Muslims throughout the world have extremely high standards of personal hygiene, because Islam places

great emphasis on both physical and spiritual, cleanliness and purification.  While humankind in general
usually considers cleanliness to be a pleasing attribute, Islam insists on it.  Muslims are required to take
care of their personal hygiene by assuring that they are well groomed, and that their bodies, clothing,
and surroundings are clean.  Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him,
informed his companions and thus all of us, about the importance of cleanliness when he said,
“cleanliness is half of faith.”[1]  The Quran is more specific and says,

“Truly, God loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves.”
(Quran 2:222)

Personal hygiene is desirable at all times but certain aspects of personal hygiene are not only important
but also compulsory. According to scholars, cleanliness is of three kinds, purification, or ritual washing in
order to perform prayer; keeping the body, clothing, and environment clean; and specifically removing
the dirt or grime that collects in the various parts of the body, such as teeth, nostrils, under the nails, in
the armpits and around the pubic area.

Ritual Washing

The Arabic word for purity is tahara and it means to be free from filth, both spiritual and physical.  Purity
is the key to prayer. Spiritual taharah means being free from sin and idolatry and denotes believing in
the Oneness of God.  It is as important as physical cleanliness.  Before a person stands before God in the
special connection that is prayer, he must ensure that his heart is free from sin, arrogance, and
hypocrisy.  Once this is accomplished, or at least greatly desired, he is able to cleanse himself from
physical impurities.  This is usually achieved by using water.

“O you who believe!  When you intend to offer the prayer, wash your faces and your hands (forearms)
up to the elbows, wipe your heads, and (wash) your feet up to the ankles.  If you are in a state of
Janaba (i.e. had a sexual discharge) purify yourself.”  (Quran 5:6)

Prior to obligatory or voluntary prayer a person must assure that he is in a state of cleanliness, he does
this by performing either wudu (often translated as ablution) or ghusl (a full bath).  Wudu rids the body
of minor impurities, and ghusl cleanses the body of major impurities.  Ghusl must be performed after
sexual intercourse or any sexual activity that releases bodily fluids.  Ghusl is also performed at the
completion of a woman’s menstrual period or post partum bleeding.

Ritually cleansing the body by performing wudu includes washing the hands, rinsing the mouth and
nose, washing the face, washing the arms up to the elbows, wiping the head (and beard), washing the
ears, including behind the ears and washing the feet up to and including the ankle.  A person does not
have to repeat this ablution for every prayer unless he has broken his wudu by one of the following
methods; urinating or defecating, breaking wind, eating camel meat, falling asleep while lying down,
losing consciousness, directly touching the genital area or becoming sexually excited sufficiently to emit
a discharge.
In the traditions of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, we are told
that on the Day of Judgement those who complete a perfect wudu will be identifiable by the light
shinning from the areas washed in wudu.[2]  Prophet Muhammad also taught the believers to perform
wudu in an environmentally friendly manner.  Water was often scarce and he recommended using as
little water as necessary to complete the wudu correctly.  However, on certain occasions it was
obligatory to take a full bath (ghusl), at which time water touches all parts of the body.

Under certain conditions, ritual purification can be achieved without water.  This is called tayammum, or
dry ablution.  If water is not available in sufficient quantities, or if it would be dangerous to use water,
for instance if a person was wounded or very ill, clean earth may be used instead. Tayammum is
performed by striking the hands lightly over clean earth and then passing the palm of each hand on the
back of the other, the dust is then blown off and the hands are passed across the face.  These actions are
performed instead of wudu or ghusl.  

“...But if you are ill or on a journey or any of you comes from answering the call of nature, or you have
been in contact with women (i.e. sexual intercourse) and you find no water, then perform Tayammum
with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands.  God does not want to place you in
difficulty, but He wants to purify you, and to complete His Favour on you that you may be thankful.”
(Quran 5:6)

Although God expects those who worship Him to be ritually clean, He is Merciful and allows certain
concessions.  He (God) says in the Quran (2:286) that He does not burden a person beyond what he can
bear.  Thus, tayammum is one of the concessions as is wiping over the socks, headscarves, and turbans.

