Sanitation in Islam

Fadilah Binti Abd.Rahman

Senior Lecturer

Center for Islamic Thought & Understanding (CITU)

Universiti Teknologi MARA Shah Alam Selangor

Fadilah/CITU/CTU 695 1

INTRODUCTION

Allah has bestowed on human his blessings, hidden

and apparent. Of these blessings, the greatest is that

of health which the prophet regarded as one of the two

graces the importance of which was not appreciated by

many.


The Concept of Health in Islam and its relationship with Sanitation

In Islam, the concept of health as demonstrated in the

Quran and Sunnah is that: Mankind should mentally,

physically and spiritually sound.

Health is part and parcel of worship and subversience

to Allah. A weak person may not perform his duties

towards Allah, his family and community as ONLY the

strong healthy ones can do.


Definition of Health

The absence of any manifestation of

diseases, and a state of complete

physical, mental and social well-being


Health in Islam and its relationship with Sanitation/Cleanliness/Purification

Cleanliness and purification is one of the great

privileges of Islam. It has evolved a wonderful

system that encompasses Muslim life on

individual and social levels. Islam places great

emphasis on cleanliness, in both physical and

spiritual terms.


In the Holy Quran, there are a number of verses

which shed light at the importance of cleanliness:

“Truly, Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly and He

loves those who keep themselves pure and clean.” (Surah al-

Baqarah 2:222)

At another place Allah says: “In it (mosque) are men who love

to clean and to purify themselves. And Allah loves those who

make themselves clean and pure.” (Surah 9:108)


Cleanliness and purity has also been emphasized by

various means in hundreds of Hadith of the Prophet

(peace be upon him). In a Hadith he said:

“Cleanliness is half of faith” (Sahih Muslim Book 2,

Hadith No. 0432)


The importance of cleanliness can be

illustrated from the fact that the books of

Hadith as well as the Fiqh (Islamic

jurisprudence) start with a chapter on

cleanliness.


There are two terms used in Islamic literature

to refer to Cleanliness and Sanitation: Taharah

and Nazafah. Taharah (Cleanliness from

physical impurities) is required by Islam to be

observed by each and every Muslim in his and

her daily life while nazafah (neatness) is a

desirable attribute.


Personal Cleanliness/Hygiene has been emphasized by Islam. This include among others:

Cleanliness of one’s finger-nails

Cleanliness of one’s mouth

Cleanliness of one’s hair

Cleanliness of one’s hands

Cleanliness of one’s private parts

Cleanliness of one’s cloth

Observation of adab during coughing and sneezing etc.


Aspects of Cleanliness

1 . Body Cleanliness: Islam recommends bathing for'

twenty three reasons. Seven of them are compulsory and

sixteen are preferable.

2. Hands Cleanliness: Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)

Says 'Wash thy hands before and after eating", He adds

"Wash thy hands after awakening. No one knows where

his hands lay during his sleep."

3. Islam recommends clothing cleanliness and

elegance "Ameliorate thy clothing and thy mouth".


4. Food and drink cleanliness: Orders for protecting food

from dust and insects, the prophet says “Cover thy vessels and

drinks”

5. Residence cleanliness: “Clean thy courtyards and thy

residence” as well as street cleanliness “It is charitable to remove

harms from the road.”

6. Cleanliness of water sources such as wells, rivers and

shores. Therefore, urinating and defecating are forbidden in any

of them: “Avoid three evils; defecation in water sources, shades

and in the road.”


Ritual Cleansing through Performance of

Ablution (Wudhu’):

“O you who believe! When you intend to offer

the prayer, wash your faces and your hands

(forearms) up to the elbows, wipe your heads,

and (wash) your feet up to the ankles. If you

are in a state of Janaba purify yourself.” (Quran

5:6)


continue

The prophet said: "When a Muslim of God's servants

makes his ablution and rinses his mouth, sins come out

of it, and so do they come out of his nose when he rinses

it. When he washes his face, sins drop from all of his face

including from behind the edges of his eyelids. When he

washes his hands, sins drop from all over his hands,

including from under his fingernails. When he wipes his

head, they drop from his head and from under his ears.

When he finally washes his feet, sins drop from them to

the extent that they go out from under his toenails"

(narrated by Muslim).


Ritual Cleansing Through Tayammum:

“...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.” (Quran 5:6)


Ritual Cleansing through the

Performance of Ghusl (Obligatory bath):

“O you who believe! When you intend to

offer the prayer, wash your faces and your

hands (forearms) up to the elbows, wipe

your heads, and (wash) your feet up to the

ankles. If you are in a state of Janaba

purify yourself.” (Quran 5:6)


Maintaining Personal Hygiene through the

Natural Way (Fitrah):

The traditions of Prophet Muhammad, include

advice about actions that are part of a natural way

(Fitrah) to maintain personal hygiene. He said

that:

“Five things are part of the fitrah: shaving the pubic hair, circumcision, trimming the moustache, plucking the armpit hairs, and cutting the nails”


Water and Sanitation in Islam Water is one of the most essential needs for life.

