Cleanliness in Islam - Evidence From Sunnah

There are a multitude of examples in the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, regarding purification and encouraging it by words and actions. The following are some of these.

This hadeeth is general and indicates cleanliness in terms of one’s hygiene, however many scholars have mentioned that the purification mentioned in this hadeeth includes physical purification as well as the purification of the soul by abstaining from sin while others have indicated that what is meant here is the prayer specifically and the discussion on these details is quite lengthy.

The brushing of teeth is also highly recommended. It was mentioned that this was the first thing that the Messenger ﷺ used to do upon entering his house.

In another narration, he said;

Personal hygiene is considered in Islam to be a part of human nature.

In other narrations, something similar is mentioned.

Washing hands before eating. Aisha may Allah be pleased with her reported:

There is also a guideline regarding washing ones hands after eating and before going to sleep. He said  ﷺ

The above hadith is also reported by Al-Tirmidhi (No.1861), Ibn Majah (No.3267), and Ibn Hibban as mentioned in Al-Mawarid (No. 1354), all of them reported it on the authority of Abu Hurairah except Ibn Majah who reported it after Fatimah, (May Allah be pleased with both of them), No.3296]

Covering vessels of food. Abu Humaid Sa’idi reported: I came to Allah’s Messenger with a cup of milk from Naqi’ which had no cover over it, whereupon he said: Why did you not cover it, even if you had covered it only with a stick? Abu Humaid said that he had been ordered that water skins be tied during the night, and the doors be closed.

Breathing outside of a vessel while one is drinking from it. Anas reported that;

Bathing regularly. Muslims should take a complete bath, which includes cleaning all parts of the body, at least once a week if not daily. This is in addition to the regular cleansing as performed in daily ablutions. Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

Using the right hand for eating and the left hand for cleaning oneself. In the Sunan of Abi Dawood it is narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said:

Imam Muslim narrated that Salmaan (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:

In another narration on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said:

Using medicine is encouraged Usamah ibn Sharik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:

Not eating the flesh of impure animals such as the pig. Islam even gave us guidelines about food and eating such as not filling the stomach and slaughtering the animal in a way whereby the bad blood is removed from the meat of the animal. In addition, the flesh of the swine is prohibited for consumption because of the filth which is contained within it. Scientific studies prove this. This guidance is mentioned both in the Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ

Not eating too much. Al-Miqdam (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said

Washing a vessel that a dog has drank from. The following two authentic narrations show us what is to be done regarding the impurity of the saliva of a dog if it drinks from a vessel which humans use.

There are also practices that Muslims do which do not have a specific proof but fall into the general order of cleanliness and are beneficial for avoiding the harms of impurity such as removing shoes on entering a house. Perhaps these practices have crept into the ways of the Muslims as they are in keeping with other guidelines that promote all round cleanliness.