“[Remember] when He overwhelmed you with drowsiness [giving] security from Him and sent down upon you from the sky, rain by which to purify you and remove from you the evil [suggestions] of Satan and to make steadfast your hearts and plant firmly thereby your feet” [Quran, 8:11].
“[Remember] when He overwhelmed you with drowsiness [giving] security from Him and sent down upon you from the sky, rain by which to purify you and remove from you the evil [suggestions] of Satan and to make steadfast your hearts and plant firmly thereby your feet” [Quran, 8:11].
Islam is a religion that encourages and loves cleanliness – of the mind, soul, and body. From verses of the Holy Quran to the hadith of the Prophet Mohammad, the importance of cleanliness is deeply apparent.
Not only does having a clean body and soul encourage purity of the heart, but it helps keep up our health as well. As Muslims, we have a duty to strive towards having and keeping a clean body and soul in our daily struggle to stay on the path of Allah.
Here are just 6 verses from the Holy Quran as well as hadith on the beauty and importance of cleanliness, in the hopes that we can all work towards becoming better practicing Muslims.
1. Allah loves those who purify themselves
“Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves” [Quran, 2:222]
In this verse, we are reminded that remaining clean and pure is an act of faith – and that by purifying ourselves, we are showing our love and devotion to Allah.
2. Staying clean is being in a state of gratitude
“O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful” [Quran 5:6]
Here we are reminded that while it may take extra steps to ensure we remain clean and pure, it is not to make our lives more difficult – and we should remain grateful for all the guidance and love Allah continues to shower down upon us.
3. Purity is an act of faith
“We have sent among you a messenger from yourselves reciting to you Our verses and purifying you and teaching you the Book and wisdom and teaching you that which you did not know” [Quran 2:151]
In this verse, Allah tells us that Islam is here to purify ourselves – in all meanings of the word purify. This is a powerful reminder of the need to constantly purify ourselves both physically as well as spiritually.
4. Cleansing with water is a gift
“[Remember] when He overwhelmed you with drowsiness [giving] security from Him and sent down upon you from the sky, rain by which to purify you and remove from you the evil [suggestions] of Satan and to make steadfast your hearts and plant firmly thereby your feet” [Quran, 8:11]
Here we are told by Allah that He has gifted us with rain and with water to be able to cleanse ourselves. We should remind ourselves daily that the water we are privileged to use is a gift, and that we should remain grateful for every act of cleansing we are able to complete.
5. Cleanliness as the foundation of Islam
The Holy Prophet (S) said: “Try to be clean as much as you are able to. Verily, Allah has based the foundation of Islam on cleanliness; hence, never can a person enter Paradise but the clean ones” [Kanz-ul-‘Ummal, Tradition 26002]
In this hadith, the Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have stated the clear connection between purity and Heaven – meaning that we should strive to constantly cleanse ourselves not only as an act of faith but as preparation for the Hereafter.
6. Perfuming one’s body for Allah
The Prophet (S) said: “He who perfumes himself for Allah, most High, will be raised on the Day of Resurrection, smelling more fragrant than sweet musk, whereas he who perfumes himself for other than Allah will be raised on the Day of Resurrection smelling more putrid than a corpse” [al-Mahajjat al-Baydha, v. 8, p. 105]
The Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have loved perfume and was the highest example of cleanliness and purity for the sake of Allah. Here, the Prophet reminds us that we must cleanse and perfume ourselves not for wordly desires and gains but purely out of the love we have for Allah.
