Sunnah

Q: In besides Umrah and Hajj is it Sunnah or just permissible to shave the head? (I read Imam Tahawi Rahmatullahi alaih has mentioned it is sunnah).

Q: When carrying out various Sunnah actions, do we have to make intention that we are doing it as a Sunnah every time we perform the act or does one time suffice?

Q: Should a Muslim be afraid only for Allah Ta'ala or should he be afraid also of Hazrat Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam)? If we love our Rasool. How the love should be more than our selves and everything or more than others?

Q: I have heard that riding 4 wheel motor car is a sunnat. Is it correct?

Q: Which oil is sunnah to use?

Q: Is it sunnah to walk on the right side of the road?

Q: How did Sahaba/Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) use a long kurtha/and lungi whilst riding a horse etc?

Q: “On one occasion Shaykh Zulfiqar Naqshbandi Saheb (db), while on a journey to Zambia, requested a pen from one of his Khulafa. The Khalifa took out a Blue pen from his pocket and presented it to the Shaikh. On seeing the pen, the Shaikh said, “Subhanallah Mawlana saheb, Are you not aware of the ink colour which is Sunnah?” At this the Respected Khalifah said, that he was set aback by this, and it put his mind and heart to distress. He began thinking, what is the Sunnah ink colour? Then the Shaikh mentioned that “Haven’t you read, the colour of Ink that Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) used on the occasion when he wrote letters to Kaiser and Kisra?” And then, the Khalifa remembered that, Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) had used black ink.” 

Mufti Saheb, in light of the above, will I be rewarded for using a black pen  instead of another colour if my intention is to gain the Pleasure of Allah Ta’ala by following the Sunnah?

I have no problem with Hazrat Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmed Naqshbandi (db), it is just that this the first time I became aware of this particular Sunnah. In addition, I thought Nabi Muhammad (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) was illiterate and thus unable to write. Therefore, I am uncertain. Please advise.

Q: During my last Jumaah at Baltimore, MD (www.isb.org) we had a brother talk during the Jumaah bayan about the difference of Sunnah and tradition and what needs to be followed etc. This has caused some confusion in my mind. I would appreciate some clarity on the issue in specific mentioned below or just in common to make me better understand what is the correct position on this.

A few things mentioned by the brother was:

1. The Topi, Turban, Thoppe is all not Sunnah but more of custom and hence no extra reward for following the custom. For women covering their bodies is order from Allah and has to be done but for men pant/shirt is just as fine as anything else as long as it covers the aura.
2. There are some things that the Prophet(pbuh) did that are not sunnah, for example he slept after the Tahajjud/Sunnah of Fajr and we do not need to do this as he did not ask us to do it. One more example given was that the Prophet(pbuh) would face the person in his entirety while talking to a person and this is again not something that needs to be emulated.
3. There were a couple more examples given to clarify Sunnah vs tradition and what was exclusive to the prophet like marrying more than 4.

My understanding has always been that every act no matter how simple is an act that needs to be emulated in our daily lives including his dress, mannerisms etc. I would appreciate some clarity on the issue.

Q: What is the Sunnah with regards to the staff. At what age can you start using it?