Cleanliness

“Cleanliness is half of the faith.” ¹⁸
(The Prophet Muhammad (saw))

One of the distinctive features of Islam is the importance attached to both physical and spiritual cleanliness. Physical cleanliness refers to keeping oneself, the clothes, possessions, the places they live, the environment and the earth clean as a whole. Spiritual cleanliness refers to purifying one’s soul, heart and mind, staying away from the evil deeds and sins.

Islam commands people to not spread their bodily wastes to the environment and pollute it. Therefore, bathroom manners and cleanliness have a special place in the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (saw). According to sunnah, a person who meets their need to use toilet, should definitely clean using water, pay attention to privacy, wash their hands with water, and should not face the qiblah. Also, relieving oneself on roads where people pass by, under trees, on shadows, parks and nearby waters, rivers and seas are prohibited.

Islam pays great importance to bodily care as well. The Prophet Muhammad commands to take a shower at least once a week especially on Friday, wear clean clothes, and clean hair, beard, and nails. The Muslim cannot be a ragged person who stinks and disturbs other people.

It is remarkable that there is a precondition of cleanliness to perform some worships in Islam. A Muslim who wants to perform salah (prayer) should perform “ablution” first. One performs “ghusl” if needed, which means washing the whole body. In case of absence of water, one can perform “tayammum” with clean soil or earth, which is a part of this sensibility towards cleanliness.

A Muslim pays attention to spiritual cleanliness as much as physical cleanliness. They regret their sins and get purified by repenting. When a Muslim feels sorry for their mistakes, asks for Allah’s forgiveness, and never repeats that sin, they get to be clean and be freed of that sin.

Good morals lays in the essence of spiritual cleanliness. Using one’s hand, tongue, eyes, ears and whole body for goodness and keeping it away from the evil is the path to spiritual cleanliness in Islam.

¹⁸ Tirmidhi, Da’awat, 86.