Purity and Cleanliness in Islam: Hadiths and Narrations
From Tafsir ad durrul manthur - Imam suyuti (rh)
Purity and Cleanliness in Islam: Hadiths and Narrations – Islam is a complete way of life in which purity and cleanliness are regarded as important aspects of faith. Numerous evidences from the Qur’an and Sunnah establish that a believer’s acts of worship cannot attain perfection without both outward and inward purity.
In particular, the Hadiths and narrations reported by the Companions and Tabi‘in in connection with verses concerning purity provide us with invaluable guidance.
In this article, we have compiled various Hadiths and narrations concerning purity and cleanliness based on the authoritative Tafsir work Al-Durr al-Manthur by Imam Al-Suyuti.
The discussion briefly but evidence-basedly covers the virtues of Taharah, the importance of cleanliness, and its practical application in Islamic law.
Insha’Allah, this discussion will increase the reader’s awareness of faith and help them adopt Sunnah-based practices of purity and cleanliness in daily life.
Hadiths mentioned in the commentary on Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 124, in Tafsir Al-Durr al-Manthur by Imam Al-Suyuti (rahimahullah)
Our translation and publication: Darus Sa‘adat
Fitrah: Natural Practices and Sunnahs
Using Miswak
Imam Ibn Abi Hatim narrates from ‘Ata that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
من فطْرَة إِبْرَاهِيم السِّوَاك
Miswak is from the Fitrah, or practice, of Ibrahim (peace be upon him).
Washing the Joints of the Hands and Feet
Imam Ibn Abi Hatim narrates from Mujahid (rahimahullah). He said:
Dhikr and washing the joints of the hands and feet are from the Fitrah, or practice, of Ibrahim (peace be upon him).
Six Things from the Fitrah
Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah narrates in Al-Musannaf from Mujahid (rahimahullah):
Six things are from the Fitrah of Ibrahim (peace be upon him): trimming the moustache, using Miswak, combing the hair, trimming the nails, performing Istinja, and removing the hair below the navel.
He said: Three are related to the head and three are related to the body.
Five Things from the Fitrah
Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah, Ahmad, Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhi, Al-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah narrate from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say:
الفِطْرَةُ خَمْسٌ، أَوْ خَمْسٌ مِنَ الفِطْرَةِ: الخِتَانُ، وَالِاسْتِحْدَادُ، وَقَصُّ الشَّارِبِ وَتَقْلِيمُ الأَظْفَارِ،وَنَتْفُ الآباط،
Five things are from the Fitrah: circumcision, removing the hair below the navel, trimming the moustache, clipping the nails, and removing the armpit hair.
Removing the Hair Below the Navel
Imam Al-Bukhari and Al-Nasa’i narrate from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
Removing the hair below the navel, clipping the nails, and trimming the moustache are among the Fitrah.
Ten Things from the Fitrah
Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhi, Al-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah narrate from ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said that ten things are from the Fitrah:
1. Trimming the moustache
2. Keeping the beard
3. Using Miswak
4. Cleaning the nose with water
5. Clipping the nails
6. Washing the joints between the fingers
7. Removing the armpit hair
8. Removing the hair below the navel
9. Performing Istinja with water
The narrator Zakariyya said that Mus‘ab forgot the tenth, but he thought it was rinsing the mouth.
Rinsing the Mouth and Cleaning the Nose
Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah, Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Majah narrate from ‘Ammar ibn Yasir (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said that rinsing the mouth, cleaning the nose with water, using Miswak, trimming the moustache, clipping the nails, removing the armpit hair, removing the hair below the navel, washing the spaces between the fingers, performing Istinja, and circumcision are among the Fitrah, or natural practices.
Four Things Included in Purity
Imam Al-Bazzar and Al-Tabarani narrate from Abu Al-Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
الطهارات أَربع قصّ الشَّارِب وَحلق الْعَانَة وتقليم الْأَظْفَار والسواك
Four things are included in purity: trimming the moustache, removing the hair below the navel, clipping the nails, and using Miswak.
Completing Grooming Within Forty Days
Imam Muslim, Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhi, Al-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah narrate from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prescribed a maximum period of forty days for trimming the moustache, clipping the nails, removing the hair below the navel, and removing the armpit hair.