Islam is a holistic religion that takes into account humankind’s need for a balance between physical,
emotional, and spiritual health and well-being.  Personal hygiene and cleanliness, both physical and
spiritual, keeps both the body and mind free from disease. Cleanliness is an important part of the high
standards and values that are inherent in Islam

In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate

"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You"

 Praise be to Allaah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with

Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah

guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one

can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness

that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

 
  

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah

As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu

Cleanliness and Beautification

http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/Q_SSC/cleanliness_beautification.html

The attention to hygiene is another aspect of Civilized Manner (Suluk

Al-Hadari) which is an unknown concern in any other religion or philosophy

before Islam. Cleanliness became an essential part of the rites and worship to

such extent that it is an inseparable part of the Muslim's life.

Wudhu :

The five daily Prayers are obligatory upon every Muslim, man and women. This

Prayer is actually pledge to meet Allah, the Exalted, from the rising of the

dawn until the disappearance of the twilight at evening.

It is, in fact a spiritual shower washing away sins five times a day. In this

respect Allah says: "And establish regular Prayers at the two ends of the day

and when the night approaches, surely the good deeds blot out the evil deeds."

(11:114)
 

This Islamic Prayer has a uniqueness unlike the Prayer in other religions in

that physical purification is a necessary condition. If Prayer is the key to

Paradise then, likewise purification is the key to Prayer.

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "Allah does not accept Prayers without

purification."

[Note: Reported by Muslim and Ibn Majah on the authority of Ibn `Umar, also by

Ibn Majah on the authority of Anas and Abi Bakrah and also Abu Dawud, Al-Nasa'i

and Ibn Majah on the authority of the father of Abi Al Malih, Sahih Al- Jami'

Al-Saghir, No.7746] 

This purification and cleanliness are of two kinds: purification from

impurities and purification from the excretions from the private parts.

Purification from impurities purifies the body, the clothes and the place in

which one prays from any impurities such as the stains of the blood, dead

animals and pigs, and the vomiting, urine or excrement of human beings and

animals.

The other kind of purification does not mean cleanliness from something

palpable. But rather purifying the inner of oneself because it is an order from
Allah.

A Muslim is obliged to make ablution if exposed to minor impurities. This means

he must wash the areas of the body which are ordinarily exposed to dust and

dirt and he should have a body-washing (Ghusl) after menstruation and sexual

intercourse. Moreover, these acts of purification are connected to recurrent

natural stimuli which one must blot out through purification. It is also

preferable, in Islam, for the Muslim to be eager to clean his body regularly,

particularly when he meets his fellow Muslims in the congregational Prayers.  

Bath :

Ghusl is also an act in which it is preferable to be performed before the

Friday congregational Prayer as stated in the noble hadith.

In other versions, the hadith goes to the extent of ordering one to perform

(Ghusl) as part of the overall cleanliness and hygiene of the Muslim Society:

"Ghusl on Friday is obligatory(Wajib)on every adult!"

[Note: Reported by Malik, Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Al-Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah on the

authority of Sa'id, Sahih Al-Jami' Al-Saghir, (3690)]  

Another hadith obliges the Muslim to perform (Ghusl) at least once a week
saying: "Every Muslim should bathe once every seven days where he should wash

his head and all of his body."

[Note: Agreed upon on the authority of Abu Hurairan, Al-Lu `Lu' Wal Marjan,

(No.442)]  

Mouth :

The Sunnah has directed attention in taking care of certain parts of the human

body such as the mouth. The means of cleaning it was the Swak which is easily

found and used in the Arab Peninsula.

In this respect, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:"The Swak is a purifying

agent for the mouth and it is a way of seeking Allah's Pleasure."

