Islam is a beautiful religion that teaches us how to live meaningful lives through faith, worship, kindness and good character. One of the greatest blessings Allah has given us is the example of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), whose life provides guidance for Muslims in every generation.
As Muslims, we are encouraged to follow his Sunnah, not only in our acts of worship but also in our everyday activities, interactions and personal habits.
Sometimes, we think practising the Sunnah requires making major changes to our lives. However, some of the most beautiful Sunnahs are simple actions that we can incorporate into our daily routines.
From smiling at others to remembering Allah before sleeping, these small practices can help us strengthen our relationship with Allah and develop beautiful Islamic character.
The best part is that you can begin practising many of them today!
Here are 10 beautiful Sunnahs of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) that every Muslim can incorporate into everyday life.
1. Begin Your Activities with Bismillah
One beautiful Sunnah is remembering Allah before beginning permissible everyday activities.
The phrase “Bismillah” means “In the name of Allah.”
It is a simple expression that reminds us that we depend on Allah in everything we do.
Before eating, begin by saying Bismillah. Before drinking, starting a journey or beginning an ordinary task, remember Allah.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) taught us to mention Allah’s name before eating.
This simple habit helps us develop mindfulness and gratitude while reminding us that every blessing comes from Allah.
How to practise it today:
- Say Bismillah before eating.
- Remember Allah before drinking.
- Begin permissible everyday activities by mentioning His name.
- Teach your children to make Bismillah part of their daily routine.
2. Smile at Others
Did you know that smiling at another Muslim can be an act of charity?
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:
“Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity.”
(Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 1956)
This beautiful teaching reminds us that charity is not limited to giving money or material possessions.
Sometimes, a simple smile can brighten someone’s day, make them feel welcomed and create a positive atmosphere.
You do not need to be wealthy to spread kindness. You can begin with a sincere smile, a warm greeting and a gentle attitude.
How to practise it today:
- Smile when greeting family members.
- Welcome people warmly.
- Be friendly towards your neighbours.
- Avoid making others feel uncomfortable through unnecessary harshness.
A small smile may seem insignificant to you, but it can mean a lot to someone else.
3. Spread Salam Whenever You Can
One of the beautiful teachings of Islam is spreading peace through the greeting:
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
Meaning: May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) encouraged Muslims to spread Salam among themselves.
In a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA), the Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned spreading Salam as one of the ways to develop love among Muslims.
(Sahih Muslim 54)
Salam is more than a greeting. It is a beautiful prayer for another person’s peace and blessings.
Make it a habit to greet people with Salam when entering your home, meeting fellow Muslims and visiting family members.
How to practise it today:
- Greet your family with Assalamu Alaikum.
- Return Salam when someone greets you.
- Teach your children the importance of Islamic greetings.
- Spread Salam among friends, neighbours and fellow Muslims.
Let peace become part of your everyday interactions.
4. Eat and Drink with Your Right Hand
Another beautiful Sunnah is eating and drinking with the right hand.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) instructed:
“When one of you eats, let him eat with his right hand, and when he drinks, let him drink with his right hand.”
(Sahih Muslim 2020)
This is a simple practice that Muslims can incorporate into their daily meals.
The Prophet (ﷺ) also taught us to eat from the portion of food nearest to us.
These small manners remind us that Islam pays attention to even the simplest aspects of everyday life.
How to practise it today:
- Eat with your right hand.
- Drink with your right hand.
- Say Bismillah before eating.
- Eat from the portion nearest to you.
- Avoid wasting food.
Remember that practising Islam is not limited to major acts of worship. Even our eating habits can reflect our commitment to the Sunnah.
5. Use Your Right Hand and Begin with the Right Side
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) loved beginning with the right side in many matters.
Aishah (RA) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) liked beginning with the right when putting on his shoes, combing his hair, performing purification and in other matters.
(Sahih al-Bukhari 168; Sahih Muslim 268)
This is a beautiful Sunnah that can easily become part of your daily routine.
For example, when dressing, begin with the right side. When putting on your shoes, start with the right foot and remove the left shoe first.
These little habits remind us to follow the example of our beloved Prophet (ﷺ).
How to practise it today:
- Put on your right shoe first.
- Remove your left shoe first.
- Begin wearing your clothes with the right side where applicable.
- Be mindful of the Sunnah when performing everyday activities.
6. Remember Allah Through Morning and Evening Adhkar
One of the most beneficial habits a Muslim can develop is remembering Allah in the morning and evening.
Our days can become busy with work, family responsibilities, school and other activities. However, we should never allow our busy schedules to make us forget the One who provides for us.
Morning and evening adhkar help us begin and end our day with the remembrance of Allah.
Some beautiful remembrances include:
- SubhanAllah – Glory be to Allah.
- Alhamdulillah – All praise belongs to Allah.
- Allahu Akbar – Allah is the Greatest.
- Astaghfirullah – I seek forgiveness from Allah.
- La ilaha illallah – There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.
You can also learn the authentic morning and evening supplications from reliable collections of prophetic adhkar.
How to practise it today:
- Make time for morning adhkar after Fajr.
- Recite evening adhkar in the evening.
- Repeat simple forms of dhikr throughout the day.
- Encourage your family to remember Allah together.
A tongue that frequently remembers Allah is engaged in one of the most beautiful forms of worship.
7. Say Alhamdulillah and Practise Gratitude
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) taught us to praise Allah in different situations.