Angels Do Not Come to an Unclean Person
Imam Ahmad and Al-Bayhaqi in Shu‘ab al-Iman narrate from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him):
He asked the Prophet (ﷺ), “Why was Jibril (peace be upon him) delayed in coming to you?”
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Why would he not be delayed when you are around me, yet you neither use Miswak regularly, nor clip your nails, nor trim your moustaches, nor wash the joints between your fingers?”
Trimming the Moustache
Imam Al-Tirmidhi narrates from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), and he graded it Hasan.
He said:
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to trim his moustache and would say that Khalil al-Rahman Ibrahim (peace be upon him) did the same.
The One Who Does Not Trim His Moustache
Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah, Ahmad, Al-Tirmidhi, who graded it Sahih, and Al-Nasa’i narrate from Zayd ibn Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
مَنْ لَمْ يَأْخُذْ مِنْ شَارِبِهِ فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا
“Whoever does not trim his moustache is not one of us.”
Opposing the Practices of the Mushriks
Imam Malik, Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, and Al-Tirmidhi narrate from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that he narrated from the Prophet (ﷺ):
“Oppose the Mushriks: grow the beard and trim the moustache.”
Imam Al-Bazzar narrates from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“Oppose the Magians: trim the moustache and grow the beard.”
Trimming the Moustache Is Part of the Religion
Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah narrates from ‘Ubaydullah ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Ubaydullah:
A Magian man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) with a shaved beard and a long moustache. The Prophet (ﷺ) asked him, “What is this?”
He replied, “This is our religion or practice.”
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“But our religion is to trim the moustache and grow the beard.”
The Prophet (ﷺ) Trimmed a Man’s Moustache
Imam Al-Bazzar narrates from ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw a man whose moustache was long. He said, “Bring me scissors and a Miswak.”
The Prophet (ﷺ) placed the Miswak above the man’s lip and trimmed the excess moustache.
Cleanliness Before Going to Jumu‘ah
Imam Al-Bazzar, Al-Tabarani in Al-Awsat, and Al-Bayhaqi in Shu‘ab al-Iman narrate with a Hasan chain from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would trim his nails and moustache before going to the Jumu‘ah prayer.
Removing the Hair Below the Navel Within Forty Days
Imam Ibn ‘Adi narrates with a weak chain from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Every man should remove the hair below his navel and the armpit hair within forty days when it becomes noticeable. He should not allow his moustache to grow long, and he should clip his nails between one Jumu‘ah and the next.”
The Devil Moves Between the Nail and Flesh
Imam Ibn ‘Asakir narrates with a weak chain from Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Clip your nails, for Satan moves between the nail and the flesh.”
Avoiding Doubtful Matters
Imam Al-Tabarani narrates with a weak chain from Wabisah ibn Ma‘bad:
He said:
I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about everything, even about the dirt found beneath the nails.
He gave me this principle:
دَعْ مَا يَرِيبُكَ إِلَى مَا لَا يَرِيبُكَ
“Leave that which causes you doubt for that which does not cause you doubt.”
Uncleanliness Can Cause Doubt During Prayer
Imam Al-Bazzar narrates from Ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Why should I not have doubts during prayer when some of you keep picking the dirt from beneath your fingers and nails during prayer?”
Imam Al-Bayhaqi in Shu‘ab al-Iman narrates from Qays ibn Hazim, who said:
The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed and doubt arose in his mind. When he was asked about it, he said:
“Why should I not have doubts when some of you keep picking the dirt from beneath your fingers and nails?”
Miswak
Miswak Purifies the Mouth
Imam Ibn Majah and Al-Bayhaqi narrate from Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Use Miswak, for Miswak purifies and cleanses the mouth and is a means of attaining the pleasure of the Almighty Lord.
Whenever Jibril (peace be upon him) came to me, he would advise me to use Miswak, to the extent that I feared it might be made obligatory upon me and my Ummah.
If I had not feared hardship for my Ummah, I would have made it obligatory upon them. I use Miswak so frequently that I fear it may cause injury to my gums.”
Miswak Brings the Pleasure of Allah
Imam Al-Tabarani narrates with a weak chain from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
السِّوَاكُ مَطْهَرَةٌ لِلْفَمِ، مَرْضَاةٌ لِلرَّبِّ، ومَجْلَاةٌ لِلْبَصَرِ
“Miswak purifies the mouth, brings the pleasure of the Lord, and brightens the eyesight.”
