Fiqh al-Ṭahārah: The Islamic Hygienical Jurisprudence

• Main Author: Muhsin, Sayyed Mohamed
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English; English; English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: BP140 Islamic law (Fiqh)
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/93493/1/Dr.%20Sayyed%20Mohamed%20Muhsin_Invitation%20Letter%20to%20Seminar%20-%20Cleanliness%20The%20Epitome%20of%20Our%20Faith.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/93493/2/Parallel%20Session.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/93493/3/Slides.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/93493/
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

Is cleanliness (ṭahārah) a cornerstone in Islam? Why does a Muslim need to repeat wuḍū’ multiple times every day? Having a bath, how a man is purified from a seminally defiled state? What is the purpose behind the stringent rulings related to ṭahārah? These are among possible questions to be emerged from anyone who ponders on the extensive rulings of Islamic hygienical jurisprudence (fiqh al-Ṭahārah). After explaining the rulings related to wuḍū’ and tayammum (dry ablution) in the verse al-Mā’idah: 6, Allah says, "God does not want to impose any hardship on you, but wants to make you pure, and to bestow upon you the full measure of His blessings, so that you might have cause to be grateful”. Hints of some answers to the abovementioned questions are found in this verse. Firstly, the rulings of ṭahārah are for upholding purity on individual and social levels. Secondly, it entails the pleasure of Almighty, the ultimate goal of a Muslim in both worlds. Thirdly, it is not a burden but an extension of Allah's mercy on his servants if we think about it more deeply.