Page 56 - Those Who Exhaust All Their Pleasures In This Life

54 THOSE WHO EXHAUST ALL THEIR PLEASURES IN THIS LIFE

clothes they wore all day. It is normal for them to eat a
greasy sandwich, not wash their hands, and then rub the
grease over their hair and their clothing. If muddy water
splashes on their clothes, they just wipe it off and contin-
ue on their way. They believe that the dirtier, more stained,
and worn out their leather jacket is, the more “cool” it is.
Their jeans become virtual breeding grounds for germs and
bacteria. This same tendency is seen among those who
equate intellectualism with modernism. They think that
their shabby lifestyle and manner of dress gives them an
air of being different and superior. You cannot go near
them because their bodies and clothing exude cigarette
smoke, and you cannot look them in the eye because of
their long, dirty, and messy hair and unkempt beards. In
fact, they are repulsive. They think that if they were clean
and tidy, and if they were having a conversation in a bright,
airy, and pleasant atmosphere, they would lose their aura
of intellectualism and be just like everyone else.
Such an unhealthy lifestyle has both spiritual and phys-
ical effects. Since they live in a dirty environment, they
often get sick; living in an airless, dusty, and filthy place
destroys their lungs and ruins their skin. Sometimes it even
turns yellow. In time, they lose their ability to appreciate
beauty and good looks, their hearts harden and become
unable to take pleasure in fine things, and their spirits
become debased.
For believers, however, cleanliness is both an act of
worship and a blessing that gives them great spiritual
pleasure, contentment, refreshment, comfort, and confi-