Sunnah Rasul

Assalamualaikum,

It happened again. I popped up very often, and went missing for a long time. And today, I am here again.  I did not actually intend to write anything this morning. I am at the office this beautiful Sunday morning is to prepare reports for tomorrow's exam meeting, but, when suddenly the blog flashes, I just could not resist but to drop few lines.

Well, Maulidur Rasul for 1434 has past last week. Many places conducted various programmes as a remembrance to our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW. The argument was still there whether it is wise to celebrate the day or not. To me, let's get back to our nawaitu  (niat) and the way we chose to celebrate it. I am not an asatizah to write a comment on this matter. Whatever I may write here is solely from my humble self as the obedient servant of Allah SWT and as the faithful follower of Prophet Muhammad SAW. Opinion of others may differ. From how I see it there are the pros and cons:

Cons:

1. In having a parade. There is along and never ending discussion over this matter. When it was a large group of adult doing it. There was a mix between non-mahrams, a lot of wasting waiting time, a lot of wasting of money for clothing, placard, and banners which followed by winners in various category like marching, uniform etc., I personally DISAGREE. Having competition may lead to a waste of money of trying to dressed in the best outfit when that amount of money can easily feed hundreds of people in Gaza, Syria, Somalia or even Malaysia. If the waiting time and the marching can be put to something more beneficial like listening to tazkirah, saying salawat to Rasulallah SAW, this would be better.

Pros:

1. However, I have a different experienced when conducting a parade to a bunch of pre-school children. In this case, I believe in experiential learning theory, that is learning by doing. We thought them countless time about Rasullallah, but they seem to forget short after. When we conduct a parade, let them dressed in the best dress that they have, make them put their creativity on the manila card days before that later act as the banner for the parade, and later, when asked - 'What are we doing here today?', those beautiful chirping voices proudly answered, "We are here to remember Rasulallah SAW". When asked, "who is Rasulallah?", Alhamdulillah.they are able to answer. This is a true story. This is my own experience when I was operating a kindergarten. Educating children and adult are not the same. Educational theorist has proven this. 
2. When we celebrate it gloriously (but not to extend of wasting money, resources etc), it shows how important it is the person that we are celebrating it for. It is important for the youngsters. We normally celebrate the birthday of the people that we love. Therefore, if we are able to show to our children how we love the Rasulallah SAW, insya Allah, the children will also eventually feels the importance to love this special human being, Muhammad SAW.

Wallahua'lam. Allah knows best. What ever it is, lets just go back to the true teaching. Let's Rasulallah live with us everyday. In our everyday life. Let's follow Rasulallah by following what he did. Following his sunnah. Let's begin with these sunnah:

1. Say 'Bismillahirahmanirrahim' before we eat.
2. ALWAYS use our right hand for eating and drinking.
3. Say the dua' before we go to sleep.

بِاسْمِكَ اللّهُمَّ أَحْيَاوَأَمُوتُ

bismikallahumma ahya wa amutu

Ertinya :

Dengan nama-Mu ya Allah aku hidup dan mati

4. Say the dua' after we wake up from sleep.

اَلْحَمْدُ ِللهِ الَّذِى أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَمَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ

alhamdulillahil ladzi ahyana ba’da ma amatana wailaihin nusyur

Ertinya :

Segala puji bagi Allah yang menghidupkan aku kembali setelah mematikan aku dan kepada Allah akan bangkit

This dua' is based on hadith Riwayat Bukhari: 

عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ وَأَبِىذَرٍّ رَضِىَاللّهُعَنْهُمَا قَالَ : كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَاأَوَى إِلىَ فِرَاشِهِ قَالَ : بِاسْمِكَ اللّهُمَّ أَحْيَاوَأَمُوتُ ، وَإِذَااسْتَيْقَظَ قَالَ : اَلْحَمْدُ ِللهِ الَّذِى أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَمَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ . رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِىُّ

Ertinya :
Hudzaifah r.a. dan Abu Dzarr keduanya berkata : Adalah Rasulullah saw. jika akan tidur membaca : bismikallahumma ahya wa amutu (Dengan nama-Mu ya Allah aku hidup dan mati), dan apabila bangun tidur membaca ; alhamdulillahil ladzi ahyana ba’da ma amatana wailaihin nusyur (Segala puji bagi Allah yang menghidupkan aku kembali setelah mematikan aku dan kepada Allah akan bangkit). (Bukhari)

(Credit to :  this blog)

5. Say 'Astaghfirullah' (3X) after our solat.
6. Recite ayatul-Kursi after our solat.
7. Recite the 3 QULs after solat.
8. Say 'Subhanallah (33X)', "Alhamdulillah (33X) and 'Allahu akbar (33X)'

Let's begin these simple things, and slowly add more sunnah in our daily life, Insya Allah, Rasulallah will always be with us and hope to get his Syaafaat on The Day of Judgement. Insya Allah.

Wassalam.