Islamic Moral Education III: Personal Hygiene & Cleanliness in Islam – SS3 Islamic Studies Lesson Note (Second Term)

Taharah is the Arabic word for purification or cleanliness, and in Islam it covers the body, clothes, surroundings and the heart.

Behavioural objectives

1. Explain taharah, neatness and a clean environment.
2. Quote Qur’anic verses and hadith on cleanliness in Islam.
3. Describe spiritual and physical cleanliness.
4. List ways of keeping the body and environment clean, and the benefits of doing so.
5. State the Islamic view of smoking cigarettes and the ways of preventing it.

What is taharah?

Taharah is purification or cleanliness of the body, clothes, place of worship and heart.

What are the key terms in this topic?

What are neatness and a clean environment?

• Neatness: taking care of every part of the body by washing the body, mouth, teeth, feet and nose.
• Clean environment: keeping houses and compounds clean through sweeping, cutting grass and fumigation.
• Moral education: teaching children and young people the values and behaviour that distinguish right from wrong.

What do the Qur’an and hadith say about cleanliness?

Both the Qur’an and the hadith teach that cleanliness is part of faith and worship.

• Hadith on faith: the Prophet (SAW) said: “Cleanliness or Purity is half of Faith.” (Hadith no. 23, an-Nawawi’s collection.)
• Hadith on the miswak: the Prophet (SAW) said: “Using miswak to clean the mouth is a way to reach the Divine pleasure.”
• Hadith on prayer: the Prophet (SAW) said: “The key to prayers is cleanliness.” (Narrated by Abu Dawud.)
• Q.74:4-5, Surah al-Muddathir: “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.”

What are the kinds of cleanliness in Islam?

There are two kinds of cleanliness in Islam: spiritual cleanliness and physical cleanliness.

What is spiritual cleanliness?

Spiritual cleanliness is purifying the heart from bad feelings, thoughts and behaviour towards other people.

• Avoiding evil feelings: a Muslim keeps away from jealousy, grudges, hatred and backbiting.
• Repentance: the heart is kept clean through constant repentance to Allah (SWT).
• Hadith on the heart: the Prophet (SAW) said: “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.”

What is physical cleanliness?

Physical cleanliness is keeping the body, clothes and surroundings clean.

• The body: keep the teeth, nostrils, nails and armpits clean and take regular baths.
• Clothes: wear clean clothes, especially for prayer.
• The environment: keep the house and compound clean through sweeping and cutting grass.

What is the difference between spiritual and physical cleanliness?

What are the types of ritual purification?

There are three types of ritual purification: wudu, ghusl and tayammum.

• Wudu: washing the hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, head, ears and feet before prayer.
• Ghusl: bathing the whole body, for example after sexual intercourse or after menstruation.
• Tayammum: wiping the face and hands with clean earth when there is no water or water would harm the person.

How can we maintain neatness and a clean environment?

1. Take regular baths.
2. Use the miswak (brush the teeth) regularly.
3. Keep clothes and body clean.
4. Use fragrance or perfume.
5. Keep our house, street and environment clean.
6. Avoid passing urine and spitting anywhere.

What are the practices of the Fitrah?

The practices of the Fitrah are natural habits of cleanliness that the Prophet (SAW) taught.

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.
5. Plucking the armpit hair.

What are the benefits of personal hygiene and environmental sanitation?

• Reward from Allah: it earns Allah’s (SWT) reward for obeying His commandments and following the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW).
• Good health: it leads to a healthy, strong and long life.
• Respect: it brings integrity, respect and love from friends and neighbours.
• Good example: it encourages friends and neighbours to learn from us and follow our example.

What is smoking cigarettes?

Smoking cigarettes is lighting tobacco and inhaling its smoke through the mouth, then releasing it through the nose and mouth.

• Tobacco: it contains harmful chemicals such as nicotine.
• Forms of smoking: it is done with cigarettes, pipes or cigars.
• Cigar: a rolled bundle of dried fermented tobacco leaves for smoking.

What is the Islamic view of smoking cigarettes?

Islam condemns smoking cigarettes because it harms health and wastes money.

• No direct text: the Holy Qur’an does not name cigarettes. It gives general guidance on behaviour.
• Harm to health: smoking damages the body severely and can lead to death.
• Waste of money: money spent on cigarettes is wasted.
• Hadith: the Prophet (SAW) was reported to have said: “All intoxicants are forbidden in Islam.” (Sahih Bukhari.)
• Scholars: many scholars rule smoking haram (forbidden) because of the harm it causes.
• Unclean habit: it causes bad breath and stained teeth, which go against the teaching on cleanliness.

Which Qur’anic verses are linked with smoking cigarettes?

1. Q.2:195, Surah al-Baqarah: do not throw yourselves into destruction.
2. Q.3:29, Surah al-Imran.
3. Q.4:29, Surah an-Nisa’: do not kill yourselves.
4. Q.7:31, Surah al-A’raf: do not be wasteful.
5. Q.17:26-27, Surah al-Isra’: do not squander money.

How can smoking cigarettes be prevented in Islam?

1. Niyyah (intention): make an intention from deep inside the heart to give up this evil habit.
2. Religious teaching: arrange lectures and seminars to combat smoking in society.
3. Laws: the government should make laws to ban the production, selling and smoking of tobacco.
4. Awareness: people should be told the danger of smoking to health and life.
5. Avoiding smokers: individual smokers should avoid situations and people that involve smoking.
6. Staying busy: a smoker should keep busy and avoid things that bring the urge to smoke.

Evaluation

1. What is taharah?
2. Explain spiritual cleanliness and physical cleanliness.
3. List four ways of maintaining neatness and a clean environment.
4. State three benefits of personal hygiene and environmental sanitation.
5. Give four Islamic ways of preventing smoking cigarettes.

Assignment

List the five practices of the Fitrah mentioned by Abu Hurayrah, then explain two reasons why Islam condemns smoking cigarettes.