Quick question to refresh our minds: who was Prophet Muhammad 
?
As Muslims, we believe he was the last and final messenger of the Creator to mankind. His life is an example for generations after generations until the end of time.
He provided the best example on how to live in a pure and humble way, with the worship of Allah 
the Creator as our purpose and pivotal role.
The word “sunnah” is used to describe the life and teachings of the Prophet .
The sunnah is an ultimate guidance for leading a productive, successful life. Sometimes we neglect the sunnah, however, and we find ourselves googling “how to be successful/smart/productive”. Yet, the sunnah of the Prophet has already provided us with gems on how to do just that.
Better yet, the Prophet said:
“Whoever revives my Sunnah then he has loved me. And whoever loved me, he shall be with me in Paradise.” [Tirmidhi]
Not only for our personal gain but out of love for our beloved Prophet , we should try to live our life by the sunnah as much as possible.
We should be active in seeking the Barakah that comes with learning about the life of the final messenger to mankind .
We should be engaging with the life of our Prophet , so our love and respect for him grow.
When learning about the Prophet , we find hundreds of stories, attributes and habits that are beneficial for our lives if implemented, In sha Allah.
In this article, we will discuss 12 sunnahs of the Prophet that we must aim to revive, In sha Allah, in the hope of increasing our productivity, and seeking the company of our beloved Prophet in the Hereafter.
1. Sleeping and waking up early
Our sleeping pattern plays a great role in our ability to function effectively during the day. The hours after Fajr are among the most blessed of the day.
Starting the day off by praying the morning salah gives you Barakah and sets you in the right frame of mind. It allows you to be the best you can be throughout the day.
However, in order to rise in the early hours it is imperative to sleep early as your body requires an adequate amount of rest.
Aisha 
said about the Prophet :
“He used to sleep early at night, and get up in its last part to pray, and then return to his bed.” [Bukhari]
When we have a million things to do, it is easy to fall into a horrible cycle of sleeping late and waking up late.
This is especially true if you are chasing the hustle rather than a Barakah culture.
Due to our failure to wake up early, one day extends into the next in order to finish our list of tasks.
Break that cycle today! Wake up early and sleep early to be the strong, successful and all that you want to be, In sha Allah.
2. Having a pleasant smile always
Ibn Jaz reports: “I have not seen anyone who smiled more than the Messenger of Allah
.”[Tirmidhi]
Smiling has been shown to increase the natural antidepressant hormone, serotonin, causing the one who wears a smile to be happier.
We underestimate the power of a smile on both ourselves and those around us.
This characteristic is highly contagious and plays a massive role in building relationships with those around you.
A positive mind and attitude are irreplaceable in the quest to be productive and achieve your goals in life. Smiling is a simple, inexpensive act that helps lift your mood and makes you feel more grateful and content.
Since our Prophet was seen frequently doing it, there is even more reason to smile! So, let’s follow along this great sunnah.
Consciously take note of your usual facial expression: is your normal expression a happy one or do you often appear sad, exhausted, preoccupied or frustrated?
It will take a bit of regular effort, but you can cut down on the frowning, smile more often and spread joy and peace around you, just as the Prophet instructed.
3. Using the siwak
Abu Hurairah 
narrated that Allah’s Messenger said:
“If it were not that it would be difficult on my nation, then I would have ordered them to use the siwak for each prayer.” [Tirmidhi]
This hadith indicates the view of the Prophet towards the siwak.
Siwak comes from the Salvadora persica tree and has many antibacterial qualities, making it a great way to maintain hygiene of the mouth.
It can be said, given how often the Prophet would have liked us to use the siwak, that there is a big emphasis on maintaining oral hygiene in Islam.
It is narrated that the Prophet would use siwak upon waking.
The teeth are delicate and when problems occur they can cause a tremendous amount of pain. So this sunnah introduces preventative measures against an issue that can have you rolled up in bed for days.
Siwak is easily purchasable and relatively cheap, making it an easy sunnah to uphold. It keeps the mouth clean and fresh naturally and effortlessly all the time.
Abdur-Rahman bin Abu ‘Atiq said: “My father told me: ‘I heard ‘Aishah say, (narrating) from the Prophet
4. Oiling hair
I heard Jabir bin Samurah being asked about the grey hairs of the Prophet
The act of oiling is something many of us do not recognise to be a part of the sunnah.
This hadith alludes to the idea of using oil to prevent grey hairs being visible, highlighting that the sunnah of the Prophet encompasses every aspect of life.
Using loc oil on a regular basis prevents hair loss and greying, promotes strong and lustrous hair by strengthening hair protein.
It rejuvenates and relaxes the mind by soothing the brain’s nerves and capillaries.
Many of us seek this by spending a great deal of money at hairdressers and spas. Yet, this simple sunnah can save us a great deal of money, time and effort whilst we continue to live like our beloved Prophet .
5. Maintaining the 1/3rd rule in eating
Miqdam bin Madikarib said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah say:
‘A human being fills no worse vessel than his stomach. It is sufficient for a human being to eat a few mouthfuls to keep his spine straight. But if he must (fill it), then one-third of food, one third for drink and one third for air.’” [Ibn Majah]
It is an underestimated fact that food has a dramatic effect on your body’s and brain’s performance.
This hadith clearly highlights that overeating is a reprehensible quality we should stay away from.
However, it is also important to remember that undereating is equally harmful to a person.
