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Islam

Purity and Cleanliness

Islam greatly approves cleanliness. According to the Qur’an: Allah loves those that turn to Him in repentance and purify themselves (2:222).

When man rues his mistakes and returns to the path of truth, this is called an act of repentance. As such, it purifies man’s inner self. Just as by using water we can cleanse the dirt from the body, so by repentance we can purify the soul-the inner-self. That is why Islam lays great stress on both these things.

According to a hadith: “Purity is half of faith.” Similarly the Prophet of Islam once observed: “God is clean and loves cleanliness.” (Ibn Majah) Man is a creature who has been specially granted the quality of sensitivity.


Hilriya mosque at Hill Street, Kalutara. Picture by B. M. Mukthar, Beruwala Special correspondent

That is why man naturally likes cleanliness, and since Islam is a religion of nature, it lays great stress on cleanliness. Man’s body, his clothing and his home, should all be pictures of cleanliness.

It was due to the importance given to cleanliness that the companions of the Prophet used to bathe daily. According to Muwatta Imam Malik, Abdullah ibn Umar spoke of how his father used to take a bath before each prayer. In this way he used to bathe five times a day. The third Caliph, Usman ibn Affan, used to bath daily (Musnad Ahmad).

The cleanliness of body and soul is one of the basic demands of Islam.

Is it out of sheer ignorance or systematic vilification campaign, one cannot decide for sure, but giving the benefit of doubt to all our friends who are not only awfully ignorant about Muslims and Islam but are also vulnerable to disinformation campaigns, we would like to give them a brief idea of the concept and practice of cleanliness in Islam.

The importance of cleanliness in Islam can be gauged from this simple fact that most of the Books of Ahadith (Prophet’s deeds and sayings) and also the Books of Fiqh (Sharia) start with a chapter on Taharah that is cleanliness. (In fact the meaning and spirit behind the concept of Taharah is much beyond the superficiality of the conventional cleanliness).

This particular chapter starts with the classification of water and goes on to describe how water gets impure or polluted, modes and methods of purification of water and host of other topics. This chapter ends with a concluding topic of ‘how Muslims should bathe their dead?’

Muslims go much beyond the superficial and cosmetic concept of ‘Manicure & Pedicure’ imported from the West. They do not believe in the technology which combines toilet papers with odor-masking perfumes. Muslim males are required to get circumcised so that even faint traces of urine are not entrapped in the foreskin of the genitals.

The fruit of such a clean practice is borne out by the results of studies carried out by Prof. Schot of Australia, in the African AIDS belt, where to his surprise he discovered that the occurrence of this fatal disease was least among those who practiced circumcision.

Dr. Advani of Tata Cancer Research Institute, Mumbai, also confirmed that Muslim women constitute the least percentage among the victims of vaginal cancer.

The observation, he said, can only be explained by the fact that their males are circumcised.

Muslims are duty bound to shave off their armpits and pubic hair as a matter of routine practice. The males are also instructed to trim their moustaches in order to keep them clear of oral intakes.

Our beloved Prophet strictly prohibited his followers to consume onion and garlic (indicating thereby any foul smelling consumable including cigarettes) before going to any congregational prayer in mosques, lest they offend fellow companions praying next to them.

Brushing of teeth ( once in a day ) is very recent development of near past.

Muslims are known to use Miswak, the herbal brush for the past 1400 years, five times a day prior to each ablution, as recommended by their Prophet. Cleanliness is inbuilt in

Islamic Sharia, as prerequisite to every form and mode of worship. Be it the recital of the holy Qur’an, offering of the five daily prayers, fasting or the Hajj.

In fact a Muslim cannot offer his obligatory prayers with unclean body, clothes or using dirty premises. The Holy Qur’an instructs the faithful to “keep their clothes clean” (74:4). They are also made to imbibe this very message that “Allah loves those who are clean.” (2:222).

In fact to what length and breadth, Islam goes on to take care of its followers in respect of personal hygiene, can be exemplified by the aforementioned verse whereby Muslims are categorically prohibited to have sex with their mates during menses.

Well at this juncture someone may start feeling that Islam prescribes much more stringent code of cleanliness than they ever thought. They are not wrong. But they are not fully correct too!

The emphasis in Islam is more on the cleanliness of the inner-self, that is heart, mind and soul.

The external cleaning process and rituals in reality are the preparatory ground work to achieve the more important task and that is cleanliness of the inner-self, which is the ultimate goal of the religion.

