happens to die during the course of the day, he will die as a martyr. 
And whoever recites this at night, he will attain the same reward. 
(Mishkaat)

Extracted from Morning and Evening Duas 

By: Shaykh ul Arab wal Ajam Hazrat Maulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (DB)

Download here

Sunnats upon Awakening

Bismihi Ta'ala

1.   Immediately upon awakening rub the face and the eyes with both palms in order to remove the effects of sleep.

[Shamaa`il Tirmidhi]

2.     When the eyes open in the morning recite the Dua:

3.     When awakening from sleep, clean the mouth with a Miswaak.

[Musnad Ahmad, Abu Dawood]

The use of the Miswaak should be repeated when making Wudhu. Using Miswaak upon awakening is a separate Sunnah.

4.    When wearing one’s trousers, first put on the right leg, then the left one. When putting on a Kurta or shirt, first put on the right sleeve and then the left one. The same procedure should be followed when wearing a vest. When wearing a shoe, first put on the right shoe. When removing any garment or shoe, first remove the left, then the right. This is the Sunnah method when removing any garment from the body.

[Bukhari – Tirmidhi]

5.     Before immersing the hands into any utensils, wash them thrice thoroughly.

[Tirmidhi]

From "BEAUTIFUL SUNNATS OF THE BELOVED 

NABI (SALLALLAAHU 'ALAYHI WASALLAM) 

By Hadhrat Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb 
(Daamat Barakaatuhum)

Download the book here

Book | Ash-Shamaa`il al-Kubra

Bismihi Ta'ala 

"This compilation is an indisputable collection of the lofty mannerisms, traits and conduct of our beloved Prophet (peace and blessings upon him), which has been compiled from many reliable books of Hadeeth and Seerah (prophetic biographies).

The book is a priceless treasure for the 'seeker of the Sunnah' and one who is in love with the perfect lifestyle of Rasulullah (SallAllaahu 'alayhi wasallam).

 The sublime Sunnah of Rasulullah (SallAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) is sufficient for 

the needs of all genuine seekers of the truth.

Mufti Muhammad Irshad Qasmi authored the original work 

(Ash-Shamaa'il al-Kubra) in the Urdu language.

This English translation is by Abdur-Rahman ibn Hafiz Hussein Kolia, student of Hazrat Maulana Fadhl ar-Rahman A'zami (Sheikh al-Hadeeth of Darul Uloom, Azaadville)."

His Gentleness and Tolerance

Bismihi Ta’ala

Zayd bin Sa`nah (RA) who was a Jew, once began saying : ‘There was not a sign of prophethood in Rasulullah (SallAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) which I had not found in him, except for two signs, which I did not have the opportunity to test.

The first is that his hilm (gentleness / tolerance) will overcome his anger.

The second is, the more one acts foolishly towards him, the more he will tolerate it.

 I looked for a chance to test these two signs, and kept on coming and going to his gatherings.

One day, Rasulullah (SallAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) came out of his house. ‘Ali was with him. Just then a badawi type of person came and said: “O Rasulullah, my community has accepted Islam, and I told them that if they became Muslims, they shall receive abundant sustenance. And now such a time has come where drought has befallen us. I fear that they will leave Islam. If the idea is suitable, it is suggested that you assist them.”

Rasulullah (SallAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) looked towards a person who may have been ‘Ali. He replied, “Ya Rasulullah, there is nothing available.”

Sayyidina Zayd (RA) who was of the Jewish faith at that time, was witnessing this incident, he said : “O Muhammad, if you can do this, a certain amount of dates of a certain person’s palm grove be given to me at a fixed time, then I shall pay now in advance and collect the dates at the appointed time.

Rasulullah (SallAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) replied this was possible, but if you do not stipulate the palm grove, I can make an agreement. I accepted it, and paid 80 mith-qaal of gold (according to well-known sayings 1 mith-qaal equals 100 grains or 4 ½  maa-shaas approx. four and half grams).

Rasulullah (SallAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) gave the gold to this badawi and said to him, do not forget to be just, and fulfil their needs with this.

Zayd (RA) further says, when 2 or 3 days were left for the time to collect the dates, Rasulullah was sitting near a well while returning from a funeral with the Sahabah, among whom were Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, and Uthmaan. I came and caught the hem of the kurta and sheet of Rasulullah (SallAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and cynically said : ‘O Muhammad, you do not want to pay my debt. I swear by Allah, that I know all the children of ‘Abdul Muttalib very well. You are very poor payers.’

‘Umar looked at me in anger and said : ‘O enemy of Allah! What are you mumbling? I swear by Allah, that if I did not fear (the presence of Rasulullah (SallAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)) I would have severed your head.’

Rasulullah (SallAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) was looking at me very calmly, and said smilingly to ‘Umar: ‘Umar, this person and I are in need of something more. He should have told me to take care in fulfilling his rights and should have advised in a better manner when putting forward his claim. Go, take him and fulfil his right, and for having scolded him give him in lieu, twenty saa’ (approximately two mann approximately 66.5 kgs) dates extra in excess of his right.”

‘Umar took me and fulfilled my right and gave me the twenty extra saa.’ I asked : “For what are these twenty extra saa?”

‘Umar replied : “This is the command of Rasulullah.”

Zayd (RA) said : “Umar, do you know me?”

‘Umar replied : “No.”

I said : “I am Zayd bin Sa`nah.”

He asked : “The Allamah (great learned) of the Jews?”

I replied : “I am that very person.”

He said : “Being a man of such a calibre, why did you behave before Rasulullah in such a manner?”

I replied : “Two signs from the signs of Prophet-hood were left, which I was not able to test. The first is the hilm (gentleness) of Rasulullah (SallAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) supercedes his anger. The second is that, the more one acts foolishly towards him, the more he will tolerate it. Now I have tested these two also, therefore I make you witness to my acceptance of Islam. I give half of my wealth in charity (sadaqah) to the Ummah of Muhammad (SallAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam).”

Thereafter he returned to the noble presence of Rasulullah (SallAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and accepted Islam. Later he took part in many battles and was martyred in the Battle of Tabuk. (May Allah be pleased with him).

[Extracted from Shamaa`il Tirmizi]

Salvation from the Worries of Both Worlds

Bismihi Ta'ala

Hadhrat Abu Darda (RadhiyAllaahu 'anho) narrates that Rasulullah (SallAllaahu 'alayhi wasallam) said, “Whoever recites this morning and evening seven times, then Allah Ta'ala will become sufficient for his worries of both worlds.”

(Ruhul Ma’ani, Vol 2, pg. 53)

According to another report, one will not have any restlessness, troubles and nor will one die due to drowning, during that morning and evening.

(Ruhul Ma`ani Vol 2 pg 53)

[Extracted from Morning and Evening Duas 

By: Shaykh ul Arab wal Ajam Hazrat Maulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (DB)]