Cleanliness 🧼

Invention/Contribution:

• Islam emphasized cleanliness and hygiene over 1,400 years ago, long before it became a public health principle in Europe.

• Daily practices like wudu (ablution) before prayer and ghusl (ritual bathing) promoted hygiene as part of faith.

• Muslim cities had public baths (hammams), waste disposal systems, and even regulations on clean water supply.

• Scholars wrote medical texts highlighting the link between hygiene and disease prevention.

• Islam encourages keeping homes, streets, and public spaces clean.

Why it matters:

• Helped reduce illness and spread of disease in Muslim societies.

• Influenced European practices through contact in Spain, Sicily, and the Crusades.

• Shows how Islam integrated spiritual purity with physical cleanliness.

• Cleanliness is directly tired with worship

“Cleanliness is half of faith.”

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Hadith, Sahih Muslim)

“Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves.”

(Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:222)