The Holy Prophet (SA) has stated...

The Holy Prophet (SA) has stated: "Cleanliness is a part and parcel of Islamic faith" and this, by itself, is the greatest praise for cleanliness. Repeated recommendations have reached us from the leaders of Islam in regard to taking bath.

Al-'Imam Musa ibn Ja'far (AS) states: "Taking a bath every other day makes man healthy and stout." Al-'Imam 'Ali (AS) states: "Bathroom is a very good place since it removes the dirtiness of man." In addition to giving general orders concerning cleanliness and neatness, Islam enjoins in particular for each and every cleanliness; for instance, it orders the people to pare the nails of their hands and feet, to shave arid remove the excess hair on their bodies and heads, to wash their hands before and after meals, to comb their hair, to gargle with water and inhale water, to sweep their homes, and to keep clean the roads, house doors, ground under the trees, etc.

Beside these orders, Islam has specified certain actions which are linked with permanent taharah and neatness such as for reciting salat and having sawm, removing the najasahs (impurities) from the body and the clothes, performing several times everyday the wudu' before reciting the salawat, and performing various ghusls. (taking bath according to the specified Islamic manner).

From the fact that water should reach the surface of the body during wudu' before salat and ghusl and that the body should not be dirty and greasy, it becomes clear that the cleanliness of the body is implicitly essential. The Neatness of Clothes: The Surat al-Muddaththir is one of the suwar which was revealed to the Holy Prophet (SA) in the early stages of his prophetic mission.

In the fourth verse of this surah, Allah orders the people for taharah of their clothes: "And do taharah of your garments (74:4)." The taharah of garments is wajib for salat according to specific Islamic jurisprudential order, but, in general, taharah from uncleanliness and dirtiness is always recommended. Many recommendations have reached us from each of the Fourteen Ma'sumin (AS) in this regard.

The Holy Prophet (SA) states: "Whoever puts on clothes should clean them as well." Amir al-Mu'minin, 'Ali (AS) states: "Washing garments relieves one from grief and anxiety and neat clothes are a means for acceptance of his salat." It has been narrated from al-'Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (AS) and al-'Imam Musa al-Kazim (AS) that possessing ten or twenty shirts and changing them is not extravagance.