Islamic Moral Education III – Personal Hygiene & Cleanliness in Islam SS3 Islamic Studies Lesson Note

PERSONAL  HYGIENE  AND  ENVIRONMENTAL  SANITATION.

DISCUSSION:

Taharah  is  the  Arabic  word  for  purification  or  cleanliness

• Taharah – Cleanliness,  Ghusl – Ritual  Bath,  Siwaak – Local  brush,  Imaan – Faith,  Fitrah – Local  disposition.
• Neatness means to take care of every part  of the body through washing the body,  mouth,  teeth,  feet and nose.  Clean environment involves keeping hoes and compounds clean through sweeping, cutting grass and fumigation.
• In  Islam,  neatness and cleanliness of the environment is considered as half of the Faith.  The  Prophet  (SAW)  was  reported  to  have  said: “Cleanliness  or  Purity  is  half  of  Faith.”  Hadith no.23,  an – Nawawi’s collection.
• Also: “Using  miswaak  to  clean  the  mouth  is  a  way  to  reach  the  Divine  pleasure.”
• Q.74:4-5,  Surah  al – Muddathir  reads: “And purify your garments  and keep away from dirt  (worship of idols)”.
• Q.2:222,  Surah  al – Baqarah: “Truly  Allah  (SWT)  loves  those  who  turn  to  Him  in  repentance  and  loves  those  who  purify  themselves.”

KINDS  OF  CLEANLINESS  IN  ISLAM.

1. Spiritual  Cleanliness:  this  involves: Purifying the heart from bad feelings,  thoughts and behaviours against our fellow beings.

• To  avoid jealousy,  grudges,  hatred or backbiting. The Holy  Prophet  (SAW)  encouraged  spiritual  cleanliness  by  saying: “In the body there is a piece of flesh,  if it is good the whole  body is good,  if it is bad the whole body is bad.  Truly it is the heart.
• Also,  Hadith no. 23  says that the heart can be clean through constant repentance to  Allah  (SWT).

 2. Physical  Cleanliness:  this is involved.

• keeping  all parts  of the  body and cloth clean like teeth,  nostrils,  nails, and armpits.  Also by regular baths.
• Keeping  the environment clean through sweeping  and  cutting  of  grass.
• Prophet  Muhammad  (SAW)  said: “The  key  to  prayers  is  cleanliness.”  
• Narrated  by  Abu  Dawud. Purity  is  half  of  Faith.”    Hadith  no. 23.

Examples  of  how  to  maintain  Neatness  and  Clean  Environment.

• Taking  regular  baths.
• Doing miswak  (brushing)  regularly.
• Keeping  clothes  and  body  clean.
• Using fragrance or perfume.
• Keeping  our  house,  street  and  environment  clean.
• Avoid  indiscriminate  passing  of  urine  and  spitting.

From  Abu  Hurayrah,  may  Allah  (SWT)  be  pleased  with  him  reported  that  the  Prophet  (SAW)  said: “Five  practices  are  of  the  Fitrah  (Natural  Disposition):

1. Circumcision.
2. Shaving  the  pubic  region.  
3. Clipping  the  nails. 
4. Cutting  the  moustache  short.

Benefits  of  Personal  Hygiene  and  Environmental  Sanitation

• it  leads  to  Allaah’s   (SWT)  reward  for  obeying  His  Commandments  and  following  the  Sunnah  of  the  Prophet  (SAW).
• It leads to a healthy,  strong  and  long  life.
• It  leads  to  Integrity,  Respect  and  Love  from  our  friends  and  neighbours.
• It  encourages  our friends  and  neighbours  to  learn  and  follow  us. 

SMOKING  CIGARETTES.

DISCUSSION:

• Smoking  cigarettes  involves  lighting  of  tobacco  which  contains  harmful  chemicals  such  as  nicotine  then  inhaling  it  through  the  nose  resulting  in  smoke  released  out  through  the  nose  and  mouth.  It  is  done  with  pipes  or  cigars  (i.e.  a  rolled  bundle  of  dried  fermented  tobacco  leaves  for  smoking).
• Moral  education  is  teaching  children and young people to  acquire values  and  behaviours  regarding  what  is  right  and  wrong.
• The  Holy  Qur’an  did  not  specifically  prohibit  or  condemn the smoking of cigarettes but gives behavioural  guidance.
• Islam  condemns  smoking  cigarettes  as  harmful  as  a  result  of  severe  health  damage that  leads  to  death  and  it  involves  waste  of  money.
• Verses  and  Hadith  on  smoking  cigarettes  include:

1. Q.2:195 – Surah  al – Baqarah.
2. Q.3:29 – Surah  al – Imran
3. Q.4:29 – Surah  an – Nisa’i.
4. Q.7:31 – Surah  al – Araf.
5. Q.17:26,27 – Surah  al – Israa’il.

• The  prophet  (SAW)  was  reported  to  have  said: “All  intoxicants  are  forbidden  in  Islam.” Sahih  Bukhari.
• The  minimum  punishment  for  smoking  cigarettes  is  40  lashes  as  well  as  prison  time.

Islamic  ways  of  preventing  smoking  cigarettes  include:

1. Niyyah  (Intention)  making an intention from deep  inside  the  heart  to  give  up  this  evil  habit.
2. Religious  teachings  and  seminars  should  be  arranged  to  combat smoking in society.
3. Need  for  government  legislation  to  ban  the  production,  selling and smoking of tobacco.
4. Increased  awareness  and  enlightenment  of  people  concerning  the  danger  of  smoking  on  health  and  lives.
5. Individual  smokers  should  be  encouraged  to  avoid  situations  and  people  who  do  so  around  them. 
6. A  smoker  should  keep  himself  busy  and  avoid  things  that bring about an urge.