Islam cared about the individual cleanliness of every Muslim, and general hygiene in the environment and society, and called on people to adhere to purity, remove dirt, and take care of every place where a person descends as religion is built on internal and external cleanliness. Ms. Aisha, may God be pleased with her, quoted the Prophet (PBUH) hadith: “Islam is clean, so you should be clean; it does not enter Paradise except who is clean.”
The value of cleanliness in Islam
Cleanliness is one of the most important Islamic values, as Islam considers it an integral part of faith, which made it gain great value and interest in Islamic law. An interest not found in other laws. Islam made it an issue of faith related to the doctrine, the perpetrator of which is rewarded and sinning in some of its manifestations.
Abu Hurairah, a great companion of the prophet and spreader of his hadith, God be pleased with him, said that prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (PBUH) said: “Faith has over seventy branches; the highest is declaring is there is no God but Allah, and the lowest is removing what is injurious from the road,”. Explaining that Islam not only cares about the individual cleanliness of every human but also the general hygiene in the environment and society. ِِit also asks people to adhere to purity, remove dirt, and take care of every place where a person descends as religion is built on internal and external cleanliness.
Body cleanliness
Besides the daily five-time prayers that request Muslims to do ablution, and wash the most important parts of the body, Islam set a maximum period for washing the whole body, which shouldn’t exceed seven days after the last wash. The prophet Mohammed (PBUH) said: “It is a right for God for every Muslim to wash himself every seven days. Washes his head and body.”
One of the aspects of hygiene in Islamic law is the Sunnah of Fitrah, primitiveness, which is some of the behaviors that take care of the cleanliness of man. The Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) said: “Five acts come with Fitrah: circumcision, prejudice, cutting the nails, plucking the armpit, and mustache clipping.”
Mouth and teeth cleanliness
Al-Tessouk: Since the beginning of Islam the Prophet (PBUH) urged cleansing the mouth from leftovers using the tooth-stick, Miswak. For Abu Huraira that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “If It wouldn’t be hard for my community, I would have ordered them to use Miswak,”. When Aisha, may God be pleased with her, was asked about the thing that the Prophet Muhammad would begin with, as he enters the house? She said, “With a Miswak.”
Fragrance
Perfuming musk and other types: One of the areas of applying hygiene in Islam is perfuming musk or any other type of perfume. To delight the soul, delight it, inspire activity and strength, and delight the believers, and compose among them; He loved perfume and accepted perfume and said: “I am loved by the world, women, and the perfume, and I find inner peace during prayer.”
Pruning nails
The Prophet educated us that nail pruning is a sign of cleanliness and beauty. From characteristics of instinct and the advantages of habits, because of its clear effects on the cleanliness of the individual. It may accumulate waste, germs, and impurities under it, and that is inconsistent with the required purity, as well as what may be caused by negative health effects.
Hairstyle
Paying attention to the hair of the head is important in Islam as well. The Prophet (PBUH) permitted having untidy hair. Also, forbidden Muslims to shave part of their hair and leave the rest unshaved. He said in the hadith: “Shave all of them, or leave him all,”. He also said: “Whoever has hair, let him take care of it.”
Washing clothes
Allah said: {And your garments should be clean}
Islam urged to dress and coordinate clothes, and the garments are clean. The Prophet (PBUH) asked his companions, who came back from a journey, to clean themselves and their clothes, and said to them: “You are coming to your brothers, so clean yourselves and repair your garments until you are known among people, God doesn’t Love obscenity.”
Cleanliness of the dwelling
Salih Ibn Abi Hassan said: I heard Saeed bin Al-Musayyib say: “God is good, loves good, clean, love cleanliness, generous, loves generosity, so clean your yards.”
Finally; Cleanliness is part of the Islamic religion. And we should know that teaching our children the meaning of cleanliness is not by only saying but by acting. As educators, we are role models for them. Also, we should increase the awareness of tiny bad behavior results, such as throwing fast food covers on the streets, eating amusements, throwing peel on the road, etc. The dangers of negligence in cleanliness are way more harmful than we think.
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