The Many Benefits of Miswak
Imam Ibn ‘Adi and Al-Bayhaqi in Shu‘ab al-Iman narrate from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Miswak is necessary for you, because it cleans the mouth, brings the pleasure of the Lord, pleases the angels, increases good deeds, and is a Sunnah. It also improves eyesight, removes the yellowness of the teeth, strengthens the gums, removes phlegm, and makes the mouth fragrant.”
The Importance of Miswak
Imam Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Al-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah narrate from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
لَوْلاَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لَأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِالسِّوَاكِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ وُضُوءٍ
“If I had not feared hardship for my Ummah, I would have commanded them to use Miswak with every Wudu.”
Imam Ahmad narrates with a Hasan chain from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“If I had not feared hardship for my Ummah, I would have commanded them to perform Wudu for every prayer and to use Miswak during Wudu.”
Fear That Revelation Might Be Sent Regarding Miswak
Imam Al-Bazzar, Abu Ya‘la, and Al-Tabarani narrate with a weak chain from ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her):
The Prophet (ﷺ) would constantly emphasize Miswak, to such an extent that we feared that Qur’anic revelation might be sent regarding it, making it obligatory.
Seventy Times Greater Virtue
Imam Ahmad, Harith ibn Abi Usamah, Al-Bazzar, Abu Ya‘la, Ibn Khuzaymah, Al-Daraqutni, Al-Hakim, who graded it Sahih, Abu Nu‘aym in Kitab al-Siwak, and Al-Bayhaqi in Shu‘ab al-Iman narrate from ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
Prayer performed with Miswak has seventy times more virtue than prayer performed without Miswak.
Imam Al-Bazzar and Al-Bayhaqi narrate from ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) with a good chain:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
رَكْعَتَانِ بسواك أفضل من سبعين رَكْعَة بِغَيْر سواك
“Two rak‘ahs with Miswak are better than seventy rak‘ahs without Miswak.”
The Command to Use Miswak
Imam Ahmad and Abu Ya‘la narrate with a good chain from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“I was commanded to use Miswak so frequently that I began to think that Qur’anic revelation or Wahi would be sent regarding it.”
Sleeping After Using Miswak
Imam Ahmad, Abu Ya‘la, and Al-Tabarani narrate with a weak chain from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would not go to sleep without using Miswak, and when he awoke, the first thing he would do was use Miswak.
Jibril (Peace Be Upon Him) Encouraged the Use of Miswak
Imam Al-Tabarani narrates with a Hasan chain from Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her):
She said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Jibril (peace be upon him) would continually instruct me to use Miswak, to the extent that I feared my gums might be damaged.”
A Sunnah of the Messengers
Imam Al-Bazzar, Al-Tirmidhi, and Al-Hakim in Nawadir al-Usul narrate from Qalih ibn ‘Abdullah Al-Khatami:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
خمس مِنْ سُنَنِ المُرْسَلِينَ الحَيَاءُ وَالْحِلْمُ وَالحِجَامَةُ وَالسِّوَاكُ وَالتَّعَطُّرُ
“Five things are among the Sunnahs of the Messengers: modesty, forbearance, cupping, Miswak, and using perfume.”
Not Sleeping Without Using Miswak
Imam Al-Tabarani in Al-Awsat narrates from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him):
He said:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would not sleep without using Miswak, and when he awoke, he would use Miswak first.
Using Miswak Before Going to Prayer
Imam Al-Tabarani narrates with a Hasan chain from Zayd ibn Khalid Al-Juhani:
He said:
When the Prophet (ﷺ) would leave his home to go for prayer, he would use Miswak.
Using Miswak After Waking Up
Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah and Abu Dawud narrate with a weak chain from ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would use Miswak after waking up from sleep, whether during the day or at night, before performing Wudu.
What the Prophet (ﷺ) Did First Upon Entering His Home
Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Al-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah narrate from ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her):
She was asked what the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would do first when entering his home.
She said:
“When the Prophet (ﷺ) entered his home, the first thing he would do was use Miswak.”
The Mouth Is the Gateway to the Qur’an
Imam Ibn Majah narrates from ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him):
إِنَّ أَفْوَاهَكُمْ طُرُقٌ لِلْقُرْآنِ، فَطَيِّبُوهَا بِالسِّوَاكِ
“Your mouths are pathways to the Qur’an, so purify them with Miswak.”
