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Hadiths: Health And Hygiene

Health and cleanliness and hygiene occupy a great part of Islam’s attention incomparable to any other religion. While some nations adopted such beliefs as abandoning self-care and cleanliness to attain high spiritual ranks, Islam made it obligatory to clean oneself properly in preparation for daily prayers.

In fact, caring for one’s hygiene is not only deemed a good habit in Islam but also rendered into rituals that constitute part of the faith itself. As mentioned above, a Muslim is required to be clean when performing daily Prayers, which include properly cleansing oneself after using the toilet and practicing ablution. In some cases, a full body bath is obligatory such as after spouses’ intimacy.

That is not strange for Islam cares about the well-being of humans both in the world and in the hereafter. A healthy firm believer is better in the sight of Allah than a weak one as the former is more qualified to fulfill the objectives of Islam and serve humanity. Moreover, the great encouragement for cleaning teeth as shown in the hadiths below reveals to what extent Islam was careful even for personal health and hygiene details.

This collection of hadiths presents only some examples of Islam’s stance on health and hygiene:

Cleanliness is part and parcel of faith
1. Abu Malik Al-Ash`ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Purity is half of iman (faith).”

Tooth brushing is highly recommended
2. `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The miswak (a twig used for tooth brushing) cleanses and purifies the mouth and pleases the Lord.” (An-Nasa’I and Ibn Khuzaimah; authenticated by Al-Albani)

3. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Were it not that I might overburden my followers, I would have commanded them to use the miswak before every prayer.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Personal hygiene is a human nature
4. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Five practices are of the fitrah (natural disposition): circumcision, shaving the pubic region, clipping the nails and cutting the mustaches short.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Rituals on Muslims’ best day
5. Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever takes a bath on a Friday and does it well, and purifies himself and does it well, and puts on his best clothes, and puts on whatever Allah decrees for him of the perfume of his family, then comes to the mosque and does not engage in idle talk or separate (pushing between) two people; he will be forgiven for (his sins) between that day and the previous Friday.” (Ibn Majah and authenticated by Al-Albani)

Keep environment clean
6. Mu`adh (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet warned, “Beware of the three acts that cause you to be cursed: relieving yourselves in shaded places (that people utilize), in a walkway or in a watering place.” (Ranked sound, hasan, by Al-Albani)

7. Abu Dharr Al-Ghafari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Removing harmful things from the road is an act of charity (sadaqah).” (Authenticated by Al-Albani)

Using medicine is encouraged
8. Usamah ibn Sharik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: I came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions were sitting as (quiet as) if they had birds on their heads. I saluted and sat down.

The desert Arabs then came from here and there. They asked: Messenger of Allah, should we make use of medical treatment?

He replied: “Make use of medical treatment, for Allah has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it, with the exception of one disease, namely old age.” (Abu Dawud and authenticated by Al-Albani)

Be strong and healthy
9. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “A strong believer is better and dearer to Allah than a weak one, and both are good. Keenly pursue what benefits you, seek help only from Allah, and do not give up. If something befalls you, do not say, ‘If only I had done otherwise,’ but rather say, ‘Allah so determined and did as He willed,’ for ‘if only’ opens the door to Satan’s work.” (Al-Bukhari)

Overeating is not healthy
10. Al-Miqdam (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A human being has not filled any vessel worse than [his] stomach. A few bites are sufficient to support his back. If it is inevitable (i.e. eating a lot because he likes eating), then a third for food, a third for drink, and third for his breath” (Imam Ahmad and At-Tirmidhi and authenticated by Al-Albani)

By Muhammad Fathi

Avoid Suspicion And Malice

[ALLAH’S Quran – 49:12] “O you who believe with hearts reflecting the image of religious and spiritual virtues and their deeds wisdom and piety. Avoid suspicion in many instances and the conjecture of the existence of something evil or wrong without proof; suspicion in some instances is indeed a sin. Nor play the spy upon each other or peer inquisitively and impertinently into the nature of other people’s actions, nor traduce or slander one another by speaking evil or falsehood or speaking maliciously behind his or her back. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother! Indeed you would shrink from it with horror. Therefore, keep Allah in mind and entertain the profound reverence dutiful to Him, Allah is indeed Tawabun (Relenting) and Rahimun (Merciful). Allah indicates to people that He weighs them not by their parentage, lineage, descent or rank in life, but by the image their hearts reflect.”

The Prophet (peace be upon him) has said:
[Muslim, Book #032, Hadith #6214] “Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Avoid suspicion, for suspicion, is the gravest lie in talk and do not be inquisitive about one another and do not spy upon one another and do not feel envy with the other, and nurse no malice, and nurse no aversion and hostility against one another. And be fellow brothers and servants of Allah.”

[Sunan Abudawud, Book #8, Hadith #1505] “Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to supplicate Allah: “My Lord, help me and do not give help against me; grant me victory, and do not grant victory over me; plan on my behalf and do not plan against me; guide me, and made my right guidance easy for me; grant me victory over those who act wrongfully towards me; O Allah, make me grateful to Thee, mindful of Thee, full of fear towards Thee, devoted to Thy obedience, humble before Thee, or penitent. My Lord, accept my repentance, wash away my sin, answer my supplication, clearly establish my evidence, guide my heart, make true my tongue and draw out malice in my breast.”

