Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

hello,

I know in islam cleanliness is considered to be half the deen. But sometimes I feel that the feeling of uncleanliness has taken over my life.

If someone scratches there nose or ear I feel that their hand is dirty and everything they touch like sofa, carpet etc. becomes dirty as well.

I cannot get this out of my mind and I am not satisfied until they wash their hands or I clean all the things they have touched, as much as possible.

I think I am right coz they by doing such things become un-pak and they say that all these things are natural and part of human nature.

Please let me know who is right and who is wrong.

and what things are considered pak and which are not. also, please send me a dua so that I can get these feelings out of my head 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Impurity and cleanliness

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 222 (part):

….For Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 296 Narrated by Banu Sulaym

Allah's Messenger (saws) counted them in my hand or in his hand saying: “Tasbih (SubhanAllah) is half the Mizan (Scale), Praise be to Allah (Alhamdolillah) fills it (completely). Allah is the Greatest (AllahuAkbar) fills the space between Heaven and Earth, fasting is the half of the endurance. and cleanliness is half of the faith.

It is indeed absolutely true that the religion of Islam emphasizes and encourages the believers to keep themselves pure and clean at all times; so much so that Allah Subhanah Declares that He loves those believers who keep themselves pure and clean and the Messenger of Allah (saws) declared that cleanliness is half of faith! Such is the importance that Islam lays upon being physically pure and clean.

Your Statement: I think I am right coz they by doing such things become un-pak and they

say that all these things are natural and part of human nature. Please let me know who is right and who is wrong. and what things are considered pak and which are not.

Beloved brother, one should differentiate between something which is dirty, unclean, or unhygienic and something which is considered impure. For example if someone were to scratch their nose or their ears, one would be justified in saying that it is unclean and unhygienic; or if one were to come in contact with mud, or dust, or soil, etc., one would be justified in saying that it is dirty or unclean….and one should indeed wash oneself and become clean. But the scratching of one’s nose, or ears, or any body part, or coming in contact with mud or soil, etc… although it can be classified as unclean or dirty, such things do not make oneself impure.

What one does need to be absolutely careful of is coming in contact with things which are considered ‘impure’ or ‘najis’ in Islam; for then it would become obligatory to purify oneself from these physical impurities before one wishes to stand in audience with Allah Subhanah in prayer. The things which are generally considered impure in Islam in addition to being unclean are urine, stool, and sexual emission and it is absolutely obligatory in Islam that one wash themselves thoroughly after one has released or come in contact with any impurity.

If one were to scratch their nose or ears or any body parts, although they might be considered natural and part of human nature…such acts are indeed unclean and unhygienic and one should at least wash one’s hands to save oneself and others from any physical harm….but such acts would not be by itself considered ‘impure’ in Shariah.

Your Question: also, please send me a dua so that I can get these feelings out of my head.

Beloved brother, it is indeed good and considered a virtue in Islam that a believer should be aware and strive to remain physically pure, clean, and hygienic, for Allah Subhanah indeed loves those who strive to remain pure and clean. Thus if you have such feelings and strive to remain clean and hygienic at all times, there is absolutely no harm.

But one should abstain from moving towards the extreme and expect everyone else around them to strive as much as they do in remain clean and hygienic….for that would cause unnecessary ‘fitnah’ and tension amongst one-another. One may implement whatever level of cleanliness one wishes for oneself, but should be reasonable with others.

Amongst the best supplications taught be the Messenger of Allah (saws) regarding physical cleanliness and purity and one which he (saws) would regularly make himself is:

“Allah humajj-alni minat tawwabeen wajj-alni minal muta-tahhereen.”

(O Allah, make me amongst those who constantly turn back to You in repentance, and make me amongst those who strive to remain clean and pure.)

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan