The care of Islam for health and cleanliness

Mohammed Ibrahim Alhamd Introduction to the book "Islam's Care for Health and Cleanliness" by Dr. Mohammed bin Ibrahim Alhamd This is a brief introduction to the book "Islam's Care for Health and Cleanliness" by the author Dr. Mohammed bin Ibrahim Alhamd, published by Dar Ibn Al-Jawzi in Dammam, in its first edition in 1436 AH. It consists of 58 pages: In his preface, he started from Islam's comprehensiveness and its encompassing of the general benefits of humans, including the preservation of health and the care of purity. Based on these two topics, the book is divided into two parts: care for health and care for purity. As for health, Islam has guided in its two sources (Quran and Sunnah) to care for it; including moderation in eating, legislating cleanliness and purification, and forbidding impurities such as alcohol, pork, and immoral acts. Caring for health is one of the goals of Islam, as shown in many acts of worship like fasting and prayer. Islam also encourages treatment and learning about it, explicitly referring to medical surgery, approving some remedies, and caring for healthy nutrition. In the second part of the book, he moved to discuss cleanliness, clarifying that detailing it in Islam cannot be fully covered in a single volume due to its interconnected chapters in fiqh and etiquette books and the branching of its branches. He limited his book to explaining the traits of fitrah (natural disposition) and purity and their wisdoms. He quoted the authentic hadith: "Ten from the fitrah: trimming the moustache, letting the beard grow, using the siwak, inhaling water, trimming the nails, washing the knuckles, plucking the armpit hair, shaving the pubic hair, and reducing water," then he detailed each of these and explained how they align with cleanliness and health. The author pointed out that some people might be surprised by Islam's attention to these details; and there is no wonder, as it is the perfect religion, comprehensive and suitable for all times and places, complete in its methodology, legislation, and rulings. Wudu, with its washing of limbs, is considered one of the highest systems of personal cleanliness because it kills millions of microbes and germs, purifies from dirt and sweat, and strengthens circulation. Ghusl (full-body purification) and its benefits are well known to humanity, but Islam has legislated regulations for it that are more organized than any other system; its laws are extremely precise and careful, including obligatory washes for the major state of impurity (janabah) and for menstruation, as well as recommended washes like those for Friday and Eid. Just as Islam cares for body cleanliness, it also cares for general cleanliness of clothing, housing, food, and roads. Removing harm from them is considered charity, and it forbade urinating in water or stagnant places. Despite its small size, the book takes the reader on a tour of the features of Islamic care for health and cleanliness in its rulings and laws. May Allah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and companions.