The Following article is based on “How is Purification broken, and performed”
Allah desires not to put you in a difficulty: but desires to purify you and complete His favors unto you that you may prosper." (Holy Qur'an, 5:7)
Muslims throughout the world have extremely high standards of personal hygiene, because Islam places great emphasis on both physical and spiritual, cleanliness and purification. While humankind in general usually considers cleanliness to be a pleasing attribute, Islam insists on it. Muslims are required to take care of their personal hygiene by assuring that they are well groomed, and that their bodies, clothing, and surroundings are clean.
"Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, informed his companions and thus all of us, about the importance of cleanliness when he said, “cleanliness is half of faith.” (Saheeh Muslim)
There are two types of purification Ghusul & Wuzu
I. Ghusl
Before making Ghusl one should make Niyyah (intention) thus: - "I am performing Ghusl so as to become Paak." Without Niyyah, there is no Thawaab (reward) although Ghusl will be valid. Ghusl should be made in a place of total privacy and one should not face towards the Kiblah while making Ghusl. Ghusl may be performed standing or seated, preferably seated. Use sufficient water, don't skimp nor be wasteful. One should abstain from speaking while performing Ghusl. It is better not to read any Kalimah or Aayah while bathing. Ghusl is the complete washing of the entire body. As Islam encourages one to be in a constant state of cleanliness, it goes without saying that bathing should be part of a Muslim's daily hygiene.
"Allah loves those who keep themselves clean." (2:223)
PROCEDURE FOR PERFORMING GHUSL:
- Wash both hands up to and including wrists.
- Wash the private parts. The hands and private parts should be washed even if one is not in the state of Janaabat or Najaasat.
- If there is Najaasat elsewhere on the body, it should now be washed off.
- Perform Wudhu If making Ghusl on a stool or platform where water will rapidly flow away, and then perform the complete Wudhu. If there is fear of the feet being immersed in wastewater during the Ghusl then postpone the washing of the feet to the end of the Ghusl. Ensure that the mouth and nostrils are thoroughly rinsed thrice.
- After performing Wudhu, pour water over the head thrice, then pour thrice over right shoulder and thrice again over left shoulder. Now pour water over entire body and rub. If the hair of the head is not plaited, it is compulsory to wet all the hair up to the very base. If a single hair is left dry, Ghusl will not be valid. If the hair of a woman is plaited, she is excused from loosening her plaited hair, but it is compulsory for her to wet the base of each and every hair. If one fails to do this then the Ghusl will not be valid. As for men who grow long hair and plait them, they are NOT excused from leaving their hair dry.
- If a woman experiences difficulty or is unable to wet the very bottom of her plaited hair, then it is necessary for her to unplaite her hair and wash her entire head. It is Mustahab (preferable) to clean the body by rubbing it. All parts of the body should be rubbed with the hand so as to ensure that water has reached all parts of the body, and that no portion is left dry. Rings and earrings, etc. should be moved so as to ensure that no portion covered by them is left dry. Ensure that the navel and the ears are all wetted. If they are not wet Ghusl will be incomplete.
If, after Ghusl, one recalls that a certain portion of the body is left dry, it is not necessary to repeat the Ghusl, but merely wash the dry portion. It is not sufficient to pass a wet hand over the dry place. If one has forgotten to rinse the mouth or the nostrils, these too could be rinsed when recalled after Ghusl has been performed.
The three compulsory acts of Ghusl are: -
- To rinse the mouth in such a manner that water reaches the entire mouth.
- To rinse the nostrils up to the ending of the fleshy part.
- To completely wet the whole body. When one performs these Faraa'id intentionally or unintentionally Ghusl will be valid.
It is also a sunnah of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) to take a bath in preparation for religious occasions, such as Friday (Juma) prayers and holiday (Eid) prayers.
II. Wuzu (Ablution)
Cleanliness is particularly emphasized in connection with salaat (prayer), as a Muslim is expected to try to be in a prayerful state at all times. To this end, Muslims are commanded to perform the ritual washing of certain parts of the body in preparation for salaat. The Holy Qur'an says:
"O you who believe! When you rise up for prayer, wash your faces and your hands as far as the elbows, and wipe your heads, and (wash) your feet up to the ankles." (The Holy Quran 5:7)
“I saw 'Uthman bin 'Affan asking for a tumbler of water (and when it was brought) he poured water over his hands and washed them thrice and then put his right hand in the water container and rinsed his mouth, washed his nose by putting water in it and then blowing it out. Then he washed his face and forearms up to the elbows thrice, passed his wet hands over his head and washed his feet up to the ankles thrice. Then he said, "Allah's Apostle SAW said 'If anyone Performs ablution like that of mine and offers a two-rak'at prayer during which he does not think of anything else (not related to the present prayer) then his past sins will be forgiven.” (Hadith - Bukhari 1:161, Narrated Humran)
The way in which the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) performed wudhu is as follows:
- The hands are washed to the wrists three times.
- The mouth is rinsed with water three times.
- The nostrils are cleaned three times by snuffing a little water into them and blowing the nose if necessary.
- The complete face is washed with water three times.
- The right arm, and then the left, is washed from wrist to elbow.
- The head is wiped over with wet hands, and the inner side of the ears wiped with the forefingers and the outer side with the thumbs.
- Finally, the feet are washed to the ankles, the right one first.
While you may perform ablution before every prayer, it becomes necessary only after using the restroom, after vomiting or bleeding occurs and after one has been asleep. Acquiring the habit of wudhu not only fulfills the religious injunction, it also helps you maintain habitual cleanliness and self-discipline.
Things that Annul Wuzu:
1. After passing urine and faeces.
2. Passing intestinal or stomach gas.
3. Sleeping in such a way that the ears do not hear and the eyes do not see,
4. Entering any state of loss of conscience.
If no water is available, clean dust may be substituted. The hands are passed over the dust, and then passed over face and arms. This is called "tayyumum."
“...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. God does not want to place you in difficulty, but He wants to purify you, and to complete His Favour on you that you may be thankful.” (The Holy Quran 5:6)
To conclude, Islam is a holistic religion that takes into account humankind’s need for a balance between physical, emotional, and spiritual health and well-being. Personal hygiene and cleanliness, both physical and spiritual, keeps both the body and mind free from disease. Cleanliness is an important part of the high standards and values that are inherent in Islam.