Miswak Improves Eloquence
Imam Ibn Al-Sunni and Abu Nu‘aym in Tibb al-Nabawi narrate from ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
إِن السِّوَاك ليزِيد الرجل فصاحة
“Miswak increases a person’s eloquence.”
A Remedy for Illness
Imam Ibn Al-Sunni narrates from ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him):
He said:
Reciting the Qur’an and using Miswak help relieve phlegm and illnesses caused by it.
The Prophet (ﷺ) Did Not Sleep Until He Had Used Miswak
Imam Abu Nu‘aym in Ma‘rifat al-Sahabah narrates from Samuwayah (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would not go to sleep on any night until he had used Miswak.
Times When the Prophet (ﷺ) Used Miswak
Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah in Musannaf and Abu Nu‘aym in Kitab al-Siwak narrate with a weak chain from Abu ‘Atiq, from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him):
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) would use Miswak before going to bed, after waking up, and when going to prayer.
I said to him, “You are putting yourself through hardship.”
He replied, “Usamah (may Allah be pleased with him) told me that the Prophet (ﷺ) used Miswak at these times.”
Miswak at Suhur
Imam Abu Nu‘aym narrates with a Hasan chain from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr:
He said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“If I had not feared hardship for my Ummah, I would have commanded them to use Miswak at the time of Suhur.”
Miswak With Wudu
Imam Al-Tabarani in Al-Awsat narrates with a Hasan chain from ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“If I had not feared hardship for my Ummah, I would have commanded them to use Miswak with every Wudu.”
Purification of the Mouth
Imam Al-Shafi‘i, Ibn Abi Shaybah, Ahmad, Al-Nasa’i, Abu Ya‘la, Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibban, Al-Hakim, and Al-Bayhaqi narrate from ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
السِّوَاكُ مَطْهَرَةٌ لِلْفَمِ , مَرْضَاةٌ لِلرَّبّ
“Miswak is a means of purification for the mouth and a means of attaining the pleasure of the Lord.”
The Emphasis on Using Miswak
Imam Ahmad and Al-Tabarani in Al-Awsat narrate from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Use Miswak regularly. It purifies the mouth and brings the pleasure of the Lord.”
Yellow Teeth Are Disliked
Imam Ahmad narrates with a weak chain from Qutham or Tammam ibn ‘Abbas:
He said:
The Prophet (ﷺ) came to us and said:
“Why do you come to me with yellow teeth? Why do you not use Miswak?”
He added:
“If I had not feared hardship for my Ummah, I would have made Miswak obligatory for them just as Wudu has been made obligatory.”
Keeping the Miswak Behind the Ear
Imam Al-Tabarani narrates from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Prophet (ﷺ) would keep his Miswak behind his ear, in the place where a writer keeps his pen.
What the Prophet (ﷺ) Took While Traveling
Imam Al-‘Uqayli in Al-Du‘afa and Abu Nu‘aym in Al-Siwak narrate with a weak chain from ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her):
When the Prophet (ﷺ) traveled, he would take Miswak, a comb, a container for kohl, a bottle, and a mirror with him.
Is Using Miswak Obligatory?
Imam Abu Nu‘aym narrates through a weak chain from Rafi‘ ibn Khudayj (may Allah be pleased with him), in a Marfu‘ narration, that using Miswak is obligatory.
Fear of Revelation
Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah narrates from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him):
He said:
“We were instructed to use Miswak so frequently that we began to think revelation would be sent regarding it.”
Miswak Is Half of Wudu
Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah narrates from Hasan ibn ‘Atiyyah in a Marfu‘ narration that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Wudu is half of faith, and Miswak is half of Wudu. If I had not feared hardship for my Ummah, I would have commanded them to use Miswak at every prayer.
The two rak‘ahs a servant performs with Miswak are better than seventy rak‘ahs performed without Miswak.”
Using Miswak an Odd Number of Times
Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah narrates from Salman ibn Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
اسْتَاكُوا وَتَنَظَّفُوا وَأَوْتِرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ وِتْرٌ يُحِبُّ الْوِتْرَ
“Use Miswak, cleanse yourselves, and do so an odd number of times, for Allah is One and He loves odd numbers.”
Cleanliness
Paying Attention to the Spaces Between the Fingers
Imam Ibn ‘Adi narrates from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him):
He said:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) instructed us to pay special attention to the spaces between the fingers when performing Wudu, because more dirt accumulates there.
