The virtues of Hadith shareef and FORTY TRADITIONAL PRACTICES OF THE HOLY PROPHET

The virtues of Hadith shareef

The word hadith means report. It is by definition, the sayings of the beloved Prophet   related back by his Sahabis r.a (companions). The lessons which is there make the sunnah (principles) of the holy Prophet , which along with the words of Allah ta’ala in the holy Koran saint, constitute the basis of Shari'at (the Islamic law).

Allah orders us to obey his orders (koranic order) and to obey his beloved Prophet   (hadiths), this means to be obedient, i.e. to be Muslim.

Many people think that the words of Allah and the words of the holy Prophet   are like two seperate things. But, for us the Sunnis, we have a very great consideration for the lessons of the beloved Prophet  since Allah himself specifies to us in the holy Koran: "Those who obey the messenger have in fact obeyed Allah" [ sourah 4  – verse 80].

We also often refer to the "Saha-sittah" which means the 6 books of hadiths considered as authentic (swaheeh). They are the hadiths of: Bukhaari, Muslim, Tirmizi, Abu-Daaoud, Ibné-Maajah and Nasaï. Which does not mean that the other hadiths do not have importance. All the hadiths since they emanate from the holy Prophet    must be subjected to our attention. We sunnis, we grant much importance to other hadiths such as: Mishkaat, Baÿhaqi, Tibraani, Ibné-`Aadi, Haakim, etc…

We warn however, those who, with an ease nowadays, think that they are allowed to interpret or use hadiths to divert people, without them having a thorough knowledge of hadiths. 

Since these sayings are those of the beloved Prophet   who is the most intelligent creature that Allah has created, this means that the lessons which are there are of an eminent level accordingly to the character of the holy Prophet  himself. Therefore, it is necessary to be intelligent to be able to understand the essence of these words and lessons full of wisdom. For these reasons, we estimate that those who are allowed to transmit sciences resulting from the hadiths must be those who made extensive studies in hadiths and hadith matters, and in the deen in general, to really be able to understand the deep and true meanings of these prophetic lessons. We highly recommend all of us to consult the `aalims (erudite scholar and wise experts) on the matter.

Source : http://chezdeen.com/eng/The virtues of Hadith shareef

FORTY TRADITIONAL PRACTICES OF THE HOLY PROPHET()

