“For Allah loves those who |
Cleanliness
As a Muslim, one must be sure to take the utmost care in personal cleanliness. Cleanliness entails things such as regularly bathing, wearing clean clothing, and good hygiene in general, as well as cleanliness in heart and a clean, well-kept home.
In Qur'an 9:108, Allah says, "And Allah loves those who make themselves clean and pure." Regarding cleanliness, the Prophet (SAW) said, “Cleanliness is half the faith (Emaan)." [Sahih Muslim]
In the Restroom
The common American custom of using toilet paper to clean one's self after answering the call of nature is not enough to maintain Islamic cleanliness standard. To be frank, Muslims must use water to wash away impurities after urinating and defecating. The evidence for that is the hadith of Anas (RA) who said: “The Prophet (SAW) used to relieve himself, then another boy and I would bring a vessel of water and a short spear [to use as a sutrah for the prayer he was going to do after doing wudoo’] and he would cleanse himself with the water,” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 149; Muslim, 271. To this end, many Western Muslims either install a bidet (seen at right photo) to their existing toilet plumbing or they keep a watering can in the bathroom for the purpose of cleaning after answering the call of nature.
Why Most Americans Don't Own a Bidet
Click here for a link to bidet plumbing products.
Ritual Purifications: Wudoo and Ghusl
Other forms of ablution Muslims must perform are what we call wudoo and ghusl, which are ritual purifications (performed a specific way using water; if no clean water is available, a dry ablution called tayamum uses sand or dust) necessary before offering salah. Wudoo must be made after passing any waste or wind and after deep sleep. For women, ghusl should be performed following completion of menstruation and also after completion of post-natal bleeding. Ghusl is also required after intercourse for both men and women, and also recommended on Fridays, as per the sunnah.
Follow link for more information and for how these purifications are performed.
Siwak
Another way in which Muslims are encouraged to practice good hygiene is by using siwak (pronunciation: si-WAK; also referred to as miswaak). It is actually a twig from the Salvadora persica tree, commonly called the arak tree or the toothbrush tree, as it is used for tooth cleaning. It is preferred to the alternative and modern toothbrush, and the Messenger (SAW) used it and encouraged the ummah to use it, particularly before offering prayers. Siwak has a long use in history, even pre-dating Islam and is well-known for its medical benefits. Aishah (RA) reported the Prophet SAW said "Siwak cleanses the mouth and pleases the Lord," (al-Bukhari, Ahmad and al-Nisa'i). The fact that the Prophet SAW mentioned this is notable; it has been studied in modern medical research that the siwak, "contains substances which purify and kill microbes, the most important of which are sulphur and sitosterol B (or β-sitosterol), as well as sodium," [1]. Actually, many common dental care practices have been found to be harmful; here is a practice (using siwak) that, subhannallah, Allah the Most High created and is natural. Allah knows best what is good for us.
You can sometimes find siwak in Middle eastern markets in the West, or on the internet such as here.
Link to an article to learn the Sunnah of siwak usage.
In Qur'an 9:108, Allah says, "And Allah loves those who make themselves clean and pure." Regarding cleanliness, the Prophet (SAW) said, “Cleanliness is half the faith (Emaan)." [Sahih Muslim]
In the Restroom
The common American custom of using toilet paper to clean one's self after answering the call of nature is not enough to maintain Islamic cleanliness standard. To be frank, Muslims must use water to wash away impurities after urinating and defecating. The evidence for that is the hadith of Anas (RA) who said: “The Prophet (SAW) used to relieve himself, then another boy and I would bring a vessel of water and a short spear [to use as a sutrah for the prayer he was going to do after doing wudoo’] and he would cleanse himself with the water,” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 149; Muslim, 271. To this end, many Western Muslims either install a bidet (seen at right photo) to their existing toilet plumbing or they keep a watering can in the bathroom for the purpose of cleaning after answering the call of nature.
Why Most Americans Don't Own a Bidet
Click here for a link to bidet plumbing products.
Ritual Purifications: Wudoo and Ghusl
Other forms of ablution Muslims must perform are what we call wudoo and ghusl, which are ritual purifications (performed a specific way using water; if no clean water is available, a dry ablution called tayamum uses sand or dust) necessary before offering salah. Wudoo must be made after passing any waste or wind and after deep sleep. For women, ghusl should be performed following completion of menstruation and also after completion of post-natal bleeding. Ghusl is also required after intercourse for both men and women, and also recommended on Fridays, as per the sunnah.
Follow link for more information and for how these purifications are performed.
Siwak
Another way in which Muslims are encouraged to practice good hygiene is by using siwak (pronunciation: si-WAK; also referred to as miswaak). It is actually a twig from the Salvadora persica tree, commonly called the arak tree or the toothbrush tree, as it is used for tooth cleaning. It is preferred to the alternative and modern toothbrush, and the Messenger (SAW) used it and encouraged the ummah to use it, particularly before offering prayers. Siwak has a long use in history, even pre-dating Islam and is well-known for its medical benefits. Aishah (RA) reported the Prophet SAW said "Siwak cleanses the mouth and pleases the Lord," (al-Bukhari, Ahmad and al-Nisa'i). The fact that the Prophet SAW mentioned this is notable; it has been studied in modern medical research that the siwak, "contains substances which purify and kill microbes, the most important of which are sulphur and sitosterol B (or β-sitosterol), as well as sodium," [1]. Actually, many common dental care practices have been found to be harmful; here is a practice (using siwak) that, subhannallah, Allah the Most High created and is natural. Allah knows best what is good for us.
You can sometimes find siwak in Middle eastern markets in the West, or on the internet such as here.
Link to an article to learn the Sunnah of siwak usage.
Siwak twig used for cleaning teeth; Wikipedia photo
- See information related to Cleanliness regarding keeping dogs.
- See more Practices of Muslims
References:
[1] Published in the journal Oral Medicine and Dentistry, by the research of Dr. James Turner, Faculty of Medicine in the American University of Tennessee.
Source 1
Source 2