In addition to the above mentioned spiritual and material impurities, cleansing the body from filth, smells, and everything that causes them is also among the customs of the Prophet (pbuh). It is also specifically suggested by the Prophet (pbuh) that every Muslim should take a bath at least once a week, preferably on Fridays. Some narrations related to this matter are as follows:<\/p>\n
\u201cAllah’s Apostle (pbuh) said, \u201cAnyone of you attending the Friday (prayers) should take a bath.\u201d<\/i> (Bukhari, Jum\u2019a, 2)<\/p>\n
\u201cAllah\u2019s Apostle (pbuh) said, \u201cAny person who takes a bath on Friday like the bath of Janaba (canonical impurity) and then goes for the prayer in the first hour gains spiritual rewards as if he had sacrificed a camel in Allah’s cause; \u2026\u201d <\/i>(Bukhari, Jum\u2019a, 4)<\/p>\n
When we examine these sayings, we see that taking a bath on Fridays is not obligatory but going to Friday prayer after performing major ablution helps to perform the prayer with a peaceful mind and also leads to gaining spiritual rewards. Performing major ablution close to the time of Friday prayer helps the mind and body to get ready to go to the mosque. However, one can realize the tradition of performing major ablution on Fridays by taking a bath at an earlier hour.<\/p>\n
In addition to performing minor ablution before the five daily prayers, washing hands before and after every meal are among the manners of purification. (Tirmidhi, At\u2019imah, 39) Similarly, cutting one\u2019s nails, shortening one\u2019s beard and moustache, and brushing one\u2019s teeth are among some of the teachings of the Prophet. According to the narration of Abu Huraira (r.a.) Allah\u2019s Messenger (pbuh) said that: <\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cFive practices are among the customs of the prophets: circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, cutting the moustaches short, clipping the nails, and depilating the hair of the armpits.\u201d<\/i> (Bukhari, Libas, 63-64)<\/p>\n
In another report these five issues, which can be considered among the natural requirements of being a human, are seen to be increased to ten. (Muslim, Taharah, 56) By considering these two reports we can enumerate the actions, which are mentioned as the characteristics of human nature as follows:<\/p>\n
a. Circumcision (Hitan):<\/b> It is one of the signs of being a Muslim. The time of circumcision begins on the seventh day after birth and continues till puberty. However, the most appropriate time is to do it after the child becomes aware of being circumcised.<\/p>\n
In addition to be a natural necessity, circumcision is also healthy and beneficial because it helps to balance sexual feelings. Today the benefits of circumcision are known better and the number of circumcised males for health reasons is increasing in Christian countries.<\/p>\n
b. Clipping fingernails:<\/b> Fingernails should be shortened to the extent that will not hurt the fingers. Since there is no specific time for cutting fingernails, they can be shortened whenever it is needed. There is no such day that clipping fingernails is prohibited. However, there are reports that the Prophet (pbuh) liked to cut his fingernails on Fridays. (Haythami, II, 170; Bayhaqi, al-Sunan al-Kubra<\/i>, III, 244)<\/p>\n
One should be careful while cutting one\u2019s nails and should not leave pieces of their nails around.<\/p>\n
Today some women prolong their fingernails for different reasons. It is obvious that such an action is against the Islamic manners. Filth may gather under the nails, which is really dangerous for the human health. It is especially not a nice situation for those women who cook in the kitchen.<\/p>\n
Abu Wasil narrated:<\/p>\n
\u201cI met Abu Ayyub al-Ansari. We shook hands. When he saw that I had long finger nails, he told me that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) had said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are those among you who are interested in the news of the heavens, whereas their fingernails are as long as the nails of the birds that filth and impurities infested under them.\u201d<\/i> (Ibn Hanbal, V, 427)<\/p>\n
c. Shaving armpits:<\/b> Cleansing the armpit hairs can be done either by shaving, plucking, or using different chemicals to remove the hairs. It is appropriate to begin with the right armpit.<\/p>\n
d. Shaving pubic hair (Istihdad<\/i>):<\/b> Shaving pubic hair is also among the characteristics of human nature. Intentionally neglecting to perform the bodily cleansing is not an appropriate behavior for it causes one to quit the teachings of the Prophet.<\/p>\n
e. Shortening the moustache: <\/b>It is a nice habit to shorten the moustache so that the upper lip appears and to shorten it starting with the right side. It is not an approved behavior to prolong the moustache so that it covers the mouth and goes down from the sides of the lips; also one should be careful not to smudge food or drink to his moustache.<\/p>\n
f. Prolonging the beard:<\/b> Shaving the entire beard is not seen as an appropriate action for Muslim men. If the beard gets too long and presents an ugly appearance, there is a consensus that it can be shortened from length and width. Actually trimming what is more than a fistful of the beard is considered as the tradition of the Prophet (pbuh).<\/p>\n