[Note: Reported by Ahmad on the authority Abi Bakr; also by Al-Shafi'i, Ahmad,

Nasa'i, Ibn Khaizamah, Ibn Hibban, Al-hakim and Al-Baihaqi on the authority of

`Aishah, and by Ibn Majah on the authority of Abi Umaman, Sahih Al-Jami

Al-Saghir, (3695)]

Hair :

Concerning the hair, Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him)

said: "Whoever has hair should care about it."

[Note: Reported by Abu Dawud on the authority of Abu Rurairah, (No. 4163),
Sahih Al-Jami' Al-Saghir, (No.6497)]

Ata Ibn Yasser reported that:"A man came to the Prophet(Peace be upon him):

When he was in the mosque with uncomped hair and an untidy beard. The Prophet

pointed to him as if ordering him to fix his hair and beard. He did so and

returned. Thereupon the Prophet (Peace be upon him): When he was in the mosque

observed, "Isnt this better than one of you coming with his hair uncomped, as

if he was a devil ?"

[Note: Reported by Malik, Al-Mawatta', vol.2, p.949] 

Thus the Prophet as the instructor taught the Muslims the importance of having

a pleasant appearance which comes second in importance after the excellence of

the inner self.

Furthermore, he taught Muslims to wash their hands thrice on waking up before

putting them in the water, saying,"For no one knows where his bands were during

sleep."

[Note: Reported by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Ibn Majab, Al-Nasa'i, Abu Dawud, and

Al-Tirmidhi on the authority of Abu Hurairah, Sahih Al-Jam'i Al Saghir, No.332]

For Arabs used to clean their private parts with stones due to scarcity of
water and many of them weren't in the habit of wearing pants, so perhaps they

might have touched their private parts (where the impurity was) while they were

asleep.

  He also taught them to wash their hands after eating and particularly after

eating meat. He went so far as to warn them against neglecting to wash their

hands before sleep saying:"Whoever goes to sleep without washing his hands from

the traces of fatty foods, exposes himself to illness and should blame no one

but himself."

[Note: Reported by Abu Dawud (No.3852), Al-Tirmidhi (No.1861), Ibn Majah

(No.3267), and Ibn Hibban as mentioned in Al-Mawarid (No. 1354), all of them

reported it on the authority of Abu Hurairah except Ibn Majah who reported it

after Fatimah, (May Allah be pleased with both of them), No.3296]

Home :

The Sunnah stressed the importance of cleanliness in the house saying: "You

must clean your houses and do not follow in the footsteps of Jews".

[Note: Reported by Al-Tirmidhi] 

 
Road :

Moreover, the Sunnah instructed Muslims to maintain the cleanliness of the

roads by lifting any harmful objects found on it. This is considered a Sadaqa

and as a means to ridding the streets of impurities and filth.  

Some Bedouin Arabs used to urinate on the roads or in the shade.

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) strictly warned them against it and considered

it one of the reasons to provoke Allah's curse and the people's curse saying:

"Beware of those acts which cause others to curse. They asked, "What are those

acts?" The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "Relieving oneself in the people's

walkways or in their shade".

>[Note: Reported by Ahmad, Muslim and Abu Dawud on the authority of Abu

>Hurairah, the previous reference (no. 110)]

> 

> 

>"Beware of the three acts that cause others to curse you: relieving yourselves

>in a watering place, on foot paths or shaded places."

>[Note: Reported by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Al-Hakim and Al-Baihaqi on the

>authority of Mu'adh, Sahij' Al- Jaini' Al-Saghir (no. 112)]

> 

This instruction in conjunction with the others were the first attempts, known

in the history of mankind, to link human beings with the protection of the
environment from harm in the name of religion.  

to be contd....

________________________________

Replying Those Why Ask

"Do Muslims Take Bath Only On Fridays" ?

(dawah)

http://www.islamawareness.net/Cleanliness/friday.html

“Excuse me, Sir. I was told that you are a Muslim? ”

“Well in that case, I would like to know, how do you people manage with only

one bath a week? he asked. 

Possibly less out of ignorance and more to vilify me, he continued in the same

vein. ”I understand that you people take bath only on Jumma, that is Fridays ?” 
Ignoring the clear sarcasm in his tone,

I said, “Yes you may be right..”