Without it man cannot survive for more than a few days. God has made every living thing dependent on water for its very existence.

Water constitutes two-thirds of body cell matter and 90% of all body fluids, including the blood as well as the lymphatic and spinal fluids. It is necessary for all biological processes, which have no place without the body. Furthermore, it contributes to the regulation of body temperature through perspiration.


Water is also essential for ablution, bathing

and personal cleanliness: Allah says: “It is He

who sends down water upon you from heaven

with which to purify you”. (8:11).

Water is also necessary for the cleaning of

one’s home and personal effects, as well as for

general hygiene. It is indispensable to

agriculture and industry: “He it is who sends

down water from the sky. With it, We bring

forth plants of every kind” (6:99).


Allah says “God, it is who sends the

winds with which to blow the clouds

along. We drive them on to a dead land

and revive the earth by means of them

after it has been dead. Such is the

resurrection” (35:9).


“Surely in the creation of Heaven and Earth

and the alternation of night and day, and in the

ships which plough the sea carrying what is of

benefit to mankind, and in the water which God

sends down from the sky with which to revive

the earth after it has been dead and to scatter

every kind of animal throughout it, and in

directing the winds and clouds which are driven

along between the sky and the earth, there are

signs for people who use their reason” (2:164).


Health in Islam and Its Relationship with Food and Nutrition

One of the important aspect of cleanliness and

sanitation which was given special emphasis in Islam

is the Food Cleanliness and Sanitation.

The important principle in Islam is that the food we

consume will have a direct effect on not only our

physical bodies but also our souls and mind.


There is a chain of link of the law of cause and

effect between the money used to purchase the

food, the way the food was prepared and the

psyche of cook WITH the persons who eat the

food.


To keep optimum health the Prophet requires that

each Muslim ensure proper diet and nutrition. The

prophet said: “Stomach is the home of disease.

Diet is the main medicine”. (Sahih Muslim)


To keep optimum health, Islam also requires that

Muslim should only consume food which is Halal and

Thoyyib (wholesome). A food is Halal and Thoyyib

when its consumption is sanctioned by Allah, and the

preparation, process, handling and distribution of

which are done in accordance to the Shariah Standard

(Hygiene, Sanitation and Safety).


With regard to Food, Halal & Sanitation covers the followings:

The Raw Materials used (the types of animals, the ingredients etc.)

The Person preparing the food (Employee, Food handler etc.)

The equipment/utensils/devices /machines/processing aids used

The cleanliness of the food premises

The methods used

The way food is transported and distributed


The Concept of Halal & Thoyyib Food in the Quran


Surah al-a’raf: 157

Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e.Muhammad ) whom they find written with them in the Taurat and the Injeel - he commands them for Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained); and forbids them from Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); he allows them as lawful At-Taiyibat [(i.e. all good and lawful) as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.], and prohibits them as unlawful Al-Khaba'ith (i.e. all evil and unlawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.), he releases them from their heavy burdens (of Allah's Covenant), and from the fetters (bindings) that were upon them. So those who believe in him (Muhammad ), honour him, help him, and follow the light (the Qur'an) which has been sent down with him, it is they who will be successful .


Surah al-mukminun: 51 O (you) Messengers! Eat of the Taiyibat [all

kinds of Halal (legal) foods which Allah has made legal (meat of slaughtered eatable animals, milk products, fats, vegetables, fruits, etc.], and do righteous deeds. Verily! I am Well-Acquainted with what you do.


Surah al-Maidah: 100 Say (O Muhammad ): "Not equal are Al-Khabith (all

that is evil and bad as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.) and At-Taiyib (all that is good as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.), even though the abundance of Al-Khabith (evil) may please you." So fear Allah much [(abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)], O men of understanding in order that you may be successful.


Surah Al-a’raf: 32

Say (O Muhammad ): "Who has forbidden the adoration with clothes given by Allah, which He has produced for his slaves, and At-Taiyibat [all kinds of Halal (lawful) things] of food?" Say: "They are, in the life of this world, for those who believe, (and) exclusively for them (believers) on the Day of Resurrection (the disbelievers will not share them)." Thus We explain the Ayat (Islamic laws) in detail for people who have knowledge.


Surah al-Baqarah: 168

O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and good on the earth, and follow not the footsteps of Shaitan (Satan). Verily, he is to you an open enemy.


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Sanitation in Islam