ISH 100

Topic 2:
INTRODUCTION TO SANITATION & HYGIENE IN ISLAM

Nurul Atikah Poniran

Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies (ACIS)
In Islam, the concept of health as demonstrated in the Quran and
Sunnah is that: Mankind should mentally, physically and
spiritually sound.

• Health is part and parcel of worship and subservience

to Allah. A weak person may not perform his duties towards
Allah, his family and community as ONLY the strong health
one can do.
• Many of the traditions of Prophet Muhammad make it clear
that preserving the purity of water is very important.
• He said, “no one who wakes from sleep must put his hand
into any utensil until he has washed it three times, as he
does not know what his hand has touched”, (Sahih Muslim)

• and he warned against leaving food and water uncovered

overnight. Prophet Muhammad instructed his followers to tie
up the mouths of their water skins and to cover their food
containers. (Ibn Majah)
 Introduction to Sanitation and
Hygiene in Islam
• Introduction:
- Hygiene and cleanliness are strongly emphasized
in Islam and it includes every aspect of personal
hygiene, dress, equipment and premise where food
is processed or prepared. In fact the basis of Halal
itself is hygiene and health (Halal and Toyyiba )
 “Hygiene” is defined as a set of practice performed
for the preservation of health.
 -A cumulative group of practices that is perceived by
groups of people to be a way towards healthy living
or good health.
 Cleanliness is an important part of Islam, including
Qur'anic verses that teach how to achieve ritual
cleanliness.
 Eg: Keeping oral hygiene through cleaning the teeth
with the use of a form of toothbrush called miswak is
considered sunnah, the way of Prophet Muhammad
• Islamic hygienical jurisprudence includes a number of
regulations involving cleanliness during salat (obligatory
prayer) through Wudu and Ghusl, as well as dietary laws and
toilet etiquette for Muslims.
• The fiqh is based on admonitions in the Qur'an for Muslims to
be ritually clean whenever possible, as well as in hadith
(words, actions, or habits of the Islamic prophet Muhammad).
 Cont..
• Hygiene is often associated with the human
body. We use the word “hygiene” for our
body by brushing our teeth, taking a bath,
and so on and so forth. Hand washing is also
part of hygiene and is considered as the
universal precaution in preventing the
transmission of microorganisms.
 Cont…Personal Hygiene
• One of the most effective ways we have to protect ourselves and
others from illness is good personal hygiene. This means
washing your hands, especially, but also your body. It means
being careful not to cough or sneeze on others, cleaning things
that you touch if you are unwell, putting items such as tissues
(that may have germs) into a bin, and using protection (like
gloves or condoms) when you might be at risk of catching an
infection.

Personal hygiene, such as bathing, is very much dependent on the

culture in which you live. In some cultures, it is expected that
you will wash your body at least every day and use deodorants to
stop body smells. Other cultures have different expectations.
 Body odour
 Body smells are caused by a number of factors working in combination,
including:Chemicals in sweat, including pheromones, which are made by
the body and sexually attract (or repel) other people.
 Wastes excreted through the skin, such as metabolised alcohol.
 The actions of bacteria that live on the skin and feed on dead skin cells and
sweat.
 Unwashed clothes, such as underwear and socks.

 Hand washing
 Most infections, especially colds and gastroenteritis, are caught when we
put our unwashed hands, which have germs on them, to our mouth. Some
infections are caught when other people’s dirty hands touch the food we eat.
Hands and wrists should be washed with clean soap and water, using a brush
if your fingernails are dirty. Dry your hands with something clean, such as
paper towels or hot air dryers. You should always wash your hands:After
using the toilet
 Before making or eating food
 After handling dogs or other animals
 If you have been around someone who is coughing or has a cold.
Definition of sanitation
“Sanitation,” is defined as the
preventing of disease by means of
removing or eliminating the
environmental factors.
- A way in which humans promote
healthy living and good health by
preventing human contact with wastes
and other forms of microorganisms that
cause disease.
 Cont…
“Sanitation,” on the other hand, free
from:

