Forgotten Sunnahs Among Women

There are many beautiful Sunnahs from the life of the Prophet ﷺ that have slowly been abandoned — not out of denial, but simply from lack of awareness or habit. Among these are specific Sunnahs that relate directly to women — their dress, behavior, and lifestyle.

Let’s explore some of these neglected practices and how we can lovingly bring them back into our lives.

What Are “Forgotten Sunnahs”?

Forgotten Sunnahs (السنن المهجورة) refer to the actions and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that people no longer commonly practice — whether out of cultural shifts or fading memory. These are acts full of reward that deserve to be revived with love and intention.

👗 1. Letting the Dress Flow Below the Ankles

One neglected Sunnah for women is allowing the hem of the dress to extend about a handspan (a forearm’s length) below the ankles — this ensures modesty and full coverage.

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ رضي الله عنهما، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ:
“مَن جرَّ ثوبَهُ خيلاءَ لم ينظُرِ اللَّهُ إليهِ يومَ القيامةِ”
فقالت أمُّ سلمةَ: فكيفَ يصنَعُ النِّساءُ بذيولِهِنَّ؟
قالَ: “يُرخينَ شبرًا”، فقالت: إذًا تنكشفَ أقدامُهُنَّ، قالَ: “فيُرخينَهُ ذراعًا، لا يزِدنَ علَيهِ”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi 1731 – Sahih)

This extension promotes modesty, but going beyond the recommended length (out of pride) is discouraged.

🚶‍♀️ 2. Walking by the Side of the Road

Islam emphasizes protecting women from places of harm or fitnah (temptation). One often-forgotten Sunnah is for women to avoid walking in the middle of the street and instead keep to the sides.

عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ رضي الله عنه، قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ:
“استأخِرْنَ؛ فإنه ليس لكن أن تَحْقُقْنَ الطريقَ، عليكن بحافَاتِ الطريقَ”
فكانت المرأةُ تلتصقُ بالجدارِ حتى إن ثوبَها ليتعلَّقُ بالجدارِ
(Sunan Abi Dawood 5272 – Hasan)

This shows the level of care Islam places on safeguarding women from unwanted interactions in public spaces.

🕌 3. Attending the Mosque at Night

Many people don’t realize that attending the mosque — especially for Fajr and Isha — was something the women companions of the Prophet ﷺ used to do regularly.

قَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ رضي الله عنه:
“كانَتِ امْرَأَةٌ لِعُمَرَ تَشْهَدُ صَلاةَ الصُّبْحِ والعِشاءِ في الجَماعَةِ في المَسْجِدِ…”
فسُئِلت: لما تَخرجين؟ قالت: “ما يَمْنَعُهُ؟ قولُ رسولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ:
“لا تَمْنَعُوا إماءَ اللَّهِ مَساجِدَ اللَّهِ”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 900)

The Prophet ﷺ also said:
“إِذَا اسْتَأْذَنَكُمْ نِسَاؤُكُمْ باللَّيْلِ إلى المَسْجِدِ، فَأْذَنُوا لهنَّ”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 865)

This Sunnah reminds us that the masjid is a spiritual home for believing women — as long as they maintain modesty and avoid perfumes or makeup that may attract attention.

🏡 4. Staying Home Unless There’s a Need

While Islam permits women to go out when needed, one of the recommended Sunnahs is for a woman to make her home her base — a place of comfort, worship, and safety.

(وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ)
“And stay in your homes…”
(Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:33)

This isn’t about restricting women — it’s about prioritizing their safety and protecting them from unnecessary exposure to harm or fitnah.

🌺 5. Using Henna (خِضاب) and Natural Dyes

Another lost Sunnah is women dyeing their hair (not black) and beautifying their hands and feet with natural henna — a tradition loved by the Prophet ﷺ.

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ:
“إنَّ أحسنَ ما غيَّرتُم به الشيبَ الحنَّاءُ والكتمَ”
(Sunan al-Nasa’i 5093 – Sahih)

And Aisha رضي الله عنها said:
“جاءت امرأةٌ إلى رسولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ، فقبضَ يدَهُ وقالَ: ما أدري أيدُ رجلٍ أم امرأة؟ قالت: امرأة. قال: لو كنتِ امرأةً لغيَّرتِ أظفارَكِ”
(Sunan Abi Dawood 4166 – Hasan)

In a time of artificial nail polish and hair dyes, reviving this Sunnah is not only more natural but also spiritually rewarding.

💬 A Gentle Reminder

These Sunnahs aren’t about restricting women — they’re about elevating them through modesty, beauty, and purposeful living. Each one is an act of worship — and a path to closeness with Allah ﷻ.

🌟 Want to Learn More About Islam from Home?

If you’re interested in learning more about the Prophet’s Sunnah, the teachings of the Quran, or simply want to improve your connection with your faith — we’d love to support your journey.

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