Clipping the Nails and Burying Them
Imam Al-Hakim Al-Tirmidhi in Nawadir al-Usul narrates from ‘Abdullah ibn Busr through a chain containing an unknown narrator:
He said:
“Clip your nails and bury the clipped nails. Also clean the spaces between your fingers.”
The Prophet (ﷺ) Followed the Practice of the People of the Book
Imam Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhi in Al-Shama’il, Al-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah narrate from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him):
He said:
The People of the Book used to let their hair hang down, while the Mushriks would part their hair.
When there was no divine command concerning a matter, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) preferred to follow the practice of the People of the Book.
Therefore, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) initially let his hair hang down over his forehead. Later, he began to part it.
Removing the Hair Below the Navel
Imam Ibn Majah and Al-Bayhaqi narrate through a good chain from Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her):
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used a depilatory substance to remove the hair below his navel, he would personally apply the substance and separate the hair below the navel.
Imam Al-Bayhaqi narrates through a very weak chain from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him):
When the Prophet’s (ﷺ) hair below the navel became long, he would not use a depilatory substance but would shave it.
Circumcision
Circumcision Is a Sunnah
Imam Ahmad and Al-Bayhaqi narrate from Shaddad ibn Aws (may Allah be pleased with him) in a Marfu‘ narration:
الْخِتَانُ سُنَّةٌ لِلرِّجَالِ، مَكْرُمَةٌ لِلنِّسَاءِ
“Circumcision is a Sunnah for men and an honor for women.”
Practice After Accepting Islam
Imam Al-Tabarani in Musnad al-Shamiyyin, Abu Al-Shaykh in Kitab al-‘Aqiqah, and Al-Bayhaqi narrate similarly from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him).
Imam Abu Dawud narrates from ‘Usaym ibn Kulayb, from his father, from his grandfather:
He came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, “I have accepted Islam.”
The Prophet (ﷺ) told him:
“Remove the hair of disbelief.”
‘Usaym’s grandfather said that another person was with him, and the Prophet (ﷺ) told him:
“Remove the hair of disbelief and get circumcised.”
Imam Al-Bayhaqi narrates from Al-Zuhri (rahimahullah), from the Prophet (ﷺ):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
من أسلم فليختتن
“Whoever accepts Islam should be circumcised.”
Circumcision Gatherings
Imam Ahmad and Al-Tabarani narrate from ‘Uthman ibn Abi Al-‘As (may Allah be pleased with him):
He was invited to a circumcision ceremony. He said:
“During the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), we would attend circumcision gatherings, but we were not invited specifically for them.”
Seven Sunnahs for a Child on the Seventh Day After Birth
Imam Al-Tabarani in Al-Awsat narrates from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him):
He said:
“Seven things are Sunnah for a child on the seventh day after birth:
1. Giving the child a name
2. Circumcising the child
3. Removing anything harmful from the child
4. Performing ‘Aqiqah
5. Shaving the child’s hair
6. Applying saffron to the head after the ‘Aqiqah
7. Weighing the hair in gold or silver and giving its equivalent in charity.”
The Circumcision of Hasan and Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them)
Imam Abu Al-Shaykh in Kitab al-‘Aqiqah and Al-Bayhaqi narrate from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) circumcised Hasan and Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them), and this was done on the seventh day after their birth.
The Circumcision of Ishaq and Isma‘il (peace be upon them)
Imam Al-Bayhaqi narrates from Musa ibn ‘Ali ibn Rabah:
Ibrahim (peace be upon him) circumcised Ishaq (peace be upon him) on the seventh day after his birth, while he circumcised Isma‘il (peace be upon him) when he reached adulthood.
Imam Ibn Sa‘d narrates from Huyayy ibn ‘Abdullah:
It reached me that when Isma‘il (peace be upon him) was circumcised, he was thirteen years old.
The Circumcision of Ibrahim (Peace Be Upon Him)
Imam Abu Al-Shaykh in Kitab al-‘Aqiqah narrates from Musa ibn ‘Ali ibn Rabah:
When Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was eighty years old, he was commanded to circumcise himself. He quickly took an axe and circumcised himself, experiencing considerable pain. He called upon Allah.
Allah said:
“You hastened before hearing My subsequent instruction.”
