Islamic hygienical jurisprudence

Sunni Islam has its own hygienical jurisprudence. It is preferable for a Sunni Muslim to remove the hair directly below the navel and under the arms also as trimming the nails once a week. Leaving hair and nails is permissible after 15 days and disliked after 40 days.[2] The best day for removing needless hair and cutting nails is Friday. It is permissible to use shaving cream to remove needless hair. Needless hair and nails should be buried to prevent illnesses from spreading. Cutting eyebrows is permissible if they are too long. Sunni women should put their nails and hair removed from the head, below the navel, and under the arms in a place where no non-permissible men can see it.[3]

Personal grooming is also a matter of focus in Islam, and comprises all the ritual purity practices known as fitra.[4] Allowing a beard to grow while trimming the moustache is emphasized with it being seen as mandatory by all respected Sunni scholars from the four major Sunni schools of jurisprudence.[5]

Islamic dietary laws provide a set of rules as to what Muslims eat in their diet. These rules specify the food that is halāl, meaning lawful. They are found in the Quran, usually detailing what is unlawful, or harām.[6]

Removal of pubic hair and armpit hair is prescribed by the sunnah,[4][7] and is listed among the ritual purity practices known as fitra.[4][7]

Urine is forbidden to be on a Muslim during prayer times, as it is dirty. The foreskin is a possible spot where urine can accumulate. Circumcision is used to prevent this.[8][9]

The Islamic faith has particular rules regarding personal hygiene when going to the toilet. This code is known as Qaḍāʾ al-Ḥājah (قضاء الحاجة).[10][11]

Issues of laterality, such as whether one uses the left or right hand and the foot used to step into or out of toilet areas, are derived from hadith sources.[12] The only issue which the Qur'an mentions is the one of washing one's hands especially after using the toilet which is mentioned in Quran 5:6.

Examples of these rules include, but are not limited to:

• It is strongly discouraged to relieve oneself into flowing water.
• It is preferable to step into the bathroom with the left foot and step outside the bathroom with the right foot.
• One should remain silent whilst on the toilet. Talking, answering greetings or greeting others is disliked.[10]
• One should not face nor turn one's back on Qibla (the direction Muslims face to pray) whilst relieving oneself.[10]
• When leaving the toilet one should say , "O Allah! Bestow your forgiveness upon me."[10]
• Use of toilet paper is acceptable, but washing with water is still needed for purity and to minimize germs present in feces from touching the skin.[13]

Sexual hygiene in Islam is a prominent topic in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) due to its everyday nature. Ibn Abidin, a 13th century Hanafi Islamic scholar explains:[14]

When there is discharge of thick, cloudy white fluid (wady) (that exits before or after urinating) or unlustful discharge of thin, sticky, white fluid (madhy) caused by play or kissing, it requires washing the private parts and wudu.

Regarding things that necessitates ghusl:

1. sperm or female ejaculate that leaves its place of origin with desire [f: whether actual or effective], even if it exits the body without desire, even if without sexual intercourse;
2. the head of the penis entering either private part of a living human being who is fit for sexual intercourse, even without any release of sexual fluids…”[15]

After partaking in sexual activity where penetration or ejaculation occurs, both men and women are required to complete a full-body ritual ablution known as ghusl in order to re-establish ritual purity before prayer.[16] Ghusl requires clean, odorless water that has not been used for a previous ritual and begins with the declaration of the intention of purity and worship.[17] A Muslim performing complete ablution then washes every part of his or her body.[17]

• Al-Baqara 255
• Etiquette
• Medicine in medieval Islam
• Hygiene in Christianity

• QaraḍāwĪ, Yūsuf, and Waseem Yaqub. Islamic Concept of Hygiene as Seen by the Sunnah. Cairo, Egypt: El-Falah Foundation, 1997. ISBN 977-5813-26-3.

• Laws of Islam concerning ritual purity and cleanliness