In order to function, we need to have a balanced outlook towards our meals; our level of food consumption should not leave us feeling tired or bloated.
This is a state that leads to laziness, which is a vice we seek refuge in Allah from.
Can you conquer the world by sleeping? No. So, eat a nutritious, balanced meal that is sufficient in suppressing your hunger.
6. Speaking good or keeping silent
The Prophet said:
“He who believes in Allah and the Hereafter, if he witnesses any matter he should talk in good terms about it or keep quiet.” [Muslim]
We often find ourselves in situations where we sit and talk about things that do not concern us.
We waste precious minutes, even hours, just by talking about matters that will not increase us in knowledge, character or anything for that matter.
When speaking ill of a person or situation, the conversation becomes elongated, sadly due to the desire to gossip.
The beauty of this particular sunnah is that it will help you save time and reduce the amount of energy used to contemplate over irrelevant matters being discussed.
This energy and time could be well spent on something beneficial, such as reading Qur’an or doing vital tasks or only speaking things that benefit oneself and others in dunya and akhirah.
7. Doing hijama (cupping)
The Prophet said:
“If there is any healing in your medicines, then it is in cupping, a gulp of honey or branding with fire (cauterization) that suits the ailment, but I don’t like to be (cauterized) branded with fire.” [Bukhari]
The Prophet would be cupped on a regular basis. This form of treatment has been used throughout history in a number of countries.
The benefits of cupping are vast, including the removal of toxins within the blood. Studies have shown cupping to be beneficial in the treatment of migraines, fertility and joint pain.
This can be taken as a therapeutic measure against stress, helping to relieve a person of thoughts that impinge on their ability to complete their daily tasks.
8. Visiting the sick
The Prophet said:
“Feed the hungry, visit the sick, and set free the captives.” [Bukhari]
The concept of looking out for others is found throughout the teachings of the Prophet .
Sadly, we are regularly aware of people within our circle of family, friends and acquaintances who are tested with an illness, big or small.
Visiting and spending time with them has two major benefits. You demonstrate love towards another, instantly tightening the bonds of kinship/friendship.
Also, to see someone who is unable to function as well as they normally can, is a strong reminder of the blessing of health.
This is something that we often take for granted, or even push aside, whilst we are rushing around at home and at work.
So, the next time you hear of someone who is ill, try your best to go beyond sending them a ‘get well soon’ and practice a forgotten Sunnah – make the effort to be physically present and comfort them. Seek Barakah, not the hustle!
9. Sitting when eating/drinking
It was narrated from Anas
: “The Prophet
Those who stand to eat or drink always look like they are in a rush.
Sitting down to mindfully eat slows a person in their eating habits, reducing the amount they are likely to swallow and the unhealthy speed at which they do so.
As mentioned above, eating consciously prevents a person from becoming fatigued due to their stomach size.
Importantly, eating together as a family, which requires you to sit, is a crucial way to build relationships.
The same can be said at work – take the time to build friendships with colleagues – it is not all about the bank balance!
10. Sleeping on your right side
“When Allah’s Messenger
One of the main points to consider when a person wants to have a productive, blessed day is to look at how you go to sleep.
The Prophet was most successful in how he spent his days; the way in which he took to his sleep played a role in helping him to be our leader and our guide.
Following in his footsteps is the key to unlocking a fruitful morning.
11. Saying Salam/Bismillah before entering a house
The Messenger of Allah said:
“If a person mentions the Name of Allah upon entering his house or eating, Satan says, addressing his followers: ‘You will find nowhere to spend the night and no dinner.’ But if he enters without mentioning the Name of Allah, Satan says (to his followers); ‘You have found (a place) to spend the night in, and if he does not mention the Name of Allah at the time of eating, Satan says: ‘You have found (a place) to spend the night in as well as food.”‘ [Muslim]
None of us wants shaytan to enter our homes; we are aware of the distractions he creates to lead us to our destruction.
Consequently, it is fundamentally important to seek refuge from his evil ways. Upon entering our homes, it is crucial to utter the Name of Allah to prevent our doors from being open to our enemy.
Shaytan dislikes productivity and success; his ultimate goal is to see us fail in our journey with Allah .
Take the measures, as given in the Sunnah, against him because he will squeeze into whatever gap is visible to him. Never let the enemy win!
12. Untying the three knots
Waking up for Fajr is a battle many of us have experienced or are experiencing.
The hours of the morning, as mentioned above, are a blessed time for being productive in studying and completing various tasks for the sake of Allah .
It is a time for seeking Barakah. The sad reality is, many of us miss out on this because we fail to wake up for Fajr on time.
Allah’s Messenger said:
“During your sleep, Satan knots three knots at the back of the head of each of you, and he breathes the following words at each knot, ‘The night is, long, so keep on sleeping,’ If that person wakes up and celebrates the praises of Allah, then one knot is undone, and when he performs ablution the second knot is undone, and when he prays, all the knots are undone, and he gets up in the morning lively and in good spirits, otherwise he gets up in low spirits and lethargic.” [Bukhari]
This hadith sets out the plan of action to be successful: wake up, praise Allah , perform wudu and pray Fajr.
Being lively and in good spirits are the perfect ingredients to having a productive day, and this is what you will achieve when you follow this sunnah, In sha Allah.
How blessed are we that our religion teaches us about all the ingredients of a successful life. Alhamdulillah!
Tell us, do you think you can easily incorporate all these sunnahs in your life? What other sunnahs can you think of that can help to increase our productivity?
