Page 189 - The Importance of the Ahl Al-Sunnah

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his people’s health and cleanliness. He said that a healthy per-
son is above a person who does not take care of himself and
impairs his health: “A strong believer is better and more lov-
able to Allah than a weak believer.” (Sahih Muslim, Book
033, Number 6441)
In the Qur’an, the following is stated regarding Yahya (as):
And [We gave Yahya] tenderness and purity from Us
– he had taqwa. (Surah Maryam, 13)
The Prophet’s (saas) advice to wash one’s hands before and
after a meal, his fastidiousness regarding ablution, and his tra-
ditions on bodily cleanliness show just how much importance
he attached to one’s personal health and cleanliness. In the
Qur’an, importance is given to the cleanliness of the place
where one is to pray as well as to the one praying. Believers
need to be meticulous about cleanliness, for one cannot pray
with a dirty body or while wearing dirty clothes. The Prophet
(saas) said: “Cleanliness is a part of faith” (Sahih Muslim). For
this reason, cleanliness is just as important as other matters of
faith and creed.
Prophet Muhammad (saas) made several recommendations
regarding wudu’:
1) Using a miswak:
As related by Abu Hurayrah (ra), our beloved Prophet (saas)
said: “If I did not fear that my followers would be put to
much hardship, I would have made it compulsory for them
to use the miswak at every prayer-time.” (Sahih Muslim)
Certain benefits from using miswak:
It makes the teeth shiny, strengthens the gums, secures the
mouth’s health, removes bad breath, strengthens the teeth,
combats plaque, strengthens the stomach, and thus helps pre-

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