What Did The Mornings Of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) Look Like?

What Did The Mornings Of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) Look Like? 

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the final messenger of Islam, lived a life of profound significance. Famous for not only his actions in this world but also for his modesty, generosity, honesty and patience, the Prophet (PBUH) has proved himself to be a worthy role model, not only for Muslims but for all mankind. Let’s have a closer look at the way the beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) chose to start his day, how it reflects his nature and identify all the ways we can be inspired and implement his habits in our own daily life to become better versions of ourselves. 

The Dawn of A New Day 

To prepare for the day, the first thing the Prophet (PBUH) would do as soon as he woke up was recite the appropriate dua. Reportedly there are multiple variations of the supplication the Prophet (PBUH) would recite as soon as he would wake up, here is one of the example,

After which he would use the miswak and make wudhu. Miswak is a traditional chewing stick prepared from the roots, twigs, and stem of Salvadora persica and has been used as a natural method for tooth cleaning in many parts of the world for thousands of years. It is great for dental health because of its anti-plaque properties. A plethora of studies has found that miswak's cleansing ability is almost equal to modern toothbrushes. In addition to this, it has an immensely beneficial effect on saliva composition. Additionally, if necessary the Prophet (PBUH) would also perform ghusl at the start of the day, all this done to ensure he was in a state of complete purity before engaging in any form of worship. 

The day for the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) often started before dawn, as he preferred to participate in the act of nightly worship, also known as “Tahajjud Prayer”; these prayers are performed in the last third of the night right before the Fajr prayer. To grasp a deeper meaning on the importance of Tahajjud and other types of nafl prayers, have a look at our blog: Beyond the Basics: Unlock the Power of Non-Obligatory Prayers.

Once he had completed his nightly prayers, the Prophet (PBUH) would then head to the masjid in order to participate in the congregational Fajr prayer, accompanied by his companions and fellow Muslims. As reported by Abu Usaid (RA), the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) stated,

In continuation of the Hadith, the Prophet guided us to recite a specific dua for exiting the mosque as well, 

Even though the Fajr prayer is the shortest prayer amongst the 5 obligatory prayers, for the Prophet (PBUH), it used to be the longest. As he aimed to fully utilize the peace and calm atmosphere of the early morning to engage in remembrance of Allah (dhikr) and revise the Quran. This practice not only strengthened his faith but also set a positive tone for the day. His mornings were filled with tranquility and reflection, and he encouraged his followers to do the same. The Prophet’s early rising effortlessly demonstrates his disciplined lifestyle, reminding us of the value of productivity and spiritual awareness in the early hours.  

If we are to draw inspiration from the Prophet’s practice of waking up early to engage in the remembrance of Allah for extended periods, DEENIN has the ideal product for you. The Ebadat Prayer Rug with Backrest is designed to offer essential back support to those seeking to sit comfortably and immerse themselves in deep connection with their Lord. Available in 3 vibrant colors, the Ebadat Prayer Rug with Backrest is made with extra foam padding to ensure maximum comfort during your prayers. To top it all off, its foldable and compact feature allows its storage process to be completely hassle-free making it a great addition to your homes. Quickly get your prayer rug and kick-start the addition of new habits in your daily routine.

Moving on, after completing his early morning acts of worship, the Prophet (PBUH) would have breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and evidently it comes with a plethora of benefits for not only the human body, but also the mind, which is why the Prophet (PBUH) aimed to not skip out on this meal either, as he states, 

"Eat your meal at dawn, for there is a blessing in the meal at dawn"
[Sahih Bukhari]

Though this hadith refers to the importance of suhoor (the meal at dawn in Ramadan), the same teaching can be applied to breakfast as well, highlighting the importance of early morning nutrition for one’s body and mind. The simplicity of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) is also reflected in his modest diet. With only a few specific choices of food that he preferred for his breakfast, the Prophet (PBUH) often indulged in water, dates, milk, barley bread or honey, etc. 

Some of the benefits of these foods are expressed in recording of the Prophet (PBUH)’s hadith,

A'isha (RA) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

“A family which has dates will not be hungry”
[Sahih Muslim 2046a]

When talking about drinking water, the Prophet (PBUH) guided us to drink it slowly and calmly, advising us to take our time and not rush the process of consuming any food or drinks, the Prophet stated,

"Let none of you drink all at once like the camel. But drink two or three times, mentioning Allah's Name when you drink, and praising Him when you (finish)”
[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1885]

We have explicitly underlined the importance of food that the Prophet (PBUH) used to enjoy and expressed great significance of in one of our previous blogs: The Importance of Sunnah Foods: Prophetic Diet and Nutrition in Islam

As the sun rose higher, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) would engage with his community. He was not just a spiritual leader; he was also a teacher and a guide. The Prophet would often hold gatherings in the mosque where he shared knowledge about Islam, addressed questions, and provided counsel to those in need. During this time, the Prophet (PBUH) would also attend to the needs of his family and community. He believed in the importance of family and often spent time with his wives and children, providing them with love and support. This balance between communal responsibilities and family life is a vital lesson, reminding us of the importance of nurturing both our families and our communities.