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
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.
Fadilah/CITU/CTU 695 3
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 alBaqarah 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 as well
of as
cleanliness the with Fiqh a
can
be
illustrated Hadith
from the fact that the books of (Islamic on start chapter
jurisprudence) 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 ones finger-nails
Cleanliness of ones mouth

Cleanliness of ones hair Cleanliness of ones hands
Cleanliness of ones private parts

Cleanliness of ones 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.
12
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)
13
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)
16
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
17
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 ones 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).
20
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.
23
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)
24
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).
25
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
27
Surah al-araf: 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 AlMunkar (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 AlKhaba'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.
29
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.
30
Surah Al-araf: 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.
31
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.
32

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Fadilah Binti Abd.

and apparent. Of these blessings, the greatest is that

of health which the prophet regarded as one of the two

The Concept of Health in Islam and its relationship with Sanitation

Quran and Sunnah is that: Mankind should mentally,

physically and spiritually sound.

to Allah. A weak person may not perform his duties

diseases, and a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being

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

privileges of Islam. It has evolved a wonderful

individual and social levels. Islam places great

emphasis on cleanliness, in both physical and

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

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

Cleanliness and purity has also been emphasized by

cleanliness the with Fiqh a

from the fact that the books of (Islamic on start chapter

There are two terms used in Islamic literature

physical impurities) is required by Islam to be

her daily life while nazafah (neatness) is a

Personal Cleanliness/Hygiene has been emphasized by

Islam. This include among others:

Cleanliness of ones mouth

Cleanliness of ones private parts

his hands lay during his sleep."

4. Food and drink cleanliness: Orders for protecting food

Ritual Cleansing through Performance of

Ritual Cleansing Through Tayammum:

Cleansing through the Performance of Ghusl (Obligatory bath):

Water and Sanitation in Islam

Water is also essential for ablution, bathing

Allah says God, it is who sends the

Surely in the creation of Heaven and Earth

Health in Islam and Its Relationship with Food and Nutrition

consume will have a direct effect on not only our

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

To keep optimum health the Prophet requires that

To keep optimum health, Islam also requires that

Muslim should only consume food which is Halal and

when its consumption is sanctioned by Allah, and the

With regard to Food, Halal & Sanitation covers the

The Concept of Halal & Thoyyib Food in the Quran

Surah al-araf: 157

Surah al-Maidah: 100

Surah al-Baqarah: 168

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