Sunnahs in Everyday Courtesy include: Alhamdulillah When Sneezing, A Smile Is Charity, Respect for Elders, Love for the Young. The table below lists each sunnah with a short description and the reference of the hadith it rests on. Sunnahs without a basis in authentic sources are not included.
Everyday Courtesy sunnahs and hadith references
| Sunnah | Description | Hadith reference |
|---|---|---|
| Alhamdulillah When Sneezing | Saying "Alhamdulillah" when you sneeze is a short remembrance the Prophet taught. | al-Bukhari, Book of Good Manners, 126 (hadith no. 6224) Ahmad ibn Hanbal, al-Musnad, 2/440 |
| A Smile Is Charity | Smiling at your brother's face is charity. The Prophet's own laughter was a smile. | at-Tirmidhi, Book of Righteousness and Kinship, 36 (hadith no. 1956) at-Tirmidhi, Book of Virtues, 10 (hadith no. 3642) al-Bukhari, Book of Jihad, 162 (hadith no. 3035) |
| Respect for Elders, Love for the Young | Showing mercy to the young and honoring the rights of elders was the Prophet's counsel. | Abu Dawud, Book of Good Manners, 58 (hadith no. 4943) Muslim, Book of Virtues, 65 (hadith no. 6028) Muslim, Book of Pilgrimage, 474 (hadith no. 3335) Muslim, Book of the Merits of the Companions, 145 (hadith no. 6378) |
| Removing an Obstacle from the Road | Removing something harmful from the road is charity. | Muslim, Book of Faith, 58 (hadith no. 153) al-Bukhari, Book of Jihad, 128 (hadith no. 2989) |
| Answering an Invitation | Going where you are invited is a sunnah that gladdens the one who invited you. | al-Bukhari, Book of Marriage, 72 (hadith no. 5174) al-Bukhari, Book of Marriage, 74 (hadith no. 5178) Abu Dawud, Book of Food, 54 (hadith no. 3854) |
| Turning with the Whole Body | When turning to someone, turning your whole body and not just your head shows them your full attention. | at-Tirmidhi, ash-Shama'il al-Muhammadiyyah, 11 |
| Asking Permission Before Entering | Giving the greeting and asking permission before entering a door is a fine lesson in the etiquette of the sunnah. | Abu Dawud, Book of Good Manners, 127-128 (hadith no. 5186) al-Bukhari, Book of Asking Permission, 13 (hadith no. 6245) |
| Suppressing a Yawn | When a yawn comes during prayer, holding it back as much as one can was the Prophet's counsel. | at-Tirmidhi, Book of Prayer, 156 (hadith no. 370) Abu Dawud, Book of Good Manners, 89 (hadith no. 5027) |
| Being Self-Sufficient | Meeting your own needs without asking anything of others is safeguarding your dignity. | Ahmad ibn Hanbal, al-Musnad, 6/256 al-Bukhari, al-Adab al-Mufrad, 190 Abu Dawud, Book of Zakat, 27 (hadith no. 1643) al-Bukhari, Book of Sharecropping, 13 (hadith no. 2373) |
| Bismillah in Daily Tasks | Remembering Allah's name while closing a door and in daily tasks is beginning one's work with Bismillah. | Abu Dawud, Book of Drinks, 22 (hadith no. 3731) Abu Dawud, Book of Purification, 18 (hadith no. 33) at-Tirmidhi, Book of Supplications, 35 (hadith no. 3427) |
| Walking with Purpose | Walking with quick, decided steps and a slight forward lean was the Prophet's way of walking. | Ibn Sa'd, at-Tabaqat al-Kubra, 1/379 at-Tirmidhi, ash-Shama'il al-Muhammadiyyah, 55 at-Tirmidhi, ash-Shama'il al-Muhammadiyyah, 11 |
| Running and Sport | On a journey, the Prophet raced on foot with his wife Aisha. | Abu Dawud, Book of Jihad, 61 (hadith no. 2578) Abu Dawud, Book of Jihad, 60 (hadith no. 2576) Muslim, Book of Fasting, 182 (hadith no. 2730) |
| Not Judging by Appearance | Allah looks not at forms and wealth but at hearts and deeds. Judge no one by appearance. | Muslim, Book of Righteousness and Kinship, 34 (hadith no. 6543) al-Bukhari, Book of Jihad, 76 (hadith no. 2896) |
Other categories
- Eating & Drinking sunnahs
- Greetings sunnahs
- Cleanliness sunnahs
- Sleep Etiquette sunnahs
- Clothing sunnahs
- Speech Etiquette sunnahs
- Social Life sunnahs
- Prayer & Worship sunnahs
- Family & Visiting sunnahs
The Sunnah & Hadith app sends this and other sunnahs as short reminders spread across your day. Free for iPhone, no ads: download on the App Store.