The Quran greatly emphasizes Taharah (cleanliness):
“Truly, Allah loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves.”
(Al-Baqarah 2:222)
The concept of Taharah, or cleanliness, in Islam encompasses physical and spiritual purification from clearly defined impurities.
Types of Impurities
Impurities are of two main types:
- Hadath: ritual impurity occurs when something is expelled from the anus (feces or wind) or the frontal private area (urine or prostatic fluid), or when a person vomits. If a person enters this state, he must abstain from prayers until he attains purification. Wudu suffices for Taharah of this impurity.
- Khabath: physical impurity is the impurity of bodily substances, which include menstrual blood, urine, feces, pork, canine saliva, and vomit. These impurities must be removed from whatever they contaminate (such as the person’s skin, clothing, or prayer rug); otherwise, the prayer will not be valid. If you come in contact with any of these impurities, then they must be washed.
Allah (swt) says:
O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of Janabah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body (ghusl)]…
(An-Nisa 4:43)
Such trivial amounts are unavoidable and are forgiven under Shariah.
Any discharge which comes from the outer part of the vagina requires neither a ritual bath (ghusl), nor Wudu, nor the washing of affected clothing. This discharge is not a waste product like urine or feces. It occurs due to the cyclical or pregnancy-related hormonal changes in a woman’s body. However, any discharge that comes from inside the vagina requires wudu and the washing of the affected clothing.
Methods of Taharah
- Wudu (ablution)
Taharah of self, clothes, and place is an obligatory prerequisite of Salah. Likewise, Wudu is essential for Salah. The procedure of Wudu has been described in the Quran as follows:
“O you who believe! When you intend to offer Salah (the prayer), wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads, and (wash) your feet up to ankles. If you are in a state of Janaba (i.e. had a sexual discharge), purify yourself ghusl your whole body).
(Al-Maidah 5:6)
Humran (rta) narrated: I saw Uthman Ibn Affan (rta) asking (for a tumbler of water) to perform ablution (and when it was brought) he poured water from it over his hands and washed them thrice and then put his right hand in the water container and rinsed his mouth and washed his nose by putting water in it and then blowing it out. Then he washed his face thrice and (then) forearms up to the elbows thrice, then passed his wet hands over his head, and then washed each foot thrice. (Bukhari)
The obligatory actions of Wudu are:
- washing the face,
- washing both arms, including the elbows,
- performing Masah of one-fourth of the head,
- washing both the feet, including the ankles.
However, certain conditions allow Masah to be done over socks.
Wudu has a physical and psychological impact, too. Dr. Ghulam Mustafa Khan states: “The psychological advantages derived from performing Wudu are clearly evident in the Prophet’s (PBUH) advice to perform Wudu when we are overpowered by anger.
The psychological changes brought about by the physical act (of Wudu) may be compared to a cold sponge bath to reduce convulsions due to high temperature. In addition to the physical removal of a person from the arena of arguments, all parts of the body instrumental in the expression of anger – the hands, tongue, eyes, and teeth – are cooled down, and so are the brain centres controlling these parts.”
- Tayammum (dry ablution)
If water is not available, then Tayammum can help us attain Taharah. Allah (swt) says:
“… And if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes after answering the call of nature, or you have been in contact with women (by sexual relations) and you find no water, perform Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands (Tayammum). Truly, Allah is Ever Oft Pardoning, Oft Forgiving.”
(An-Nisa 4:43)
Tayammum can be done as follows:
- Make the Niyyah (intention) to perform ablution.
- Strike the soil/earth with your hands and wipe your face.
- Then, wipe your hands up to the wrists. Wipe the right hand first, followed by the left.
The Sunnah clearly identifies the following scenarios that allow Tayammum:
- Total non-availability of water within a distance of one mile (approximately 1.6 kilometers).
- The available water is insufficient for ablution, and there is no additional water within 1 mile (approximately 1.6 kilometers).
- One is ill or injure,d and using water may worsen the illness or cause harm to an organ.
- It is dangerous to fetch water from a nearby source.
- Ghusl (ritual bath)
A Ghusl must be performed after completing the monthly period, after ejaculation, after post-natal bleeding (Nifas), or after sexual intercourse.
The Sunnah method begins with a clear intention, Bismillah, and then washing your private parts first. The purpose is to make sure that pure water reaches every part of your body. However, if you pass wind during the cleansing procedure, your Ghusl is still valid, but you will have to perform a separate Wudu. The Prophet (PBUH) said:
“Do not break off from your prayer, unless you hear or smell the passage of gas.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
- Ghusl-e-Janabah
Ghusl after sexual intercourse is obligatory, even if no discharge took place. Noticing wetness on waking up as a result of Ihtilaam (wet dream) necessitates a Ghusl. However, if upon waking from a wet dream, a person does not see any trace of sexual emission on his clothes or his body, he does not have to perform Ghusl.
Aisha (rta) said: “Someone asked the Prophet (PBUH) about a man seeing himself discharging in his dream, though he does not feel wet. The Prophet (PBUH) said: ‘He does not have to bathe.’ Umm Salamah (rta) asked: ‘What about women, O Messenger of Allah?’ He (sa) said: ‘Women are the full sisters of men.’” (Abu Dawood and At-Tirmidhi)
Some people came to the Prophet (PBUH) and asked him about Ghusl after sexual intercourse. They told him that they live in a cold place. The Prophet (PBUH) told them: “It would be enough for one of you to pour water over his head three times.” One should bear in mind that rinsing the mouth and cleaning the nose by inhaling and exhaling water is essential.
Bukhari and Muslim record the Ghusl e Janabah as follows:
- Wash hands. With the right hand, pour water on the left.
- Wash private parts.
- Do Wudu.
- Wet scalp with fingers (run fingers through hair, so as to wet scalp).
- Pour three handfuls of water on the head.
- Wash the whole body (with or without soap), beginning with the right side and then the left.
- Wash feet in the end.
The Prophet (PBUH) told Umm Salamah:
“If a woman is performing Ghusl after having sexual intercourse, then there is no need for her to unbraid her hair. It is sufficient that she pours water over her head three times.
(Tirmizi)
General Hygiene
Taharah also includes some basic practices:
- Shaving the pubic and underarm hair.
- Trimming nails.
- Doing Ghusl, especially on Fridays.
- Washing hands, cleaning the nose, and rinsing the mouth after waking up.
- Washing hands before and after every meal.
- Cleaning the teeth and rinsing the mouth after every meal.
- Regularly using Miswak.
Allah (swt) stated in the Quran:
“… This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion…”
(Al Maidah 5:3)