Fruits for the Week

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His body and clothes are clean

The Muslim whom Islam wants to stand out among people is very clean. He has high standards of personal hygiene, bathing frequently by the guidance of the Prophet (SAW) who encouraged people to wash themselves completely and wear perfume, especially on Fridays: “Have a bath on Fridays and wash your heads, even if you are not in the state of janabah (impurity), and wear perfume.” (Bukhari)

The Prophet (SAW) emphasized cleanliness and bathing so much that some of the four Imams considered performing ghusl before Friday prayer obligatory. Abu Hurairah (RA) said, the Prophet (SAW) said: “Every Muslim must take a bath (at least) once every seven days and wash his head and body.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

The true Muslim keeps his clothes and socks clean, checking them occasionally to ensure they have no unpleasant smell. He also wears perfume to help keep him clean. It is reported that Umar (RA) used to say: “Whoever spends a third of his wealth on perfume is not being extravagant.”

The smart Muslim takes care of his mouth, for no one should ever have to smell an unpleasant odor coming from it. He does this by cleaning his teeth every day with a siwaak, toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwashes. He also visits the dentist regularly, to check his mouth, at least once a year, and visits other specialists as necessary, so that his mouth will stay clean and his breath fresh. Aishah (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAW) never woke from sleeping at any time of day or night without cleaning his teeth with a siwaak before performing wudhu.

The Prophet’s concern for oral hygiene was so great that he said: “If it were not for the fact that I did not want to overburden my ummah, I would have ordered them to use the siwaak before every prayer.” (Bukhari and Muslim). Aishah was asked what the Prophet (SAW) used to do first when he came home. She said: “Use siwaak.” (Muslim)

Regrettably, some Muslims neglect these teachings that are at the heart of Islam and do not pay heed to the cleanliness of their mouth, bodies, and clothes. So you may see them going to the mosque or other religious meetings and study circles, annoying their brothers with their unpleasant smell and offending the angels who surround these blessed gatherings. What is strange is the fact that they listen to and repeat the saying of the Prophet (SAW) that whoever eats onions, garlic or leeks should not go to the mosque because his breath may disturb the angels and the people. The Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever eats onions, garlic or leeks should not approach our mosque, because whatever offends the sons of Adam may offend the angels.” (Muslim)

The Prophet (SAW) banned those who had eaten these pungent vegetables from coming anywhere near the mosque, lest the people and the angels be offended by their bad breath, but these smells pale into insignificance beside the stench of dirty clothes, filthy socks, unwashed bodies, and unclean mouths that emanates from some careless and unkempt individuals who offend others in any gathering.

Imam Ahmad and Imam An-Nasa’i that Jabir (RA) said: “The Messenger of Allah came to visit us, and saw a man who was wearing dirty clothes. He said, ‘Could this person not find anything with which to wash his clothes?’

The Prophet (SAW) did not like a Muslim to appear before people wearing dirty clothes if he had the means to clean them. He encouraged Muslims always to dress in clean clothes and to present a neat and attractive appearance. He used to say: “There is nothing wrong with keeping two garments for Friday, apart from one’s workday clothes.” (Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah)

Islam frequently encourages its followers to be clean always, to perfume their clothes, and to ensure that their bodies always smell fresh and clean. This is what the Prophet (SAW) used to do, according to the report that Imam Muslim quotes from Anas ibn Malik, who said: “I have never smelt any ambergris or musk that had a better scent than the scent of the Messenger of Allah (SAW).

(to be continued)

by Muhammad Ali Al-Hashimi

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