Guidelines To Intimacy In Islam Episode 28 PERSONAL HYGIENE

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Guidelines To Intimacy In Islam

Episode 28

PERSONAL HYGIENE

In terms of personal hygiene, the husband should keep the following points in mind:

a) Make Istinjaa. After relieving himself, he should clean his genital area properly 

with water (Istinja). Rasulullaah صلى الله عليه وسلم included istinja amongst the ten matters of upright natural disposition (fitra), as mentioned earlier.

Sayyida 'Ā'ishah (R.A.) addressing Muslim women, said:

"Tell your husbands to wash their private parts with water, for I am too shy to tell them so. Rasulullaah صلى الله عليه وسلم used to do that." (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 19)

The hands should be washed thoroughly after one relieves oneself, preferably using soap until all traces of impurity (najaasa) are removed. After urinating, a man is required to ensure that drops of urine are completely removed from his urine passage.

b) The husband should take special care that he does not have bad body odour.

In order to remove bad body odour, the husband should have regular baths, 

especially when intending to have sexual relations with his wife.

Applying perfume ('itr) is a Sunnah of Rasulullaah صلى الله عليه وسلم and it should not be neglected. There are many natural scents that can be used, such as Musk, Ambar 

and Oud. Rasulullaah صلى الله عليه وسلم is reported to have said, "Musk is the most pleasant of scents." (Sahih Muslim 2252) One may also use mainstream deodorants and body 

sprays, provided they are Halaal.

c) The husband should take special care that he does not have a foul smelling mouth. He should brush his mouth and teeth thoroughly. Mouth rinsing is one of the ten matters of natural disposition (fitra).The mouth should be washed in order to remove all traces of food that stick to the teeth and damage them. A mouthwash may be used provided it contains no Haraam ingredients. Using the siwak was also mentioned as one of the ten 

matters of fitra.

Sayyiduna  Hudhayfa relates:

"Whenever Rasulullaah صلى الله عليه وسلم got up [for Salaah] at night, he would clean his mouth 

rigourously with the siwaak." (Sahih Muslim 255)

Ensuring that the mouth is clean and fresh is extremely important when the couple intend on having sexual relations. Surely, it is wrong for the husband to kiss his wife passionately without having cleansed his mouth and brushed his teeth properly. Smokers and anyone who habitually consumes distasteful things should take extra precautions, as it can kill the passion and desire of the spouse.

d) The husband should also pay attention to his external appearance by dressing 

neatly and wearing clean and ironed clothes, for Allaah Ta’aala is beautiful and 

likes beauty. He should change his clothes regularly and keep them neat and tidy. 

Some husbands fail to give due importance to this and engage in sexual relations 

with their wives even in their work-clothes! Not only is this a "turn off'' forthe wife, it also reflects selfishness on the part of the husband.

 

1. Sayyiduna Jābir Ibn 'Abdullāh relates: 

" ... And he (صلى الله عليه وسلم (saw another man wearing dirty clothes and said, "Could this man not find something to wash his garments with?" (Sunan Abu Dawud 4059)

2. Sahl Ibn al-Hanzaliyya was asked, " ... [Tell us] a word which benefits us and does not harm you." He said,"I heard Rasulullaah صلى الله عليه وسلم say:

"You are on your way to meet your brothers, so fix your saddles and tidy your clothing, until you appear distinct among people as a beauty mark [on a beautiful face]. Allaah Ta’aala does not like roughness and rough manners." (Sunan Abu Dawud 4086 and Musnad Ahmad 4:180)

 3. Sayyiduna 'Abdullāh Ibn Mas'ūd relates that Rasulullaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

"He who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of pride shall not enter Paradise." 

A man asked, "A person may like his dress to be nice, and his shoes to be nice. He صلى الله عليه وسلم said, ''Verily, Allaah Ta’aala is beautiful and loves beauty. Pride is to reject the truth [out of arrogance] and have con tempt for the people." (Sahih Muslim 91)

As such, the Sunnah is to remain clean, wearing neat clothing and smelling good. A man should dress neatly, even with friends and relatives. His attire should be clean and elegant, not ugly and unsightly.If he looks good in clean clothes, he will be pleasant to look at and people will enjoy his presence. If he is the opposite, people will look down upon him and not give him any importance. This is even more important where a husband-wife 

relationship is concerned. 

Imam Ibn al-Jawzi states that staying filthy is a cause of the wife disliking her husband. She may feel uncomfortable discussing it with her husband, but it will result in her losing interest in him. In remaining clean and pure, the wife will be drawn towards her husband. Women are but sisters (or the other half) of men, 

and just as a husband may dislike something of her, she too may dislike something of him. (Sayd al-Khaatir P: 141 and 142)

e) Keeping the hair, whether it is the hair of the head or the beard, clean and neat is also important. The husband should oil and comb his hair. If he is unable to maintain the hair of his head properly, he should have it trimmed or shaved. The beard should be combed, kept neat, and oiled if possible.

1. Sayyiduna Abu Huraira relates that Rasulullaah صلى الله عليه وسلمsaid:

"He who has hair should take care of it." (Sunan Abu Dawud 4160)

2. Sayyiduna Jābir Ibn'Abdullāhrelates that

Rasulullaah صلى الله عليه وسلم came to us, and saw a dishevelled man whose hair was disordered. So he said, "Could this man not find something to arrange his hair with?" (Sunan 

Abu Dawud 4059)

3. Rasulullaah صلى الله عليه وسلم would also look after the hair of his head and beard. 

Sayyiduna Anas Ibn Mālik relates that

'Rasulullaah صلى الله عليه وسلم would often oil his hair, comb his beard and frequently use Qinaa’ [a cloth placed on the head to wipe off and absorb oil], so much so that his cloth was similar to the cloth of an oil-seller." (Shamaa'il al-Tirmidhi 33)