Let Allah give us an opportunity to learn more on cleanliness.


Death Anniversary celebrations of Moulavi Alhaj S. M.A.M. Muzammil

The 16th Death Anniversary celebrations of former Education officer and Kaleefathushshadhuli late Moulavi S. M. A. M. Muzammil was held on February 04, 2009 at his birth place Thotawatte, Panadura.


Alhaj S. M.A.M. Muzammil

The late Muzammil Alim was born on February 18, 1926 to his illustrious parents late Segu Madaar Alim and late Hajanee Azeez Umma of the same village.

He received his primary education at Thotawatte, Al-Fahriya Muslim Vidyalaya where he began to show his latent talents at the very early stage. He then joined Maharagama Gaffooriya Arabic College where he pursued religious education from 1939 to 1947 and passed out as a ‘Moulavi’ with full colours.

This Arabic College management enroled him as a teacher therefrom 1947 to 1949. He later became a teacher at the prestigious Colombo Zahira College where he served in that post till 1955.

He entered the Peradeniya University the same year and graduated in 1958.

Once again he became a teacher at Dhargatown Zahira and Colombo Zahira College during 1959-60 period. For a short period he served as a labour officer at the Labour Ministry and switched back to teaching as the Acting principal of Thotawatte Al-Fahriya Muslim Vidyalaya between 1961 and 1965.

Second time he entered the Peradeniya University in 1965 to pursue his post graduate diploma which he completed in 1966.

He became the vice principal of Arafa Maha Vidyalaya, Weligama in 1966 which post he held until 1968 and became the principal there and served in that post until 1970. Then from December 1970, he was the principal at Jeelan Muslim Vidyalaya, Henamulla, Panadura.

In large number of government appointed committees, Moulavi Muzammil had served as a member, advisor and also as a counsel for well over a decade.

Moulavi Muzammil was proficient in four languages namely Tamil, Sinhala, English and Arabic which stood him in good stead in his long years of service in the government sector.

His erudite knowledge in theology and secular education made him the automatic choice for the Kaleefathushshadhuli Post in the Shadhuliya Order which post he held until his demise. He had also authored several books and was the co-winner of an All Island Religious Essay contest conducted by the Moors Islamic Cultural Home, Colombo in 1992.

He was the live-wire behind the educational, religious and social development of his native village “Thotawatte’ for well over 30 years. He was also the life member and President of the Panadura Islamic Educational, Social and Economic Development society.

Al-Haj Muzammil Alam, after having served the country and the community for well over 30 years in various capacities passed away peacefully after a brief illness on February 04, 1993.

Innalillahi Wa-innailaihi-Raajioon.


Man and God

Although Islam inspires man with the fire of conquest, it Warns him at the same time:

“Oh man, let not your feeling of increasing strength lead to vanity, the other extremity of the middle way! Once again consider yourself how, despite your might , you are like a bubble riding the seas.

It will not be long before you lose your youth and freshness, your will to work and power to think. Despite your search for strength through art and science, from time to time you still suffer illness and weakness or old age and uselessness, so that you cannot drive away a mite from yourself”.

Do you know to what this change points?

It points to the fact that though We spoke of your high station, you are part of the universe in which nothing owes its life to itself nor is anything in it everlasting, and everything in it a ray of God the only lasting thing, independent of all else.

Hence, never banish from your soul the thought of Him, on Whom you depend for your life and your very existence. Make your bond with Him secure and attempt to get closer to Him.”


Zakath Committee sponsors agriculture program

In implementing ‘The Mahinda Chinthana’ in promoting Agriculture, the Department of Agriculture launched a campaign urging people to grow more crops and make the country fertile.

The main features of this campaign dealt with two aspects of agricultural activities.

1. Home Gardens

2. Self-employments

As a part of this constructive campaign a practical Training Programme was held at Y. M. M. A. Hall in Madawala under the sponsorship of Jamiul Khairath Jummah Masjidh Najnathul Zakath Committee.

There was a special practical training course on preparation of jam, cordials for ladies. It was attended by more than 100 participants. The Zakath Committee unanimously decided to reserve the required fund for the training of ladies who deserve Zakath.

Mohamed Raju, Rammika Jayasinghe, Priya Rathnayake and Nimal Karunatilake as Agricultural Instructor of Department of Agriculture delivered lectures on the relevant subjects of home gardens, self-employment and preparation of jam cordials.

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