Page 14 - Beauties for Life in the Qur'an

12 BEAUTIES FOR LIFE IN THE QUR'AN

nitions, and thereby displays moral excellence.
In this section, we will provide examples of behavior that
Allah considers praiseworthy. However, rather than analyzing
all of the character traits of believers that are discussed exten-
sively in the Qur'an, we will draw attention to the subtleties of
moral excellence and the divine purposes hidden in these sub-
tleties.

The Concept of Cleanliness
Allah tells believers to clean themselves, for such a condition
suits their spiritual state and nature. Cleanliness, considered a
form of worship by believers, is therefore a source of great relief
and pleasure to them. In many verses, Allah draws attention to
believers' spiritual and physical purity. Our Prophet (saas) also
stressed the importance of being clean: "Cleanliness is half of
faith" (Muslim). Below are some of the details related to being
clean:

Spiritual Purity
The Qur'anic understanding of cleanliness differs considerably
from how it is understood in the society of ignorance. According
to the Qur'an, being clean is a state experienced in one's soul. Such
a cleanliness means that one has been entirely purified of his or
her society's moral values, form of reasoning, and lifestyle that are
in conflict with the Qur'an. In this way, the Qur'an provides spiri-
tual relief to the believers.
This first step of being clean manifests itself in the mind's clarity.
No doubt, this is a very important quality. The spiritual purity
people experience in their souls manifests itself in all aspects of
life, and thus makes such people's moral excellence obvious to
everyone.