[Bukhari, Book #73, Hadith #90] “Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false tales; and do not look for the other’s faults and do not spy, and do not be jealous of one another, and do not desert (cut your relation with) one another, and do not hate one another; and O Allah’s worshipers! Be brothers (as Allah has ordered you!)”

Allah Does Not Change A People’s Lot Unless They Change

[ALLAH’S Quran -13:11] “………..Allah does not change a people’s lot unless they change what is in their hearts. But when (once) Allah willeth a people’s punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find, besides Him, any to protect.”

The Prophet (peace be upon him) has said :
[Bukhari, Book #2, Hadith #49] “Narrated An-Nu’man bin Bashir: I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, ‘Both legal and illegal things are evident but in between them there are doubtful (suspicious) things and most of the people have no knowledge about them. So whoever saves himself from these suspicious things saves his religion and his honor. And whoever indulges in these suspicious things is like a shepherd who grazes (his animals) near the Him a (private pasture) of someone else and at any moment he is liable to get in it. (O people!) Beware! Every king has a Him a and the Him a of Allah on the earth is His illegal (forbidden) things. Beware! There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed) the whole body becomes good but if it gets spoilt the whole body gets spoilt and that is the heart.”

[Sunan Abudawud, Book #41, Hadith #4923] Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-‘As: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: The Compassionate One has mercy on those who are merciful. If you show mercy to those who are on the earth, He Who is in heaven will show mercy to you.

Muslim Parenting Guide: How to Raise Children in Islam

Providing children with Islamic education and raising them up as good practicing Muslims are essential duties of parenthood.

Rightfully fulfilling these duties will lead to the Pleasure of Allah and good for the parents and the child in this life and the Hereafter.

However, ignoring these duties would lead to the destruction of the child’s Hereafter, and the Wrath of Allah will befall the parents for not protecting their child from the traps of Shaytan and allowing him to choose the path of destruction.

Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock. The leader is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock,
a man is the shepherd of his family and is responsible for his flock;
a woman is the shepherd in the house of her husband and is responsible for her flock,
the servant is the shepherd of his master’s wealth and is responsible for it.
Each of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim]

Allah says in the Quran: “O you who believe! Save yourselves and your family from a fire whose Fuel is men and stones.” [Noble Quran 66:6]

One way to protect your children from the Fire is to let them memorize the Words of Allah.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If the Quran is gathered in a body (i.e. a person), Allah will not burn him with the Fire.” [al-Baihaqi, Authenticated by Sheikh al-Albani]

This is because the child from an early age will be protected from the temptations of the world and whispers of the Shaytan, he will live and grow up among the gathering of Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) where tranquility and the mercy of Allah descends, and as a result, Allah will preserve his Fitrah (natural inclination of Islamic Monotheism)

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “No people gather in a house of the houses of Allah (i.e. Masjid) reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, except that the tranquility descends upon them, and Allah mentions them to those who are with Him (the lofty gathering of Angels).” [Sahih Muslim]

Your child will be given a position in Paradise according to the number of verses he memorizes from the Book of Allah, it will be said to him on the Day of Judgment as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“‘Read, ascend and recite with slow, rhythmic chanting just as you used to recite in the worldly life. For verily, your position (in Paradise) will be at the place of the last verse that you recite.” [Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi]

Every time your child goes to the Masjid to learn the Quran he will have the reward of a perfect Hajj.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever goes to the Masjid in the morning having no intention except to learn something good or teach it he will have the reward like the person who performs Hajj.”
[At-Tabari. Authenticated by Sheikh al-Albani]

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Abu Dharr, “O Abu Dharr! That you set out in the morning and learn one verse from the Book of Allah is better for you than if you prayed one hundred Rakahs (units of prayer).” [Ibn Majah]

The Quran will intercede for your child on the Day of Judgment, Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Recite the Quran for verily it will come on the Day of Judgment as an intercessor for those who recited it.”
[Sahih Muslim]

Your child will be given to wear garments and a crown of honor on the Day of Judgment.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The Quran will come on the Day of Judgment and say, ‘Oh Lord! Adorn him.’ So the person will be made to wear the crown of honor. Then it (the Quran) will say, ‘Oh Lord! Increase him.’ So the person will be made to wear the garment of honor. Then it will say, ‘Oh Lord! Be pleased with him.’ So Allah will be pleased with him. Then it will be said, ‘Recite and ascend.’ And the person will receive an extra good deeds for every verse (that he recites of the Quran.)” [Sahih at-Tirmidhi]

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever recites the Quran, learns it, and acts upon it will be given a crown of light to wear on the Day of Judgment and its light will be like the light of the sun.” [Sahih al-Hakim]

So, why not encourage our children to memorize the Quran and make them one of the best individuals of this Ummah.

Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]

Allah, the Exalted, has also promised abundant rewards for those parents who guide their children to memorize the Quran.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever recites the Quran, learns it, and acts according to it will be given a crown of light to wear on the Day of Judgment whose light will be like the sun. His parents will be clothed in two garments that did not exist in this worldly life. So they will say, ‘What has caused us to be clothed (in these garments)?’ It will be said, ‘Your child taking hold of (i.e. memorizing) the Quran has caused this.'” [Al-Hakim graded it authentic]

When the parents leave a righteous child behind them, the child will be a source of reward and blessing for them after their death, for Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When a man dies, all his good deeds come to an end, except for three cases;
the charity of continuous blessings,
beneficial knowledge that he leaves behind,
and a righteous child who prays for him.” [Sahih Muslim]

The parents will also receive an equal amount of reward that the child receives by memorizing or reciting the Quran, for the parents guide him to this good act and instill in his heart the love for Islam, and the love for the Book of Allah.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever guides to something good is like the one who does it.” [Sahih Muslim]

“Whoever invites guidance will receive the reward like the rewards of those who follow him and that will not diminish anything from their rewards…” [Sahih Muslim]

The parents should also send those children who are intelligent and bright to learn the Quran and Islamic education.

It should not be that only those children who when are unsuccessful in worldly studies are sent to Madrasas for religious studies.

The parents should realize the importance of Islamic education for their children and raise well-educated Muslims who would in the future work for the Cause of Islam.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The example of guidance and knowledge with which, Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which was fertile soil, absorbed rain water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance. (And) another portion of it was hard and held the rainwater and Allah benefited the people with it and they utilized it for drinking, making their animals drink from it, and for irrigation of the land for cultivation. (And) a portion of it was barren which could neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation (then that land gave no benefits).

The first is the example of the person who comprehends Allah’s religion and gets the benefit (from the knowledge), which Allah has revealed through me (the Prophet) and learns and then teaches others.

The last example is that of a person who does not care for it and does not take Allah’s guidance revealed through me (He is like that barren land.)” [Sahih al-Bukhari v.1 no.79]

Those parents who give the excuse that their child is weak or does not have a good memory or ‘he is not gifted’, should know that Allah has said in the Quran: “And indeed we have made the Quran easy to remember.” [Noble Quran 54:17]

And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever treads on a path in search of Islamic knowledge, Allah will ease the way to Paradise for him. The Angels will lower their wings, pleased with this seeker of knowledge, and everyone in the heavens and on earth will ask forgiveness for the knowledgeable person, even the fish in the deepest of waters will ask for his forgiveness.” [Sahih Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and at-Tirmidhi (2835)]

It is not mandatory for your child to memorize the complete Quran. If he is not able to memorize the complete Quran then know that only attending daily circle for memorization will suffice for your child for it will accustom him to frequent the places of worship rather than visiting evil gatherings.

Your child will find good companions which will protect him from deviating and adopting evil habits and practices.

Allah says: “And keep yourself patiently with those who call on their Lord, morning and afternoon, seeking His Face and let not your eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp and glitter of the life of the world; and obey not him whose hearts We have made heedless of Our Remembrance, one who follows his own lust and whose affairs (deeds) have been lost.” [Noble Quran 18:28]

Allah The Exalted, Erases Small Sins, If You Avoid Major Sins

[ALLAH’S Quran – 4:31] “If you avoid and refrain from committing the major sins which have been forbidden unto you, We will grant you remission for your iniquities and admit you into favor and grant you an honorable entry into the realm of bliss and the beatitude of heaven.”

The Prophet (peace be upon him) has said: {Excerpted from Ibn Kathir Commentary for [4:31]}
“Imam Ahmad recorded that Salman Al-Farisi said, “The Prophet said to me, `Do you know what the day of Al-Jumu`ah is’ I said, `It is the day during which Allah brought together the creation of your father (Adam).’ He said, (I know what the day of Jumu`ah is. Anyone who takes a bath and cleans himself as much as he can and then proceeds for the Friday prayer and remains quiet until the Imam finishes the prayer, all his sins in between the present and the next Friday will be forgiven, as long as major sins were avoided.)”

[Bukhari – Book #51, Hadith #28] “Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “Avoid the seven great destructive sins.” The people enquire, “O Allah’s Apostle! What are they? “He said, “To join others in worship along with Allah, to practice sorcery, to kill the life which Allah has forbidden except for a just cause, (according to Islamic law), to eat up Riba (usury), to eat up an orphan’s wealth, to give back to the enemy and fleeing from the battlefield at the time of fighting, and to accuse, chaste women, who never even think of anything touching chastity and are good believers.”

[Bukhari – Book #34, Hadith #267] “Narrated An-Nu’man bin Bashir: The Prophet said “Both legal and illegal things are obvious, and in between, them are (suspicious) doubtful matters. So whoever forsakes those doubtful things lest he may commit a sin, will definitely avoid what is clearly illegal; and whoever indulges in these (suspicious) doubtful things bravely, is likely to commit what is clearly illegal. sins are Allah’s Hima (i.e. private pasture) and whoever pastures (his sheep) near it, is likely to get in it at any moment.”