He replied:
“O my Lord, I dislike delaying Your command.”
Ibrahim (Peace Be Upon Him) Circumcised Himself With an Axe
Imam Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrate from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
اختتن إِبْرَاهِيم عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام وَهُوَ ابْن ثَلَاثِينَ سنة بالقدوم
“Ibrahim (peace be upon him) circumcised himself with an axe when he was thirty years old.”
Imam Ibn ‘Adi and Al-Bayhaqi in Shu‘ab al-Iman narrate from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was the first to circumcise himself. He did so with an axe when he was one hundred and twenty years old, and he lived for another year after that.”
Imam Ibn Sa‘d, Ibn Abi Shaybah, Al-Hakim, and Al-Bayhaqi narrate from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Ibrahim (peace be upon him) circumcised himself with an axe when he was one hundred and twenty years old, and he lived for another year afterward.”
The First Person to Have White Hair
Sa‘id said:
Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was the first to circumcise himself. He was also the first to see white hair.
He asked, “O my Lord, what is this?”
Allah said, “It is an honor.”
He said, “O my Lord, increase my honor.”
He was also the first to practice hospitality, the first to trim his moustache, the first to clip his nails, and the first to remove the hair below the navel.
Ibrahim’s (Peace Be Upon Him) Hospitality
Imam Ibn ‘Adi and Al-Bayhaqi narrate from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him):
He said:
Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was the first to practice hospitality. He was also the first to trim his moustache, the first to notice signs of old age, the first to clip his nails, and the first to circumcise himself with an axe.
Other Topics
Ear Piercing
Imam Al-Bayhaqi narrates from ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him):
Hajar was the servant of Sarah, the wife of Ibrahim (peace be upon him). Sarah gave her to Ibrahim (peace be upon him).
Isma‘il and Ishaq (peace be upon them) once had a race as children. Isma‘il (peace be upon him) got ahead and sat on Ibrahim’s lap.
Out of jealousy, Sarah swore that she would cause harm to three parts of Hajar’s body because Isma‘il (peace be upon him) was her son.
Ibrahim (peace be upon him) feared that she might cut off Hajar’s nose or ears. He therefore told Sarah that she could fulfill her oath in another way: she could pierce Hajar’s ears.
Thus, the practice of ear piercing began.
Overlooking a Wife’s Faults
Imam Al-Bayhaqi narrates from Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah:
Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was distressed by Sarah’s harsh behavior and sought a solution from Allah.
Allah said:
“O Ibrahim, overlook and conceal her faults, unless you see something unlawful concerning the religion.”
[The original text does not contain this sentence in some copies; it was included by the translator from Shu‘ab al-Iman.]
Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was the first to wear trousers, the first to comb his hair, the first to shave the hair below the navel, the first to circumcise himself, the first to practice hospitality, and the first to observe signs of old age.
The Introduction of Trousers
Imam Waki‘ narrates from Wasil, the servant of Ibn ‘Uyaynah:
Allah revealed to Ibrahim (peace be upon him):
“O Ibrahim, you are more honored in My sight than all the inhabitants of the earth. Therefore, when you prostrate, do not leave your private parts uncovered.”
Ibrahim (peace be upon him) then began wearing trousers.
White Hair and Honor
Imam Al-Hakim narrates from Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him):
Two fingers’ width of white hair appeared among the fingers of the Handhold of Heaven. It then gradually came closer to Ibrahim (peace be upon him) until it reached him completely.
Heaven then poured it over Ibrahim’s head and said:
“Increase in honor.”
Then Allah revealed to that hair:
“Become strong.”
And it became white.
He was the first whose hair turned white and the first to circumcise himself.
The following revelations were also given to Ibrahim (peace be upon him), as they were later revealed to Muhammad (ﷺ):
Surah Al-Tawbah, from:
التَّائِبُونَ الْعَابِدُونَ الْحَامِدُونَ
to:
وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
—Ayah 112
Surah Al-Mu’minun, from:
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
to:
هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
—Ayahs 1–11
Surah Al-Ahzab:
إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ
—Ayah 35
And Surah Al-Ma‘arij, from:
الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَى صَلَاتِهِمْ دَائِمُونَ
to:
قَائِمُونَ
—Ayahs 23–33
No one fulfilled all these qualities except Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and Muhammad (ﷺ).