g. Cleaning teeth with miswak<\/i>: <\/b>Miswak<\/i> is the name of soft branches of the Arak tree. The word siwak<\/i> is also used in the traditions of the Prophet in the same meaning. The term siwak<\/i> is also used as verb meaning to brush the teeth. Advices of the Prophet (pbuh) related to the brushing teeth are very meaningful for Muslims. Some of them are as follows:<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I had not found it hard for my followers or the people, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth with the siwak before every prayer.\u201d<\/i> (Bukhari, Jum\u2019a, 8)<\/p>\n
\u201cUsing the siwak is a reason to keep the mouth clean and to attain Lord\u2019s pleasure.\u201d <\/i>(Ibn Majah, Taharah, 7)<\/p>\n
Aisha (r. anha) said that:<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would prepare the Prophet\u2019s miswak<\/i> and ablution water at night. Allah would wake him up in the middle of the night. As soon as he wakes up, he would brush his teeth, perform his ablution and pray.\u201d (Muslim, Musafirun, 139)<\/p>\n
Miqdam b. Shuraih narrated it from his father who said:<\/p>\n
\u201cI asked Aisha what Allah’s Apostle (pbuh) did first when he entered his house, and she replied: first of all he would use a siwak<\/i>.\u201d (Muslim, Taharah, 43-44)<\/p>\n
Evaluation of the traditions related to this matter shows that brushing his teeth occupied a very important place in the Prophet\u2019s life. These traditions need to be understood as cleansing the mouth and teeth. In other words, the miswak<\/i> is not mandatory to use to cleanse the mouth. However, if one has a miswak<\/i> they should use it because it has many benefits. Those who cannot find one may achieve the same purification by using a toothbrush and toothpaste. They may even use their fingers for a temporary cleansing.<\/p>\n
h. Inhaling water into nostrils (istinshaq<\/i>):<\/b> Cleansing the nostrils by inhaling water into it is another prophetic custom. Since this is one of the obligatory actions of major ablution, it should not be forgotten during its performance.<\/p>\n
i. Washing between the knuckles: <\/b>It is among the customs of the Prophet (pbuh) to cleanse places like between knuckles and earlap, which may hold filth.<\/p>\n
k. Rinsing mouth (madmamdah<\/i>):<\/b> In addition to brushing the teeth, rinsing the mouth with water was a custom of the Prophet (pbuh).<\/p>\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cleaning the Environment<\/h3>\n
Just as showing great care to his\/her personal hygiene and purification, a Muslim should pay the utmost attention to cleanliness of his\/her home, neighborhood, and the entire environment in general. A Muslim\u2019s home should be clean and tidy as if the Prophet (pbuh) was going to come for a visit. Everything should be placed in its appropriate place and should not cause any disturbance.<\/p>\n
Displaying unpleasant scenes, which are not befitting to a believer, especially at the gates of the great Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet\u2019s Mosque in Medina should not be allowed to happen. Especially those Muslims who are there for pilgrimage must be careful in this respect.<\/p>\n
There are many advices of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) about environmental sanitation. For instance, Malik b. Anas (r.a.) reported that Allah\u2019s Messenger (pbuh) saw spittle on the wall that faced towards the qibla<\/i>, and he personally scratched it away. The signs of his anger could be seen in his face. (Muslim, Masajid, 52; Baihaqi, Sunan al-Kubra<\/i>, I, 255) Allah\u2019s Messenger (pbuh) wanted his followers to be polite, nice, and clean and to stay away from manifesting acts contrary to this. Therefore, a believer should especially stay away from disgusting acts like spitting around on places. In another saying, Allah\u2019s Messenger (pbuh) said that:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe deeds of my people, good and bad, were presented before me, and I found the removal of something objectionable from the road among their good deeds, and the spit left unburied in the mosque among their evil deeds.\u201d<\/i> (Muslim, Masajid, 58)[1]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0This narration discusses spitting in the mosques which were done by people. Mosques are not just places where believers worship Allah but they are also gathering places. Believers who pay attention to cleanliness of these places will also pay the utmost attention to cleanliness on roads, streets, and the environment; for keeping such places clean is also among the commands of Islam. Allah\u2019s Messenger (pbuh) specifically mentioned this in his sayings and characterized the removal of what is injurious from a path as a branch of faith. (Muslim, Iman, 58) From this point of view, not just spitting around on places but also all kinds of disturbing actions such as littering, parking cars in wrong places, leaving materials that would block people\u2019s passages should all be avoided.<\/p>\n