A clean environment is a blessing. A dirty, trash-filled, or otherwise untidy environment is more than just an eyesore. It can cause people who have to function in such an environment to experience mental illnesses, such as depression. It can decrease our productivity and creativity. If the environment is dirty, it can lead to diseases like asthma or cause pest infestation. We function better and tend to be healthier when things are tidy.
The people who clean our environments, therefore, are a blessing to our community. In Islam, one of the manifestations of faith is to remove something harmful from the road. This simple act of clearing the path demonstrates that we know Allah, The Watcher, sees us and the angels record us as being people who care about the welfare of others. We have an opportunity to increase our faith by merely making things better for the people who follow behind us by cleaning.
Keeping the Masjid Clean
Anas narrated:
“The Prophet saw some sputum in the qiblah of the mosque, and he got so angry that his face turned red. Then an Ansar woman of Madina came, scratched it off, and put some perfume in its place. The Prophet observed, ‘What a good deed this is!’”
(Al-Nasaa’i #728; Ibn Maajah #762)
His concern for the cleanliness of the masjid did not stop there, however. Despite his own noble status, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was not above cleaning. Aisha observed:
“He saw some sputum on the mosque wall and scratched it off.”
(Sahih Bukhari #407; Sahih Muslim, #549)
During the early days of Madina, the caretaker of the Prophet’s masjid, Umm Mihjan (also recorded as Umm Mahjan) was an African woman. She was a humble worshiper from among the women of the Ansar who did not have abundant wealth or high status. She was physically weak, yet she wanted to contribute to the cause of Islam. Voluntarily, she began ensuring the masjid was kept clean by sweeping its floors.
Umm Mihjan regularly attended and maintained the masjid. After some time had passed, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did not see her and inquired about her whereabouts. The companions informed him that she had died and they had buried her without informing him. After they were finished updating him, he asked the companions:
“‘Why didn’t you tell me about her death? Show me her grave.’ He then went to her grave and prayed for her.”
(Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The Prophet’s performance of the janaazah (funeral) prayer for Umm Mihjan shows that a person’s status in Islam does not depend on wealth, lineage, or position. The true determiner of status is piety. Umm Mihjan was known in her community as the woman who cleaned the masjid, which was not considered a high social position. Yet when she died, she was honored to have the last Prophet sent to mankind pray for her. The humble, consistent deed of cleaning resulted in an affirmation of her piety.
Every year, the Kaaba is cleaned. For over 1400 years, the Shaiba family, who are descendants of Prophet’s Muhammad’s companion Abu Talha, have been the holders of the key to the Kaaba. They have the responsibility of opening the door for visitors and overseeing the cleaning of the Kaaba, in which they also take part.
In modern times, cleaning the well-known, historic masjids like the Kaaba and the Prophet’s Masjid are prestigious tasks. Dignitaries are often chosen to take part in the cleaning of the Kaaba. In 2022, Prince Mohammed ibn Salman of Saudi Arabia cleaned the Kaaba on behalf of his father. News accounts reported that before cleaning the building, he made tawaf, or circumambulated the Kaaba. He then used a combination of rosewater, water from the well of ZamZam, and ‘oud scent to cleanse the structure.
Cleaning as a Family Task
There is much in our Islamic history to suggest that cleaning should be a family affair. Aisha, was asked:
“‘What did the Prophet use to do in his house?’ She replied, ‘He used to keep himself busy serving his family (كَانَ يَكُونُ فِي مِهْنَةِ أَهْلِهِ), and when it was the time for prayer he would go for it.’” (Sahih Bukhari)
In this hadith, the Arabic word mihnah is used to describe the Prophet’s behavior at home and has been translated as “busy serving.” It also carries the connotation of “work,” “job,” or “profession.” This implies that when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was home, he was so busy working and serving that it was like a full-time job. He did what people do to care for a household, like cleaning, fixing things, and other everyday tasks.
While there are some differences of opinion as to whose responsibility it is to clean the home, Muslims should remember the blessings of cleanliness and in helping one another. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, reminded us of this virtue when he said:
“Allah is engaged in the assistance of his servant so long as he is engaged in the assistance of his brother.”
(Muslim)
If we want to teach young people to value cleanliness and hygiene, we have to not only encourage them, but we have to also model those behaviors for them.
Candice “Sister Islaah” Abd’al-Rahim reverted to Islam in 1976, and considers herself a student of knowledge. She has deep education credentials which include an M.A. in Teaching, a Certificate of Advanced Studies (Post-Masters) in Administration and Supervision, a B.S. in English, and experiences as a principal (in fact the first hijab public school principal in Maryland!), curriculum and staff developer, mentor, and classroom teacher of grades pre-K through 12. She is a former adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University’s Graduate School of Education and is a doctoral candidate in Islamic Sciences at the International Online University. Islaah’s contributions to the field have earned her honors in the Who’s Who of Distinguished JHU Alumni. She is a wife, daughter, mother, and grandmother and is an active member of several Muslim communities in the Baltimore area
Add new comment