Some Sunnahs of Social Life

1. To greet with salaam is one of the great Sunnats for a Muslim. Rasulullah (S) has laid a lot of emphasis on this. It increases love amongst people. salaam should be made to every Muslim whether one knows him or not (Bukhari). salaam is an Islamic right and to know the person is not a requirement.

2. It has been mentioned in the ahadith of Bukhari and Muslim that once Rasulullah (S) passed by a group of children and he made salaam to them, hence we deduce that it is Sunnat to make salaam to children as well.(Muslim‐Vol.2, pg. 214)

3. The Sunnat method of making salaam is that one should say Assalaamu Alaikum verbally . To make salaam with the wave of the hand, the nod of the head or the indication of the finger or to answer to the salaam in this manner is against the Sunnat. If salaam is being made from far then one should make salaam verbally as well as with the hand. (Mishkaat‐Vol.2,pg.399 narrating from Tirmidhi)

4. When meeting a fellow Muslim, then it is Sunnat to shake hands with him after Salaam. Females may shake hands with one another. (Mishkaat‐Vol.2, pg. 401 from Bra’a Ibne A’azib)

5. When joining any gathering, one should sit wherever a place is found. To make others stand up and to sit in their place is Makruh and a sin. (Bukhari, Muslim)

6. When a person comes to meet you move a little even though there is ample place. This is also Sunnat and through it, the one arriving will feel honored. (Zaadut‐taalibeen‐narrating from Baihaqi)

7. If there are three persons together, it is not permissible for two persons from amongst them to engage in any conversation separately without the third person being able to hear. The third person may become suspicious and feel hurt. To hurt the feelings of any Muslim is a great sin. (Muslim‐Vol.2, pg. 219)

8. When going to somebody’s house one should take permission before entering. (Mishkaat pg.401)

9. When yawning, it is Sunnat to prevent it as far as possible. (Bukhari). If the mouth cannot be kept closed despite making an effort to do so, then place the back of the left hand over the mouth. While yawning, any sound should not be allowed to emanate as this is forbidden in the hadith. (Bukhar‐Vol.2, pg.919, Muslim‐Vol.2, pg. 412, 413)

10. When hearing a good name then to regard it as a good omen is Sunnat and to become pleased with this is also Sunnat. to regard anything as a bad omen is strictly prohibited. For instance, when someone sneezes to think that you will not succeed in your work or to regard the cawing of a crow or the sight of a monkey or the hooting of an owl as an indication of an impending calamity is baseless and a result of ignorance and incorrect beliefs. In the same manner to regard someone as a means of bad luck or to regard any day as bad is a very evil act. (Mirqaat‐Vol.9, pg.2, 6. etc)