OTHER HUMAN
FORMS WASTE
OF
WASTE

ENVIRONMENTAL
WASTE
 Introduction to Sanitation and
Hygiene in Islam
• There are different types of sanitation such as

Basic sanitation which is

the management of human feces

On-site sanitation which is the way

humans dispose and treat other forms
of waste

Food sanitation which is the proper

handling of food
 Introduction to Sanitation and
Hygiene in Islam
• There are different types of sanitation such as

Environmental sanitation encompasses the control of environmental factors that are connected to
disease transmission. Subsets of this category are solid waste management, water and wastewater
treatment, industrial waste treatment and noise and pollution control.

The Environmental sanitation process involves disposing of waste properly, so it does not
threaten the environment or public health.
There are four types of sanitation methods: filtration, landfills, recycling and ecological.
Practicing proper hand washing and surface cleaning techniques are all part of
best sanitation practices

Ecological sanitation which tries to copy how nature works through the recycling of human
and animal waste into a more useful form of material.
an age-old “technology” that protects human and ecosystem health while preventing water
pollution, conserving energy, and capturing nutrients
 Introduction to Sanitation and
Hygiene in Islam
• Legal evidences according to alQuran and As Sunnah
 Introduction to Sanitation and
Hygiene in Islam
• Legal evidences according to alQuran and As Sunnah
 Islamic toilet etiquette
• The Islamic faith has particular rules regarding personal hygiene when going to the
toilet. This code is known as Qadaahul Haajah.
• Issues of laterality, such as whether one uses the left or right hand and the foot used to
step into or out of toilet areas, are derived from hadith sources. The only issue which
the Qur'an mentions is the one of washing one's hands especially after using the toilet
which is mentioned in verse 5:6.

• Examples of these rules include, but are not limited to:

 It is strongly forbidden to make the toilet close to the flowing waters, or to be by
flowing water whilst relieving yourself.
 It is preferable to step into the bathroom area with the left leg and step outside the
bathroom area with the right leg.
 One should remain silent whilst on the toilet. Talking, answering greetings or greeting
others is heavily disliked.[7]
 One should not face nor turn one's back on Qibla (the direction Muslims face to pray)
whilst relieving oneself.[7]
 When leaving the toilet one should also say a prayer, "O Allah! Bestow your
forgiveness upon me."[7]
 Use of toilet paper is acceptable, but washing with water is still needed for purity and
to minimize germs present in feces from touching the skin.
 Introduction to Sanitation and
Hygiene in Islam
• Legal evidences according to alQuran and As Sunnah

Abu Malik at-Ash'ari reported:

The Messenger of Allah (‫ )ﷺ‬said: Cleanliness is half of faith and
al-Hamdu Liliah (Praise be to Allah) fills the scale, and Subhan Allah
(Glory be to Allah) and al-Hamdu Liliah (Praise be to Allah) fill
upwhat is between the heavens and the earth, and prayer is a light,
and charity is proof (of one's faith) and endurance is a brightness
and the Holy Qur'an is a proof on your behalf or against you. All
men go out early in the morning and sell themselves, thereby setting
themselves free or destroying themselves.
 What is the importance of sanitation?

 Improved sanitation also helps the environment.

 Clean drinking water and good sanitation would not prevent
infections without practicing good hygiene.
 A simple habit of washing hands goes a long way towards
preventing diseases.
 The stored water supply may also serve as a source of
infection in the absence of hygiene.
Introduction to Sanitation and
Hygiene in Islam
Importance of sanitation

By ensuring that our body is clean and well presented,

we are more assured of projecting a positive body
image that reflects our personalities.
and hygiene

good hygiene practices will help to keep you healthy,

give you confidence and be pleasant for those around
you

Poor hygiene can lead to poor health. If you have cut

yourself, the wound should be cleaned and dressed
suitably, this can help reduced the risk of infection and
pain.
Answer all question