Top Sunan to Implement in Egypt
1. Seeking knowledge: It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that he said: The Messenger of Allah said: Whosoever treads a path seeking knowledge on it, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise [Muslim: 6853
Foreign students are in constant need of renewing their intention for being here. Remind yourself -to yourself - that you are here to seek knowledge, and everything you go through will seem worth it.
2. Appointing a leader when traveling: It is narrated on the authority of Abu Saeed and Abu Hurayrah who said that the Messenger of Allah said: When three men travel together, they should make one of them their leader. [Abu Dawood: 2608]
Whether you are traveling to Egypt or within Egypt it’s a good idea to put this one to practice when you’re in a group.
3. Being economical with water: Anas, radiallahu ‘anh said: The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa salam used to wash with a saa’ to five amdaad, and would do ablution with a mudd [Agreed upon: 201 & 737]: A saa’ is equivalent to four mudds. A mudd is a handful using two hands cupped together, of an average-sized man
Egypt is a desert! If that isn’t enough reminder for you to SAVE WATER then put a sign up on your bathroom mirror. When I was staying in the Sinai desert they had a sign on the bathroom mirror of my cabin that read, “Sinai is a desert and in the desert WATER is LIFE. Help us to safe water!” It was a great reminder.
4. Repeating the words of the adhan after the mu’adhdhin then supplicating for the Prophet: It is narrated on the authority of Abdullah ibn ‘Amr that he heard the Prophet say: When you hear the mua’dhdhin (caller to prayer) make the adhaan, then say what he says, and then supplicate for me, for whoever supplicates for me once, then Allah will do so for him ten times.[Muslim : 849] The translation to the du’a to be made after the adhan is:
˜O Allah, Owner of this perfect call and Owner of this prayer to be performed, bestow upon Muhammad al-waseelah and al-fadeelah and send him upon a praised platform which You have promised him. Verily, You never fail in Your promise.”
5. Prayer for divine guidance (Istikhaara): It is narrated on the authority of Jaabir bin ‘Abd-Allah that he said the Messenger of Allah used to teach us istikhaara like he used to teach us a chapter from the Quran [Bukhari: 1162]
Which center to study at / which apartment to choose / taking in a new roommate…these are all dilemmas that call for Istikhaara.
6. Saying Allahu akbar (Allah is Great) when ascending and saying Subhaanallah (Glory be to Allah) when descending: It is narrated on the authority of Jaabir who said: We used to say Allahu akbar when we ascended and we said subhanallah when descending [Bukhari 2994]
Welcome to Egypt where pretty much everyone and everything is inside an apartment building. Most apartment buildings in Egypt have elevators but there are still quite a few of the older ones that do not. Whether it’s the lift or the stairs, you’ll be able to put this into practice every day insha’Allah.
7. Praying for Muslims in their absence: It is narrated on the authority of Abu Dardaa` that he heard the Messenger of Allah say: Whoever prays for his brother in his absence, the appointed angel for him says, Ameen and for you something similar. [Muslim 6928]
You’re far, far away from family, friends, and community. You’ll think about them often so when you do, it’s an excellent time to remind yourself to be consistent in your du’as for them.
8. Remembering Allah when hearing certain animals: Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said: ‘When you hear a rooster crowing, then ask Allah for His bounties, for it has seen an angel, and when you hear a donkey braying, then seek refuge in Allah from Shaitan, for it has seen a Shaitan’ [Sahih al-Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmad, Sahih al-Jami' #611]
You’re bound to hear donkeys. I’d never heard a donkey’s bray live until coming here and let me just say I really understand why Allah ‘azza wa jal says, [meaning] “Verily, the harshest of all voices is the voice (braying) of the donkey” =|
9. Spreading Islamic salutations: It is narrated on the authority of al-Baraa` bin Aazib that he said: The Prophet ordered us with seven things [and at the end of them] he ordered us to visit the sick and spread Islamic salutations. [Agreed upon: 5388 - 5175]
You can walk into a store, restaurant, or board a taxi say salaam and get a reply. It’s something you don’t get to experience living in the West so take advantage of it while you can!
10. Helping one’s family with housework: It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that he said: I asked ‘Aa`ishah what the Messenger of Allah used to do in the house. She said: He used to help with the housework and when it was time to pray he would leave for the prayer.[al-Bukhari: 676]
Apartments vary utility-wise. Not all come with washing machines and usually none come with dish washers or dryers. Whether you live with roommates or a family, it’s nice when everyone pitches in to do those daunting tasks like hand wash the dishes or hang out the laundry.
11. Flexibility in buying and selling: It is narrated on the authority of Jaabir bin ‘Abd-Allaah that the Messenger of Allah said: May Allah have mercy upon a man who is easy going when he sells, buys and is required. [al-Bukhari: 2076]
The shopping atmosphere is harsh over here. Please try not to hate Egyptians because of the ways they may scam you wherever you go. Speak nicely to them and remember your place. You are a foreigner, this is their country. That rude vendor may be a greedy cheater but he still may be older than you and deserves some respect no matter how angry you feel.
To find more Sunan to implement read: 100 Established Authentic Sunan!