I paused. “It is true that Muslims do take bath on Fridays, but they also take

bath on the eve of their festivals. They also bath after burying their dead.

The Muslim males take bath every time they ejaculate for any reason. Muslim

females also take bath at the end of their menses. Muslim couples take bath

after having sex. This is over and above the daily routine bath one undertakes

as a matter of habit.”

“Do you know gentleman,” I continued, ”Muslims wash their genitals after

passing urine? Do you also know that prior to each prayer five times a day,

Muslims perform what is known as Ablution (Wudu), whereby they wash off all

those parts of the body which are exposed to environmental pollution?”

Is it out of sheer ignorance or systematic vilification campaign, one cannot

decide for sure, but giving the benefit of doubt to all our friends who are not

only awfully ignorant about Muslims and Islam but are also vulnerable to

disinformation campaigns, we would like to give them a brief idea of the

concept and practice of cleanliness in Islam. 

The importance of cleanliness in Islam can be gauged from this simple fact that

most of the Books of Ahadith (Prophets deeds and sayings) and also the Books of

Fiqh (Sharia) start with a chapter on Taharah that is cleanliness. (In fact the

meaning and spirit behind the concept of Taharah is much beyond the

superficiality of the conventional cleanliness).

 

This particular chapter starts with the classification of water and goes on to

describe how water gets impure or polluted, modes and methods of purification

of water and host of other topics. This chapter ends with a concluding topic of

how Muslims should bath their dead?

Muslims go much beyond the superficial and cosmetic concept of Manicure &

Pedicure imported from the West. They do not believe in the technology which

combines toilet papers with odor-masking perfumes.

Muslim males are required to get circumcised so that even faint traces of urine

are not entrapped in the foreskin of the genitals.

The fruit of such a clean practice is borne out by the results of studies

carried out by Prof. Schot of Australia, in the African AIDS belt, where to his

surprise he discovered that the occurrence of this fatal disease was least

among those who practiced circumcision.

Dr. Advani of Tata Cancer Research Institute, Mumbai, also confirmed that

Muslim women constitute the least percentage among the victims of vaginal

cancer. The observation, he said, can only be explained by the fact that their

males are circumcised.

Muslims are duty bound to shave off their armpits and pubic hair as a matter of

routine practice. The males are also instructed to trim their moustaches in
order to keep them clear of oral intakes.

Our beloved Prophet strictly prohibited his followers to consume onion and

garlic (indicating thereby any foul smelling consumable including cigarettes)

before going to any congregational prayer in mosques, lest they offend fellow

companions praying next to them.

Brushing of teeth ( once in a day ) is very recent development of near past.

Muslims are known to use Miswak, the herbal brush for the past 1400 years, five

times a day prior to each ablution, as recommended by their Prophet.

Cleanliness is inbuilt in Islamic Sharia, as prerequisite to every form and

mode of worship. Be it the recital of the holy Quran, offering of the five

daily prayers, fasting or the Hajj.

In fact a Muslim cannot offer his obligatory prayers with unclean body, clothes

or using dirty premises. The Holy Quran instructs the faithful to ”keep their

clothes clean” (74:4).

They are also made to imbibe this very message that “Allah loves those who are

clean.” (2:222).

In fact to what length and breadth, Islam goes on to take care of its followers

in respect of personal hygiene, can be exemplified by the afore-mentioned verse

whereby Muslims are categorically prohibited to have sex with their mates
during menses. 

Well at this juncture someone may start feeling that Islam prescribes much more

stringent code of cleanliness than they ever thought. They are not wrong. But

they are not fully correct too! The emphasis in Islam is more on the

cleanliness of the inner-self, that is heart, mind and soul.

The external cleaning process and rituals in reality are the preparatory ground

work to achieve the more important task and that is cleanliness of the

inner-self, which is the ultimate goal of the religion.

________________________________

Also Read

Replying Those Who Ask : Do All Muslims Have 4 wives ? (dawah)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveIslam_LiveIslam/message/380

  

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