Ibrahim (Peace Be Upon Him) Prayed for Goodness
Imam Ibn Sa‘d in Al-Tabaqat narrates from Salman (may Allah be pleased with him):
Ibrahim (peace be upon him) prayed to Allah for goodness.
As a result, two-thirds of his hair became white. He asked:
“O my Lord, what is this?”
Allah said:
عِبْرَة فِي الدُّنْيَا وَنور فِي الْآخِرَة
“It is a reminder in this world and a light in the Hereafter.”
Imam Ahmad in Al-Zuhd narrates from Salman (may Allah be pleased with him):
Ibrahim (peace be upon him) went to bed and prayed:
“O Allah, grant goodness.”
When he awoke, he found that two-thirds of his hair had become white. He was displeased with this condition.
He was then told:
“Do not be distressed. It is a reminder in this world and a light in the Hereafter.”
His was the first hair to turn white.
Dyeing the Hair
Imam Al-Daylami narrates from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
أول من خضب بِالْحِنَّاءِ والكتم إِبْرَاهِيم عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام
“The first person to dye his hair with henna and Katam was Ibrahim (peace be upon him).”
Imam Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Al-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah narrate from Ibrahim (rahimahullah):
He said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
إِنَّ اليَهُودَ، وَالنَّصَارَى لاَ يَصْبُغُونَ، فَخَالِفُوهُمْ
“The Jews and Christians do not dye their hair, so oppose them.”
Imam Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhi, who graded it Sahih, Al-Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah narrate from Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“The best substances with which you can change the whiteness of your hair are henna and Katam.”
Opposing the Practices of Non-Muslims
Imam Al-Tirmidhi narrates from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
غيروا الشيب وَلَا تشبهوا باليهود
“Change the whiteness of your hair and do not imitate the Jews.”
Imam Al-Bazzar narrates from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Do not imitate the Persians, and change the color of your beard.”
Things Ibrahim (Peace Be Upon Him) Was the First to Do
Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah in Musannaf and Al-Bazzar narrate from Sa‘d ibn Ibrahim:
Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was the first to deliver a sermon from a pulpit.
When the Romans imprisoned Lut (peace be upon him), Ibrahim (peace be upon him) fought them until he rescued Lut (peace be upon him).
Imam Ibn ‘Asakir narrates from Hasan ibn ‘Atiyyah:
When Ibrahim (peace be upon him) went to fight those who had imprisoned Lut (peace be upon him), he was the first to organize soldiers into right and left battle formations.
Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah narrates from Yazid ibn Abi Zayd:
Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was the first to raise a flag.
When he received news that a people had attacked Lut (peace be upon him) and taken him captive, he tied a flag and advanced toward them with his servants and supporters until he reached the enemy.
He then rescued Lut (peace be upon him) and his family.
Silk Clothing
Imam Ibn Abi Al-Dunya (rahimahullah) in Kitab al-Rum narrates from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him):
أول من عمل القسي إِبْرَاهِيم عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام
“Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was the first to use silk clothing.”
Hospitality
Imam Ibn Abi Al-Dunya and Al-Bayhaqi in Shu‘ab al-Iman narrate from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
كَانَ أوّل من ضيف الضَّيْف إِبْرَاهِيم عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام
“The first person to practice hospitality was Ibrahim (peace be upon him).”
Imam Ibn Sa‘d, Ibn Abi Al-Dunya, Abu Nu‘aym in Hilyat al-Awliya, and Al-Bayhaqi in Shu‘ab al-Iman narrate from ‘Ikrimah (rahimahullah):
He said:
Ibrahim, the Khalil of Al-Rahman, was known as Abu Al-Dayfan, meaning “the Father of Guests.” His house had four doors so that no one would leave without receiving hospitality.
Imam Al-Bayhaqi narrates from ‘Ata (rahimahullah):
When Ibrahim (peace be upon him) ate, he would search for someone as far as a mile away who could eat with him.
Conclusion
Purity and cleanliness are fundamental and important teachings of Islam. They encompass not only outward cleanliness but also inner spiritual purity.
Allah loves those who purify themselves. Therefore, every Muslim should strive to maintain Wudu, Ghusl, personal hygiene, cleanliness, and purity of the heart in daily life.
By following these teachings, a believer can attain success in both this world and the Hereafter.
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👉 Also read The Qualities of a Believer According to Hadith