Assalamalikum
Bismillah wa Alhamdulillah
In Islam, the importance of cleanliness is heavily stressed. Take a look at Salah. Before every prayer, we are commanded to purify ourselves through wudu, wash up and then face Allah as we stand for Salah.
Allah tells us in Surah Baqarah that, "...Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves." [2:222]
The Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wasalam also told us in a Muslim Hadith (2:0432) that "Cleanliness is half of faith...". So there really should not be such a thing as a 'stinky' Muslim. We all have an obligation to be clean and stay as much as we can.
Our Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi waslam, did not just tell us that cleanliness is half our deen but also gave more detail as in what we need to do to stay clean, subhanAllah. Our beloved, salla Allahu alayhi wasalam, told us that “Five things are part of the fitrah: shaving the pubic hair, circumcision, trimming the moustache, plucking the armpit hairs, and cutting the nails” [Bukhari, Muslim]
So we as Muslims must do these five things that have been commanded.
1) Shaving of the Pubic Hair- Removing the hair from the private parts is extremely important for two reasons. First off, because the Prophet commanded it and it is a part of maintaining cleanliness as a Muslim and two, because it is also scientifically unhealthy and unsafe to let hair just grow in this area. As you can see, subhanAllah, everything that is commanded is logical and makes sense and we don't exactly need science to proof but Alhamdulillah, it reaffirms to us how Allah's law is the best for us. Scientifically speaking, areas such as the privates and arm pits are dark areas- meaning they are usually covered. We don't walk around with them exposed, astaghfarullah. Thus these areas which become moist and are dark, become an ideal place for bacteria to accumulate. Thus with pubic hair kept unshaven, it creates a more ideal environment for bacteria to grow which can lead to many conditions and infections including yeast infections, especially in women.
2) Circumcision- This is an obligation for men according to the majority consensus of Muslim scholars. It involves removal of the foreskin from glans, which is the covering on the male reproductive organ. It is routinely done in hospitals in the US, usually during the first ten days of birth. About 65% of newborn boys that are born are circumcised here in the US. Circumcision also prevents against infections that can complicate as time passes on.
3) Trimming of the mustache- This generally applies to men too because women don't exactly grow mustaches like men do. Trimming of the mustache was recommended so that the hair does not cover the mouth or the lips.
4) Removal of Armpit hairs- This again is similar to the removal of pubic hair because when the armpit's location without removing the hair can become an ideal place for bacteria to start to accumulate and can lead to infections. Sweat accumulates here and then mixed in with hair can create that warm, moist environment that bacterium love. Thus, this hair must be removed through whichever method is easiest.
5) Cutting of the nails- Long nails can trap alot of bacteria, dirt, and grime. Thus nails must be kept short to keep this area clean as well. Long nails that are dirty is unhygeinic.
**Our Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi waslam, not only told us about what we should do to stay clean but also gave a maximum number of days in which these must be done. In a Saheeh Muslim hadith, our Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wasalam, tells us that all these things must be done every forty days. So keep that in mind. Usually, hair growth can be an indication that it is time to shave. For women, you can use your monthly menses cycle to keep tabs on when you need to cut your nails and shave you pubic/privates hairs.
Along with this, there are three modes of purification:
Allah subhana wa ta'ala tells us in the Quran that: "O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful." [5:6]
So, three types of purification:
A. Wudu (the ablution)
B. Ghusl (the full bath)
C. Tayammum
Wudu
This is something we do everyday before we pray our daily prayers. Most of us are already familiar with the steps of wudu but here they are in a nutshell
1. Make the intention and start with Bismillah
2. Wash your hands
3. Rinse your mouth three times
4. Wash your nose three times
5. Wash your face three times
6. Wash your arms three times- right first and then left from the fingers all the way to the elbows.
7. Wipe over the hair and clean the ears.
8. Wash the feet three times, right first and then left, thoroughly.
*It was related by Nu'aim Al-Mujmir:"Once I went up the roof of the mosque along with Abu Huraira (RA): He performed ablution and said, "I heard the Prophet (S) saying, 'On the Day of Resurrection, my followers will be called Al-Ghurr-ul-Muhajjalun from the traces of ablution and whoever can increase the area of his radiance should do so (by performing ablution in the most perfect manner.'" (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 1, Hadith No. 138) So inshaa'Allah may all our faces radiate on that Day from our wudu :)
Ghusl
This is the full bath that is taken after Janabaa (sexual relations), menses, or postpartum bleeding.
Here are the steps of Ghusl:
Bismillah wa Alhamdulillah
In Islam, the importance of cleanliness is heavily stressed. Take a look at Salah. Before every prayer, we are commanded to purify ourselves through wudu, wash up and then face Allah as we stand for Salah.
Allah tells us in Surah Baqarah that, "...Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves." [2:222]
The Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wasalam also told us in a Muslim Hadith (2:0432) that "Cleanliness is half of faith...". So there really should not be such a thing as a 'stinky' Muslim. We all have an obligation to be clean and stay as much as we can.
