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Personal Hygiene 2/5

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Personal Hygiene
When boys and girls reach the age of puberty, it is necessary for them
to pay more attention to personal hygiene or cleanliness. Since they
are responsible for praying, fasting and other religious obligations
just like an adult, they must take care to be well-groomed and keep
their body and clothing clean at all times.

Cleanliness when visiting the toilet:

Regardless of age, all Muslims should make sure that their underwear
and private parts remain as clean as possible. Underpants, panties and
socks should be changed daily in order to avoid unpleasant odours. If
urine happens to splatter* onto clothing, it should be washed off until
no colour or smell remains. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
advised that we should clean ourselves *thoroughly* after using the
toilet. This is called istinja' - washing the private parts. The proper
way to make istinja' is first to remove all traces of urine or faeces
with something clean and dry, such as toilet paper. If you are in the
countryside, and paper tissues are not available, clean earth or
whatever is available may be used instead. The left hand should be
used, and the private parts should be wiped gently until no trace of
impurities can be seen on the toilet paper. Then the private parts
should be washed with water, if available. Muslim homes have special
spray hoses installed next to the toilet or watering cans or jugs for
this purpose.

After cleaning with water, it is best to dry off again with toilet
paper. This is especially recommended for women and girls, in order to
prevent infections which can occur if the underwear remains damp. For
this reason, women and girls should also be careful to wipe from front
to back rather than back to front. It is also recommended to wear
loose, cotton underwear which 'breathes' and dries more quickly than
panties made from man-made materials such as nylon or polyester. The
hands should be washed after using the toilet, taking care that no
unpleasant odour remains under or around the fingernails. Finally it
is recommended to make ablution after using the toilet, so that you are
always prepared for prayer and other acts of worship.

[* The Prophet has _urged_ males to urinate in the sitting position to
avoid soiling the body, clothes, ground or toilet.]

Removing Unnecessary Body Hair:

The hair which grows under the arms and around the private parts at
puberty can also be a source of bad odours, because hair, combined with
darkness or moisture, provides an ideal environment for bacteria to
grow. When this hair is removed, the body odour is reduced and there is
less chance of catching troublesome irritants, such as 'jock itch' or
body lice. It is also easier to keep this area clean. The Prophet said:

"Five practices are characteristic of the fitrah (the natural state):
circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, cutting the moustache short,
clipping the nails, and removing the hair of the armpits."

It is permissible to remove the hair under the armpits and the pubic
hair by any method which one does not find too difficult or painful:
plucking, shaving, cutting it short, using wax treatments, 'strip'
hair removers, or with any number of special depilatory creams and
ointments which are available on the market for this purpose. The hair
should be removed at least once every 40 days, or whenever it grows
long. It is also a good idea to use underarm deodorant, especially
before participating in sports or going to the school or mosque, so
that other people will not be offended by one's body odour. It is the
custom for girls and women in some countries to shave their legs as
well, or to remove all of the hair from their arms and legs with
'strip' hair removers or depilatory creams. This is neither recommended
in Islam nor forbidden. Do ask for your mother's permission and
assistance, however, before experimenting with a razor - it is very
easy to cut yourself!

Head and Facial Hair:

The hair on our head and face is in a different category to the hair on
other parts of our body; it is part of what makes us physically
attractive and does not need to be removed for the sake of cleanliness.

We should take good care of the hair on our head by frequent combing or
brushing, shampooing, and trimming it to keep an orderly appearance.
Long hair is recommended for Muslim girls and women, whereas for males
to keep their hair short (between earlobes and shoulders) or close
shaven. The style of hair is not important, as long as it does not
attract too much attention (such as by shaving off half of it and
letting the other half grow). Girls in full Islamic dress should be
careful not to neglect their hair; wearing a headscarf is no excuse for
forgetting to brush or comb out the hair properly! Headscarves should
also be washed regularly.

Teenage boys should not be ashamed or embarrassed by the hair which
grows on their faces; it is a natural sign of manhood. The Prophet
advised, "Do the opposite of what the unbelievers do. Grow your beards
and trim your moustaches short". Muslim scholars have understood this
to mean it is better for Muslim men to have a distinct appearance so
that they may be recognised, although a boy who is not quite ready to
let his beard grow out of fear of looking 'different' may wait until he
gathers up sufficient courage to do so. In some countries, men who
grow beards are persecuted. It is not necessary to grow a beard if one
will be put in jail, prevented from going to school, or from working
and supporting one's family if one does so (see "Question of Hijab").

