Female Hygiene

Introduction
Introduction
I begin with Praising Allah, Lord of the Worlds and sending Peace and Salutations to
I begin with Praising Allāh, Lord of the Worlds and sending Peace and Salutations to our
beloved our Prophet beloved Muhammad Prophet Muhammad . .
Cleanliness Cleanliness is a very is a important very important aspect aspect in Islam. in Islam. Our Our Prophet Prophet Muhammad mentions
the following
mentions
Hadith
the following
narrated
hadith
by Abi
narrated
Malik Al-ash’ari
by Abi Malik
Al-ash’ari
عَنْ‏ أَِبي مَال ي كٍ‏ اْلْ‏ ‏َشْعَريي قَالَ‏
قَالَ‏ ‏َُس رول اَّلله ي صَلهى اَّلله ي عَلَيْه وَسَلهمَ‏ الُّْه روُ‏ شَْر اْلْيميَاني 1
‘Cleanliness is half of Imaan’.
‘Cleanliness is half of Imaan’.
Great emphasis Great emphasis been has placed been placed on on cleanliness and and it is it is mentioned numerous times in both
the Quran in both and the Quran Hadith and to the show Hadith its paramount to show its paramount importance importance in Islam. in Islam.
The reason The reason why it why is so it important is so important is that is that it is it a is a pre-requisite, a a condition for prayer. Before
a person Before can engage a person in can certain engage types in certain of prayer types like of prayer Salaat, like Tawaaf Salaat, Tawaaf or reading or reading the Quran, a
person must the Quran, be in a person state of must ritual be purity. in a state Being of Purity. in a state Being of in physical a state of purity physical also purity safeguards
people from also safeguards many illnesses people and from diseases. many illnesses and diseases.
Some of Some the reasons of the reasons for compiling for compiling this booklet this booklet were was that that we we found found many people had queries
about cleanliness queries about both cleanliness young and both old. young Whether and old. this Whether is related this to is specific related to situations specific in the
workplace situations or schools. in the workplace We also or at found schools. that We there also was found a genuine that there knowledge was a genuine gap where
many adults knowledge in our gap community where many were adults not in familiar our community with the were basic not concepts familiar with of hygienic the basic requirements
in concepts Islam, of such hygienic as how requirements to perform in Islam, Ghusl such and as what how hair to perform needs Ghusl to be and removed what on a
regular basis hair needs etc. to be removed on a regular basis etc.
There are There many are resources many resources available, available, especially especially for females for females which which explain subjects such as
menstruation, such as cleanliness Menstruation, and cleanliness purity in and Islam purity in great in Islam detail, in great but detail, sometimes but sometimes it is difficult to
translate it this difficult information to translate into this real information life situations. into real We life have situations. prepared We this have booklet\workshop
prepared
with this this in booklet\workshop mind and Insha’Allāh with this it in will mind address and Insha’Allah some of it these will address specific some issues of these related to
cleanliness, specific which issues affect related females to cleanliness, different which environments. affect females. We Whether have summarized this is in the the main
Masail from home, the in schools great work in of the Fiqh Workplace. – Hidaayah We have on summarized the subjects the of main menstruation Masail from (Haydh),
postnatal the bleeding great work (Nifaas) of Fiqh and – Hidaayah bleeding on due the to subjects illness (Istihaadha).
of menstruation (Haydh), postnatal
bleeding (Nifaas)) and bleeding due to illness (Istihaadha).
Another similar booklet has already been prepared for males but the challenges faced by
females can be different and more complex in many situations, hence it was decided that a
separate booklet would be compiled.
We have also placed great emphasis on prepubescent children – children who are due to
become Baaligh (mature) and young teenagers. This is a time when their bodies are going
through a lot of physical changes and many things happen which can be embarrassing and
even frightening in some cases. They face certain scenarios where they are unsure what to
do. This then results in a lot of them staying ritually impure without actually knowing it.
The booklet can also be used by females who are new to Islam and would like a quick
summarized view of the hygienic requirements. Many times they are overcome by the sheer
amount of information available from different sources but Insha’Allāh this booklet will cover
off the important points.
A quick overview of the subjects covered in this booklet is as follows:
• The signs of a female coming to age in Islam
• How does a person become ritually pure from uncleanliness?
• What are the requirements in Islam with regards to personal hygiene, i.e. hair
removal, cutting nails etc.?
• Address issues which young teenagers face during puberty
• Address issues for people who wish to pray in schools or the workplace
• Answer common questions relating to female hygiene on Haydh (menstruation),
Nifaas (postnatal bleeding) and Istihaadha (bleeding due to illness)
It is recommended that both children and parents read this booklet together. There are still
subjects today, which are considered taboo. Many parents still feel embarrassed talking
about certain subjects with their children. There is an expectation that the child has acquired
this knowledge during his\her time at Madrasah, but in reality it is the responsibility of the
parent to ensure that their child knows all the relevant Masail (rulings) before he\she comes
of age. The child must be comfortable enough to be able to ask their parents any questions
they may have and the parent must be comfortable enough to answer them without being
embarrassed and more importantly know the correct answers themselves.
Finally, I would like to thank all the people who have helped and contributed to the compilation
of this booklet. May Allāh accept all our efforts, Ameen.
Ebrahim Noor (25th Rabi Al-Thaani 1437)
1
Sahih Muslim 328
Female Hygiene 4
1
04 • Islamic Academy of Coventry Sahih Muslim 328
Female Hygiene • 05