One beautiful Sunnah is saying Alhamdulillah after sneezing.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“When one of you sneezes, let him say Alhamdulillah.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 6224)
When a Muslim says Alhamdulillah after sneezing, the person who hears it responds with Yarhamukallah, meaning “May Allah have mercy on you.”
The person who sneezed then replies with Yahdikumullahu wa yuslihu balakum, meaning “May Allah guide you and rectify your affairs.”
This simple exchange reflects the beauty of Islamic manners and brotherhood.
Beyond sneezing, make gratitude part of your daily life.
Appreciate your health, family, provision and the countless blessings Allah has given you.
How to practise it today:
- Say Alhamdulillah after sneezing.
- Praise Allah for your blessings.
- Thank Allah when something good happens.
- Teach your children the proper response to sneezing.
Never underestimate the importance of gratitude.
8. Perform Wudu Before Going to Sleep
Preparing for sleep is another opportunity to practise the Sunnah.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) advised Muslims to perform ablution as they would for prayer before going to bed.
Al-Bara’ ibn Azib (RA) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) instructed him to perform wudu, lie on his right side and recite a particular supplication before sleeping.
(Sahih al-Bukhari 247; Sahih Muslim 2710)
This beautiful bedtime routine reminds us to end our day in a state of remembrance and devotion to Allah.
How to practise it today:
- Perform wudu before sleeping.
- Lie on your right side.
- Recite the authentic supplication taught by the Prophet (ﷺ).
- Recite Ayat al-Kursi before sleeping.
- Recite Surah Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas as taught in the Sunnah.
Make your bedtime routine an opportunity to remember Allah and seek His protection.
9. Remove Harmful Objects from the Road
Islam teaches us that even small acts of kindness can carry great rewards.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) mentioned removing something harmful from the road as an act of charity.
(Sahih al-Bukhari 2989; Sahih Muslim 1009)
Imagine seeing broken glass, a dangerous object or rubbish obstructing a walkway.
Instead of walking past it when it is safe to help, you can remove the obstruction or alert the appropriate people.
This simple action may prevent someone from getting injured.
It also teaches us that being a good Muslim involves caring about the safety and well-being of others.
How to practise it today:
- Remove harmless obstructions from walkways when safe.
- Dispose of rubbish properly.
- Keep shared spaces clean.
- Be considerate of pedestrians and neighbours.
Islam encourages us to be beneficial members of our communities.
10. Sleep on Your Right Side
Another beautiful Sunnah is sleeping on the right side.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) instructed Al-Bara’ ibn Azib (RA) to lie on his right side when going to bed.
(Sahih al-Bukhari 247)
This is an easy habit to incorporate into your bedtime routine.
You can combine it with other Sunnah practices, such as performing wudu, reciting bedtime adhkar and making dua before sleeping.
Remember that these practices are acts of worship when done with the intention of following the Prophet’s example.
How to practise it today:
- Prepare for sleep with wudu.
- Lie on your right side.
- Recite your bedtime supplications.
- Remember Allah before closing your eyes.
End your day with the remembrance of the One who gave you the opportunity to live it.
BONUS: A SIMPLE DAILY SUNNAH CHECKLIST
Here are some of the Sunnah practices you can gradually incorporate into your everyday routine.
In the morning:
- Say your morning adhkar.
- Begin permissible activities with Bismillah.
- Wear your clothes starting with the right side.
- Greet your family with Salam.
During the day:
- Smile at others.
- Spread Salam.
- Eat and drink with your right hand.
- Remember Allah frequently.
- Practise kindness and good manners.
- Remove harmful objects from the road when safe.
At night:
- Perform wudu before sleeping.
- Recite your bedtime adhkar.
- Recite Ayat al-Kursi.
- Lie on your right side.
- End the day with gratitude and remembrance of Allah.
WHY SHOULD WE MAKE THE SUNNAH PART OF OUR DAILY LIVES?
Following the Sunnah is an expression of our love for Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and our commitment to living according to his teachings.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
“Say, [O Muhammad], ‘If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins.’ And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
(Surah Ali ‘Imran 3:31)
This verse beautifully reminds us that following the Prophet (ﷺ) is connected to our love for Allah.
Practising the Sunnah also helps us develop discipline, good character, gratitude, kindness and mindfulness in our daily lives.
You do not have to begin with everything at once. Choose a few practices, learn them properly and remain consistent.
The goal is not simply to complete a checklist. It is to develop a lifestyle that reflects the teachings and beautiful example of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
CONCLUSION: LET THE SUNNAH SHINE THROUGH YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE
Dear Muslim, never underestimate the value of small good deeds.
A sincere smile, a greeting of Salam, remembering Allah before eating or performing wudu before sleeping may seem like ordinary actions, but they are beautiful opportunities to follow the Sunnah.
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) showed us that Islam is a complete way of life. His teachings guide us in worship, relationships, personal hygiene, eating habits, sleeping routines and interactions with others.
Do not wait for Ramadan, a special Islamic occasion or a major life change before improving your relationship with the Sunnah.
Start today.
Choose one Sunnah you have not been practising consistently and make a conscious effort to incorporate it into your routine.
Gradually, these beautiful habits can become part of your everyday life.
May Allah grant us the ability to love His Messenger, follow his Sunnah sincerely, practise what we learn and remain steadfast upon the teachings of Islam.
May Allah make us among those who follow the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in this world and are blessed with his companionship in Jannatul Firdaus.
Ameen, Ya Rabbal Alameen.
