What are Sunnah practices? They are the habits, words and ways of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that Muslims follow in everyday life, from waking up to going to sleep. Following them is a way of showing love for Allah and His Messenger:
“Say, [O Muḥammad], “If you should love Allāh, then follow me, [so] Allāh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.””
— Qur’an 3:31, Saheeh International (quran.com)
Below are 10 simple Sunnah practices for everyday life, each with an authentic source you can check yourself.
Why Sunnah Practices Matter
The Sunnah is the example of the Prophet ﷺ, recorded in the hadith. The Qur’an calls him a model for believers:
“There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allāh an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allāh and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allāh often.”
— Qur’an 33:21, Saheeh International (quran.com)
Many Sunnah practices are small. Their value lies in turning ordinary moments, such as eating, greeting or sleeping, into acts of remembrance.
1. Thank Allah When You Wake Up
When the Prophet ﷺ woke up, he would say: “Al-hamdu lil-lahil-ladhi ahyana ba’da ma amatana; wa ilaihi an-nushur (All the Praises are for Allah Who has made us alive after He made us die (sleep) and unto Him is the Resurrection)” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6324).
2. Use the Miswak
“If I had not found it hard for my followers or the people, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth with Siwak for every prayer.”
The miswak (siwak) is a natural tooth-cleaning stick. Keeping the mouth clean, especially before prayer, is one of the most widely practised Sunnah practices.
3. Say Bismillah and Eat with the Right Hand
The Prophet ﷺ taught a young boy at mealtime:
“O boy! Mention the Name of Allah and eat with your right hand, and eat of the dish what is nearer to you.”
4. Eat in Moderation
“The human does not fill any container that is worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat what will support his back. If this is not possible, then a third for food, a third for drink, and third for his breath.”
— Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 2380, graded Sahih (Darussalam) on sunnah.com
5. Spread the Greeting of Peace
The Prophet ﷺ described a simple way to build love between people: “give currency to (the practice of paying salutation to one another by saying) as-salamu alaikum” (Sahih Muslim 54). Saying “As-salamu ‘alaykum” (“Peace be upon you”) to family, neighbours and colleagues is one of the easiest Sunnah practices to begin today.
6. Smile
“Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity…”
— Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 1956, graded Hasan (Darussalam) on sunnah.com
The same hadith lists other everyday charities, such as giving directions and removing harmful objects from the road.
7. Pray the Regular Sunnah Prayers
“A house will be built in Paradise, for anyone who prays in a day and a night twelve rak’ahs”
These voluntary prayers are offered before or after the obligatory prayers. Many people start with the two rak’ahs before Fajr and build from there.
8. Remember Allah After Each Prayer
After each obligatory prayer, say SubhanAllah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times and Allahu Akbar 33 times, completing a hundred with “La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir”. The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever does so, “his sins will be forgiven even If these are as abundant as the foam of the sea” (Sahih Muslim 597a).
9. Be Honest in Work and Trade
“…if both the parties spoke the truth and described the defects and qualities (of the goods), then they would be blessed in their transaction, and if they told lies or hid something, then the blessings of their transaction would be lost.”
Honesty at work, from describing a product fairly to keeping promises, is one of the Sunnah practices with the widest reach.
10. Prepare for Sleep the Prophetic Way
The Prophet ﷺ advised: “Whenever you go to bed perform ablution like that for the prayer, lie on your right side” and then make a short supplication (Sahih al-Bukhari 247). He would also say before sleeping: “Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya (With Your name, O Allah, I die and I live)” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6324).
How to Build Sunnah Practices into Your Day
- Start small. Choose one or two Sunnah practices this week, such as the waking dua and saying Bismillah before meals.
- Attach them to habits you already have. Link dhikr to the end of each prayer and the sleeping dua to switching off the light.
- Learn the source. Knowing the hadith behind a practice makes it more meaningful and keeps it accurate.
- Involve the family. Children copy what they see, so practise together.
For more, see our hadith stories for kids and guide to Salah.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Sunnah and fard?
Fard means obligatory, such as the five daily prayers. Sunnah here refers to recommended practices of the Prophet ﷺ that bring reward but are not strictly required.
Which Sunnah practices are easiest to start with?
Saying Bismillah before eating, greeting with salam, smiling and the dhikr after prayer are simple Sunnah practices anyone can begin today.
A Reminder Before Every Meal
Saying Bismillah (“In the name of Allah”) before eating is among the most familiar Sunnah practices, and a Bismillah print in the kitchen or dining room is a gentle reminder.
Explore Bismillah Digital Download, an digital download supplied as a high-resolution JPEG file for printing at home or at a local print shop; no physical item is shipped. Custom designs can be requested.