1.	Every good/virtuous and lawful (piece of) work should be started after reciting the sacred "" (Allah  in the name of). Of-course! no recitation of the sacred "" be done, before starting to do (any) unlawful and non-permissible work, at all.
2.	When "One" intends meeting any Islamic brother then extending him salutations/sending "one's" compliments to him is the (sacred) traditional practice of the Prophet
3.	Shaking of hands becomes the traditional practice of the Prophet  only when after the two Islamic      brothers have met they extend salutations/send compliments to each other first and then shake hands.
4.	The traditional practice of the Prophet's  at the time of shaking of hands being that no handkerchief etc. stands in the way; both side hands are empty and the palm should join/embrace the palm.
5.	To talk/converse smilingly and cheerfully is the (sacred) traditional practice of the Prophet
6.	To talk screamingly / shriekingly as friends are prone to do these days in frankness / informality between themselves is against the sacred tradition of the Prophet
7.	For the "One" who sneezes to say "AL-HAMDU-LILLAH" (All praise (s) being for Allah " is acting according to the traditional practice of the Prophet . It is better/preferable that "AL-HAMDU-LILLAH-I-RABBIL AALAMEEN" (All praise(s) being for Allah  who (alone) is the cherisher/sustainer of all the universe (eighteen hundred or eighteen thousand) is said (uttered). For the one who hears (the sound of) sneeze, it is expedient/proper that be says immediately "YERHAMUKALLAH" (that is to say that Allah  (may) show mercy to you); And he should say these words so loudly that the one who sneezed is able to listen of his own-self. If the "one" answering the "Sneeze" causes delay (in uttering the words "YERHAMUKALLAH"  he shall be regarded sinful, and could not be absolved of the sin merely by the late answer to the "sneeze"; Rather along with that penitence in the courts of Allah  shall have to be caused (mandatorily) (BAHARE-SHARIAT)
8.	After hearing the answer to his sneeze the "One" who sneezed is to say "YAGHFIRULLAHU-LANAA WALAKUM" (May Allah cause yours/and ours forgiveness) or says this (YAHDEEKUM-ULLAHU WA-YUSLIHU BAALAKUM) (May Allah  show you the path of righteousness and cause your reformation)
9.	The tradition of the Prophet  with regard to the collar-less long and loose traditional shirt being that length of its skirt is up to the shin/calf of the leg, the length of sleeve up to the phalange of fingers the maximum and the width of the sleeves  the length of a span.
10.	Tieing of leg sheet (the loose sheet of cloth for the  lower part of the body of a male member) around the waist is the tradition of the Prophet ; wearing of  (traditional) trousers (eastern style) is permissible / lawful too as the Lord  liked (approved) the same and the companions of the Prophet  have worn it too.
11.	Keep the (fall of) trousers or leg sheet above the ankles of feet.
12.	Put on trousers while in sitting position / posture and tie the turban while in standing position. Any one who conducted/executed these exercises in reverse order shall fall a prey to such  disease which is incurable (ZIA-UL-QULOOB-FI-LIBAS-UL-MAHBOOB).
13.	Put on the shirt first and then the trousers.
14.	While beginning to put-on clothes start from the right side. For example first enter the right hand in the right sleeve of the shirt then (the left hand) in the opposite sleeve. Similarly enter the right foot in the right leg of the trousers and then the left foot in the left leg of trousers.
15.	When about to take off clothes recite "BISMILLAH" (Allah  in the name of) first. By its auspiciousness the privy parts of your body (i.e. from the "Navel" to the "Knees") would remain  concealed / obscured from "Satan".
16.	While taking off the clothes start in the order reverse to the order (as in Point no. 14 above).
17.	Start to wear new clothes from Fridays as that is the tradition of the Prophet
18.	While taking off clothes or getting up from the bed after sleep, keep the clothes in folded form and the bed in rolled up form. Don't leave these (things) in the state (these (things) happen to be); otherwise the "Satan" would use the same. (Fatawaa-e-Razvia)
19.	Place (both of your) buttocks over the ground and keep both the knees in upright position (and then) enclose/blockade the knees by means of the two arms holding one hand by the other; To sit in such posture being the tradition of the Prophet
20.	To sit in cross-legged squatting posture too is, the tradition of the Prophet
21.	To sit at the place, where there is some sunshine and some shade, is (as per Islamic law) forbidden.
22.	Whenever you come to attend (any) congregation or party don't (try to) go forward jumping/striding across the people; Rather! get seated where-ever you find room to sit.
23.	While sitting take off your shoes; your feet would be relieved/be at ease. (AL-HADEES)
24.	When some one arrives, to slide or to widen the space for him is the (sacred) tradition of the Prophet
