Everyday sunnahs and du‘as
Small sunnahs and du‘as turn every part of the day into worship.
Eating
Begin with “Bismillah”, eat with the right hand and from what is in front of you (Bukhari 5376). If you forgot at the start:
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ أَوَّلَهُ وَآخِرَهُBismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahIn the name of Allah at its beginning and its end.
(Abu Dawud 3767) After eating: الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنِي هٰذَا وَرَزَقَنِيهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَوْلٍ مِنِّي وَلَا قُوَّةٍAlhamdu lillahil-ladhi at‘amani hadha wa razaqanihi min ghairi hawlin minni wa la quwwahPraise be to Allah who fed me this and provided it for me without any power or strength of mine.
(Tirmidhi 3458)
Before sleeping
Make wudu, lie on the right side, recite Ayat al-Kursi and the last three surahs, then:
بِاسْمِكَ اللّٰهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَاBismika Allahumma amutu wa ahyaIn Your name, O Allah, I die and I live.
(Bukhari 6324)
On waking
الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُAlhamdu lillahil-ladhi ahyana ba‘da ma amatana wa ilaihin-nushurPraise be to Allah who gave us life after causing us to die, and to Him is the return.
Leaving home
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللّٰهِ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰهِBismillah, tawakkaltu ‘alallah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billahIn the name of Allah; I rely on Allah; there is no power and no strength except with Allah.
Other sunnahs
- Greeting with “As-salamu ‘alaikum”, answered with “Wa ‘alaikumus-salam”.
- Saying “Alhamdulillah” after sneezing; the listener replies “Yarhamukallah”.
- Starting with the right — shoes, clothes, entering the masjid — and with the left when taking off and leaving.
- Using the miswak, trimming the nails, keeping clean.
- Before entering the toilet: “Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika minal-khubuthi wal-khaba’ith”; on leaving: “Ghufranak”.
Find many more du‘as in our du‘a collection — with Arabic, pronunciation, meaning and source.