Our Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi waslam, did not just tell us that cleanliness is half our deen but also gave more detail as in what we need to do to stay clean, subhanAllah. Our beloved, salla Allahu alayhi wasalam, told us that “Five things are part of the fitrah: shaving the pubic hair, circumcision, trimming the moustache, plucking the armpit hairs, and cutting the nails” [Bukhari, Muslim]
So we as Muslims must do these five things that have been commanded.
1) Shaving of the Pubic Hair- Removing the hair from the private parts is extremely important for two reasons. First off, because the Prophet commanded it and it is a part of maintaining cleanliness as a Muslim and two, because it is also scientifically unhealthy and unsafe to let hair just grow in this area. As you can see, subhanAllah, everything that is commanded is logical and makes sense and we don't exactly need science to proof but Alhamdulillah, it reaffirms to us how Allah's law is the best for us. Scientifically speaking, areas such as the privates and arm pits are dark areas- meaning they are usually covered. We don't walk around with them exposed, astaghfarullah. Thus these areas which become moist and are dark, become an ideal place for bacteria to accumulate. Thus with pubic hair kept unshaven, it creates a more ideal environment for bacteria to grow which can lead to many conditions and infections including yeast infections, especially in women.
2) Circumcision- This is an obligation for men according to the majority consensus of Muslim scholars. It involves removal of the foreskin from glans, which is the covering on the male reproductive organ. It is routinely done in hospitals in the US, usually during the first ten days of birth. About 65% of newborn boys that are born are circumcised here in the US. Circumcision also prevents against infections that can complicate as time passes on.
3) Trimming of the mustache- This generally applies to men too because women don't exactly grow mustaches like men do. Trimming of the mustache was recommended so that the hair does not cover the mouth or the lips.
4) Removal of Armpit hairs- This again is similar to the removal of pubic hair because when the armpit's location without removing the hair can become an ideal place for bacteria to start to accumulate and can lead to infections. Sweat accumulates here and then mixed in with hair can create that warm, moist environment that bacterium love. Thus, this hair must be removed through whichever method is easiest.
5) Cutting of the nails- Long nails can trap alot of bacteria, dirt, and grime. Thus nails must be kept short to keep this area clean as well. Long nails that are dirty is unhygeinic.
**Our Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi waslam, not only told us about what we should do to stay clean but also gave a maximum number of days in which these must be done. In a Saheeh Muslim hadith, our Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wasalam, tells us that all these things must be done every forty days. So keep that in mind. Usually, hair growth can be an indication that it is time to shave. For women, you can use your monthly menses cycle to keep tabs on when you need to cut your nails and shave you pubic/privates hairs.
Along with this, there are three modes of purification:
Allah subhana wa ta'ala tells us in the Quran that: "O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful." [5:6]
So, three types of purification:
A. Wudu (the ablution)
B. Ghusl (the full bath)
C. Tayammum
Wudu
This is something we do everyday before we pray our daily prayers. Most of us are already familiar with the steps of wudu but here they are in a nutshell
1. Make the intention and start with Bismillah
2. Wash your hands
3. Rinse your mouth three times
4. Wash your nose three times
5. Wash your face three times
6. Wash your arms three times- right first and then left from the fingers all the way to the elbows.
7. Wipe over the hair and clean the ears.
8. Wash the feet three times, right first and then left, thoroughly.
*It was related by Nu'aim Al-Mujmir:"Once I went up the roof of the mosque along with Abu Huraira (RA): He performed ablution and said, "I heard the Prophet (S) saying, 'On the Day of Resurrection, my followers will be called Al-Ghurr-ul-Muhajjalun from the traces of ablution and whoever can increase the area of his radiance should do so (by performing ablution in the most perfect manner.'" (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 1, Hadith No. 138) So inshaa'Allah may all our faces radiate on that Day from our wudu :)
Ghusl
This is the full bath that is taken after Janabaa (sexual relations), menses, or postpartum bleeding.
Here are the steps of Ghusl:
1. Form the intention in the heart to purify oneself from major impurity: Janaabah (impurity following sexual discharge), menses or Nifaas (postpartum bleeding).
2. Say Bismillah and wash the hands three times. Then, wash any dirt away from the private parts.
3. Then do wudoo’ as for prayer, a complete wudoo’.
4. Then pour water over the head three times, and rub the hair so that the water reaches the roots of the hair.
5. Then wash the body, making sure that the water reaches all parts. Start with the right side of the body, then the left while rubbing it with the hands so that the water reaches the entire body.
Tayammum
This is a method to purify when one does not have water. It is done with dirt or leaves and such. This is not like normal wudu, so you do not have to put the dirt into your mouth or nose, all that is need is to clean the hands and the face with it.
Allah send down the prescription for this in the case where no water is necessary in Surah Maidah, Ayah 6, "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. Allah does not want to place you in difficulty, but He wants to purify you, and to complete His Favor on you that you may be thankful.; ( 5:6)
So here you have it. The three means of purification along with the natural ways to stay clean and hygienic, inshaa'Allah.
All good is from Allah and any mistakes are from ourselves.
Jazakallahkhair!
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