English Stories for kids : The cleanliness of believers
homework about what it means to be pure. The teacher
wanted them to gather information on this topic from whatever source
they could find and to read what they had written to the class. Zafar
brought to mind everything he knew about purity, but he could still
not decide how to tell the class about it. Of course, there was a lot
more he didn't know about the subject. Zafar then had a good idea.
Since the teacher had said that they could gather information from
whatever source they wanted, he would ask Uncle Hamid, who lived
in his apartment building. Immediately he picked up his pen and
notebook, got permission from his mother and went to Uncle Hamid's
apartment. Uncle Hamid was very pleased that Zafar had come to
see him about this subject and they began to talk:
"Uncle Hamid," asked Zafar, "everyone should be clean, but some
friends of mine come to school in the morning without even washing
their faces."
Uncle Hamid replied: "Zafar, in the Qur'an, Allah commands believers
to be clean and to keep away from dirt. Those who do not
practice the morality of the Qur'an, as in everything else, do not follow
its teaching on cleanliness either, and they fall into this sorry
state. Believers are physically very clean. Their bodies as well as their
food, clothing and the place where they live are always amazingly
spotless and well-ordered. They try to make every place where they
are resemble the bright cleanness of Paradise as described in the
Qur'an. In the Qur'an, Allah tells believers how they should regard
cleanliness:
… Do not associate anything with Me and purify My
House for those who circle it, and those who stand
and bow and prostrate. (Surat al-Hajj: 26)
You who believe! Eat of the good things We have
provided for you… (Surat
al-Baqara: 172)
Purify your clothes. Shun
all filth. (Surat al-
Muddaththir: 4-5)"
Zafar then enquired: "So,
what do believers have to do
in order to practice the
cleanliness that Allah reveals
in the Qur'an?"
"Allah created water for
people to clean themselves with," said Uncle Hamid: "Water is a
great blessing and is a reason for us to be thankful to Allah. Among
the most important things we do are washing our hands and face
when we get up in the morning and taking a shower to begin the
day totally clean. The Qur'an tells us that Allah sent water down from
heaven for human beings to clean themselves with: '[He] sent you
down water from heaven to purify you and remove the taint of Satan
from you, and to fortify your hearts and make your feet firm.' (Surat
al-Anfal: 11)"
"In this verse," Uncle Hamid went on: "Allah warns human beings
that Satan makes dirtiness look pleasant and tries to prevent them
from cleaning themselves. Satan tries to take people away from the
way of Allah and continually whispers suggestions into their minds
about cleanliness. For example, he tries to make us put off brushing
our teeth after a meal or taking regular showers by making it seem
like too much trouble, so that later on we completely forget about it.
Even if such occasional slips do not bring serious consequences, over
time they may be damaging to a person's health and appearance.
And this is exactly what Satan wants. He resents human beings and
tries to drag them to Hell, and he really wants to see them living in
filth, their appearance ruined by damaged skin and rotten teeth. But
a person who practices the morality of the Qur'an is alert to these
suggestions and careful not to be taken in by them. He does not
show the slightest carelessness when it comes to cleanliness. He is
aware of the importance of cleanliness under all conditions."
Zafar then asked: "Some people, even if they are clean and presentable,
don't look the same all the time. For example, they may be
clean and presentable on holidays and certain other days, but the
rest of the time they look scruffy. How do they regard cleanliness?"
Uncle Hamid responded by saying: "Some people, although they
don't practice the morality of the Qur'an, are very careful about
cleanliness. But they are very different in their aims and intentions
from those who believe in Allah. The aim of those people is not to be
criticized by others and to look smart. Because they do not think of
pleasing Allah when they clean themselves, they do not pay attention
to their cleanliness or their appearance when they are by themselves
or with people they care nothing about. But a believer attaches
importance to cleanliness not to please other people but to please
Allah and to obey His command. Even if he doesn't see anyone for
days, he is always clean and well-groomed."
"Thanks for that information, Uncle Hamid," said Zafar: "I will
think about what you have said and write my homework right away,
and I will be more careful about my own cleanliness from now on."
Zafar went right home and began to write. He was really eager
to read what he had written to his friends at school. The joy and eagerness
he felt about telling his friends about the morality of the
Qur'an is one of the signs of a believer that should be seen in every
person of faith.