25.	As far as possible sit with the face set towards the direction of sacred Ka'aba as our Dear Master/Lord   used to sit often on the hams (i.e. with folded legs), with the face set towards the direction of sacred Ka'aba and both the auspicious hands placed on the knees. In addition to this there, are other ways/methods of His   sitting too that have already been described before.
26.	If there are two women standing in the way or walking don't (try to) pass from in between themselves.
27.	While walking on the path way guard yourself from walking in confused/perplexed state (i.e. looking hither and thither or right and left).
28.	In walking be cautious  as well that the shoes  don't create any sound.
29.	Put on the right shoe first then the left and while taking the shoes off take out the left foot first then the right foot.
30.	To wash both hands up to the wrists before and after taking meals, to gargle/rinse the mouth and to wash the front (outside) portion of the mouth is the (sacred) tradition of the Prophet .  Of course even if "One" did not wash the mouth after having taken the meals it won't be said (considered) that the tradition of the Prophet   was not discharged/complied with.
31.	While taking meals laying the left foot (on the floor) and keeping the right foot in upright/erect position or sitting on the buttocks and keeping both the knees in upright position or sitting on the hams/sitting with folded legs; By sitting (while taking meals) in any of the three positions/forms the sacred tradition of the Prophet  would stand having been followed/acted upon.
32.	Hold (the loaf of) bread in left hand and break the same with right hand as this is the tradition of the Prophet
33.	If a morsel (of food) or a piece of bread or particles of grain etc. fall on the ground/table cloth then pick those up, wipe/clean the same and eat those up, as for the "One" doing so, there is the divine inspiration (glad tidings) of him being salved/pardoned "AL-HAMDU-LILLAH" (All praise being for Allah ).
34.	To eat by means of one finger (only) is the rite/course of "Satan" and to eat with two fingers is the way/custom of the proud/self-conceited people (and) to eat with three fingers is the (sacred) tradition of the Prophet
35.	After having taken the meals pick the teeth by means of a straw/dried stalk as that is the tradition of the Prophet
36.	Drink water while in sitting posture, in the (broad) day light, with the glass (of water) held in the right hand (and) after reciting "BISMILLA-HIR-RAHMAN-IR-RAHEEM" (Allah  in the name of), by looking/seeing at the water; drink in three breaths in such a way that each breath is inhaled when the glass (of water) is removed away from the mouth. In the first and the second turns (i.e. breaths) take one drought/gulp (of water) each and in the third breath take as many droughts (of water) as you wish to take. After having taken the water (to your satiation) say/recite "AL-HAMDU-LILLAH", (all praise being for Allah )
37.	After having drank the water (to your satiation) don't, on any account, throw away the water remaining in the glass as to do so is extravagance, and extravagance is unlawful. Have the remaining water in the glass taken by some one else. It is stated in the sacred saying of the Prophet  :-      (There is cure/healing in the residue food or the drinking stuff of a Muslim believer)."
38.	To wash the teeth using "Miswak" (i.e. one span length natural traditional tooth brush made out of  small finger wide stem of a tree) before going to bed/sleep is the tradition of the Prophet  And to sleep with the ablution purification performed (too) is the (sacred) tradition of the Prophet
39.	Before going to bed/sleep (and) after reciting "BISMILLAH" (Allah  in the name of) dust the bed three times so that if there are any pernicious (harmful) animal species i.e. insects/worms in the bed the same get dispelled.
40.	Sleep sometimes on the (palm) mat, sometimes on hide/skin, sometimes on bed stead, sometimes on floor for no reason and some time form pillow like support of the right fore-arm and the right hand (for sleeping). All these (modes) are the (sacred) traditions of the Prophet . By appropriating these practices (for the purposes of following the same) the spiritual love for the Madni Sovereign  would (tend to) grow/prosper. (If Allah  willing).

"O' Our Dear Allah  grant us continuous help and guidance in practicing the traditions of the Prophet  in getting up and sitting down i.e. His  manners and etiquettes there-of.

  

I)	"O, My Allah  my Benediction being that when Raza (i.e. His Highness As-Shah Ahmed Raza Khan of sacred Bareily ) lifts His head (i.e. wakes up), on the day of resurrection from the unbearably long sleep in the grave
II)	He be maintaining even at that very moment the (celestial) wealth of  Divine / spiritual  love for the divinely chosen of all the Prophets and the Apostles  that He maintained during his live period  in this mortal world, (and which enabled Him being blessed whenever He desired to be blessed with the "Sight" as in wakefulness, of the Prophet

  Source : Imam Soleman Nayeck Qadri Razvi, Chezdeen.com’s correspondant for Mauritius
http://chezdeen.com/eng/40 basical sunnahs of everyday life