Changing One's Appearance for the Sake of Beauty:

It is natural to want to look one's best, however, a believer should
not go too far in trying to change his or her looks. People who spend
a lot of time in caring for their outer appearance are likely to have
less time for more important things, such as prayer, study, or helping
others.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) discouraged people from tattooing
themselves, making spaces between their teeth (which the Arabs of his
day found beautiful), using artificial hair (such as wigs or
hair-pieces, dying or plucking out their grey hairs, and making similar
attempts to hide their age or fool others about their true appearance.
He also did not approve of women removing hair from their faces (such
as the modern practice of plucking the eyebrows until they form a thin
line), although if a woman has a condition which causes hairs to grow
on her face like a beard or moustache, she may remove them as long as
her husband does not object.

The habit some girls and women have of changing their hair colour
regularly is therefore discouraged in Islam, as is the custom of
growing the fingernails very long, or painting the fingernails or
toenails with nail polish. Long fingernails collect dirt and can
transmit disease (for instance, while preparing food), they are
impractical, and one cannot make ablution properly with nail polish on
since the water cannot reach the nails. It is permissible, however, to
dye the fingernails with henna since it does not seal the surface of
the nails. It is also permissible for men and women to tint their hair
with natural henna since it is a good hair conditioner, and it is not
the same as changing one's hair colour from black to blond, which is
deceptive.

The Prophet (pbuh) recommended that both men and women use (natural)
kohl as an eyeliner. This protects the eyes against certain diseases
which are common in many Eastern countries. He also recommended that
men use natural scents and perfumes, especially before going to the
mosque (which were the deodorant and after-shave of his day). Girls
and women may use perfume within their homes, as long as there are no

Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Re: Personal Hygiene 2/5
    Originally posted by Aisha

    Regardless of age, all Muslims should make sure that their underwear
    and private parts remain as clean as possible. Underpants, panties and
    socks should be changed daily in order to avoid unpleasant odours.

    Most people do that anyway, muslim or not.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    ok, and what was the point of this thread? yes, very nice, but if we'd wanted to know about muslim personal hygeine, we all have the internet, don't you think we'd have looked it up? :rolleyes:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Re: Personal Hygiene 2/5
    Originally posted by Aisha
    if a woman has a condition which causes hairs to grow
    on her face like a beard or moustache, she may remove them as long as her husband does not object.

    Well that's nice. Up until this point I thought these postings were just mad ramblings but now I see the error of my ways.

    I've been such a fool.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Referring to the quote out of Aisha's ramblings (as you so correctly put it) just goes to show how patriarchially subjugated women are in muslim societies.

    Frankly Aisha, if a woman wants to shave, not shave, stand on her head, or run around naked for that matter, she has as much right to decide and do for herself as her 'husband' no doubt would think he had the right to do without HER approval.

    Throw off the shackles of oppression and liberate thyself!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    anyone getting bored of these pointless islam related posts?

    mods plz make a religion board so aisha can spout her stuff there
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Aisha, Islam is a crap religon. Period.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by Teagan
    Aisha, Islam is a crap religon. Period.

    As before, There is no need for that.Period
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    This thread really isn't going anywhere is it?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    clean earth or whatever is available may be used instead

    clean earth? wtf?

    strange strange post
    * The Prophet has _urged_ males to urinate in the sitting position to avoid soiling the body, clothes, ground or toilet.

    when exactly was the toilet invented?
    if a woman has a condition which causes hairs to grow on her face like a beard or moustache, she may remove them as long as her husband does not object.

    yeah, cause i would object if my wife wanted to shave off her beard...
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    *Wakes up* :D

    That was the most boring thread i have read in ages :rolleyes:

    *hopes no muslims are offended by this*
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    lol, you actually read it all??
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Firstly the post was boring.Period.
    However responding to one of the above quotes, no religion is crap, the people who say that are ignorant or afraid of it. Period
This discussion has been closed.