Islam Its Belief and Practices - Radical Truth

42 ISLAM ITS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES THE PRESCRIBED DUTIES 43
necessary, five pebbles taken with the
left hand, and then washing the parts
of the body with water. This is based
on the teaching of the Qur'an: "Therein
are men who love to be clean; for
God doth love the clean" (9: 109).
This is explained to mean the use in
lustration both of water and stone.
Mul;1ammad affirmed that Gabriel
taught him how to perform the Istinja
by performing it before him.
(ii) The cleansing of the filth and lice gathered
on the hair.
(iii) Cleaning the dirt cleaving to the ear.
(iv) Removing the mucous matter collecting
in the nose by snuffing up and blowing
out.
(v) The impurities attaching to the teeth and
the tongue to be removed by the use of
miswiik and rinsing, or gargling.
(vi) Filth gathering in the beard, to be removed
by washing and the use of the
comb.
(vii) Dirt at the fingers' joints and at the
fingers' ends and under the nails to be
removed.
(viii) Impurities collecting on the body in consequence
of perspiration to be removed
by the use of bath.
(2) The purification from the impurities which
form themselves on the body.
(i) Shaving off the hair of the head which
must be done occasionally.
(ii) Clipping of the mustachios.
(iii) Shaving off the hair under the armpit,
which must be done at least every
forty days.
(iv) Shaving off the hair of the 'regis pubis',
which is done at least every forty
days.
(v) The trimming of the nails of the hands
and feet.
(vi) The removal of the superfluity of the
navel at the birth of a child.
(vii) The removal of the foreskin by circumcision
(Kl!atna). This should be delayed
until the child has shed its teeth.
when it is said to be less dangerous.
Mul;1ammad said: "Circumcision is Sunna
for males, and an honourable act for
females."
The circumcision is neither commanded,
nor even once alluded to in the Qur'an,
though it is now considered incumbent
on every Muslim. There is also no
authentic account of Mul;1ammad's
having been circumcised.
B. COVERING OF THE BODY.
It is necessary that after the worshipper has purified
himself he cover his body with clean clothes. In
case of a male it is necessary that he cover himself
at least from his navel to his knees. A woman must
cover her whole body except her face and the palms
of her hands and her feet, while a slave girl is allowed
to cover herself from the abdomen to her knees.
If any of these stated parts of the body remains uncovered
in prayer it is nullified.