Things to Do After Waking Up According to Islam

After a period of sleep, waking up for the Muslim, is a blessing from Allah. As a Muslim wakes from sleep, one should start the new day in remembrance of Allah, with their person in pristine condition, as well as be in good observance of the manner taught by our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

A Sunnah includes a simple act or two after waking up, the common ones among them being reciting the upon waking supplication, washing ones hands, cleaning the teeth and cleaning the nose, in the wudu. Taking these steps allows the Muslim to enter his new day with an awareness of Allah, the tidiness in the manner and the readiness for worship.

The Upon Waking Supplication

Among the very first things to be performed after one wakes up is praising the Lord who blessed us with a day's more of our life.

Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (RA) narrated that when Messenger of Allah (PBUH) went to bed, he would say:

             اللَّهُمَّ بِاسْمِكَ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا

"Allahumma Bismika amutu wa ahya."

Which translates to:

"O Allah! In Your name I die and I live."

And when he woke up, he would say:

      الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ

"Alhamdulillahilladhi ahyana ba'da ma amatana wa ilaihin-nushur."

Which means:

"All praise is due to Allah who gave us life after causing us to die, and to Him is the return."

(Reported by Sahih Al-Bukhari, Book of Supplications.)

Saying the above when starting the new day reminds the Muslim the; first, life is a blessing from Allah; second; you have to submit in awe and reverence to him always; third, the return is to Allah and your duty is to make preparation.

Wash Hands After Waking up

The Muslim's day must begin with clean hands! Before he can proceed to wash hands for wudu and before he can even take care of his needs and desires, he must ensure his hands remain clean all along while asleep.

Abu Hurairah(RA) is reported to have narrated thatMessenger of Allah(PBUH) said:"When one of you wakes up then touched by the water one's hands he has to wash his hands once before he puts them in the wash-basin because you know not where they passed the night".(Sahih Al-Bukhari, Book of ablution).

This simple is taught to help remind us to look after the cleanliness. A mere action becomes an intention by remembering the Prophet(PBUH).

Brush Teeth

The teeth also fall into the Muslim's general care. Aisha (RA) reported that, "When Allah's Messenger (PBUH) woke at night he would relieve nature, perform ablution and brush his teeth..." (Reported by Abu Dawud).

The importance of oral cleaning, and brushing of teeth comes first in the ablution preparation to greet Allah five times a day in supplication, which brings me to the next point about the ablution.

Clean your Nose during Wudu

Although wudu can be summarized by all that we had noted, there is also the act that Muslims can perform on nose that should be cleaned vigorously three times; one has to sniff in water with the nose and blew it off and perform this act thrice while performing wudu. The Prophet(PBUH) noted: "When one of you is awaken from sleep, let him perform Wudu and clean his nose three times because Satan sleeps in his inside part of the nose." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Book 59: The Beginning of Creation).

Summary of a Muslim's Morning

The acts performed before praying when starting the new day are, in a nutshell;
1. Remember the Lord by praising him while waking up with the stated du'ah.
2. Wash the hands from any impurities that may have entered them while sleeping.

3. Clean the teeth and refresh the mouth.

4. Perform ablution diligently including cleaning the nose thrice.

5. Begin by saying the Wudu supplications after concluding the washing.

Why the Morning Ritual?

Islam covers all and every aspect of a human being's life, including ordinary day to day practices like waking from one's slumber and entering the day; even in performing mundane rituals like washing ones body to clean of all imperfections before seeking Allah through prayer, a Muslim must adhere to the instruction given by his Rasul.

 To wake up and say ones du'ahs before anything else signifies true faith to Allah by acknowledging his supremacy and thankfulness for another gift, so does brushing of the teeth, cleaning the nose in the ablution, and washing hands-all serve as a testament that every deed the Muslim does must reflect Allah's glorious presence and that Allah is the true perfection.

Conclusion

Waking from sleep is another great chance to remember your Lord and the Prophet. Saying the du'ahs on waking, ensuring you maintain a pristine self by cleaning all of its visible parts and performing ablution before the first salat that takes you back to Him.

 By embracing all this together, the Muslim surely attains more baraka in the mornings that pass and becomes a better Muslim at the conclusion of his day; The Sunnah includes the simplest and most obvious things which if followed by every human being in the community, I guarantee, will establish a much better Ummah.