Cleanliness versus Holiness: Islam and Christianity on Purity

As Westerners, we are so blessed to have access to an abundance of clean water. Most people choose to wash their hands often, bathe for personal hygiene, and to protect the health of others.

But for Muslims, physical cleanliness (taharah) is not a choice; it is a requirement. It is burdensome, tedious, and most of all, time-consuming. Being clean, by Islam’s standards, is not simply a matter of hygiene. It is actually a matter of paradise or hell. You see, in Islam, those who are physically unclean are also spiritually unclean. 

Why is cleanliness so important in Islam?

Islam teaches Muslims that they must earn their way to salvation by outweighing bad deeds with good deeds (read further here). Maintaining cleanliness is one of many mandatory duties a Muslim must observe. 

The Quran teaches in Surah 9:108, that Allah “loves those who purify themselves.” If a Muslim wants Allah to hear his or her prayers or grant them paradise, they must strive for physical cleanliness at all times. In the Hadith, Muslims read that “cleanliness is half of faith.” (https://sunnah.com/mishkat:296) Mohammed even taught that on "The Day of Resurrection,” Muslims would be visibly glowing from cleanliness (Sahih al-Bukhari 136).  

If a Muslim is in a state of physical uncleanliness, they cannot pray, go to a mosque, or even touch a Quran. Before we dive into how Muslims clean themselves, let's take a closer look at what Islam considers unclean.    

What does Islam consider unclean? 

The Human Body- Unclean Functions 

Islam teaches that Allah created the human body, yet all these major bodily functions below make a Muslim unclean: 

• Defecating, urinating, and passing gas (Sahih al-Bukhari 135)

• Coughing

• Sleeping

• Having a heightened emotional response (such as laughing or anger)

These natural human processes are known as Muhdath (“effects”) and render a Muslim subject to the first degree of uncleanliness. If a Muslim is unclean in any of these ways, he or she cannot pray until they perform special cleansing rituals called ablution (we will discuss this more). 

The second and more serious state of uncleanliness is called Janabah (“preclusions”). Janabah includes: 

• Seminal emission for men

• Menstruation for women

• Sexual intercourse 

• Childbirth (mothers are unclean for 40 days after giving birth)  

Janabah makes Muslims so unclean that they also cannot recite Quran verses, fast for Ramadan, or make any personal prayers (dhikr). To become clean again, a Muslim must fully bathe (ghusl).

Animals - Contact and Consumption 

Some animals are so unclean that Muslims must avoid any contact with them, including dogs and pigs. This is why Muslims cannot eat pork and generally do not keep dogs as pets. 

On the other hand, there are some animals that Muslims may touch, but they cannot eat. These include:    

• Insects (except for locusts)

• Reptiles 

• Donkeys 

• Birds of prey 

• Animals that feed on carrion

• Predatory land animals

An unclean diet - forbidden foods (haram) 

Muslims not only have to be concerned with their outward cleanliness, but also the cleanliness of their food. As explained above, Muslims are not free to choose their own diet. Islam has very strict rules regarding food. Muslims are allowed to eat halal foods (permitted by Allah), and they must avoid haram foods (forbidden by Allah).

Here are the most common forbidden foods (haram): 

• Pork and pork products 

• Any amount of alcohol 

• Meat that is not butchered the halal way 

• Shellfish (for some Muslim sects)

To learn more about the Islamic diet, read this blog. When drinking any liquid, Muslims are instructed to be careful not to breathe into their cup (Sahih al-Bukhari 5630).

Who does Islam consider unclean?

You may be surprised to learn that uncleanliness goes far beyond natural processes, animals, and foods. In Islam, certain groups of people are inherently unclean.    

Non- Muslims 

The Quran describes those who reject the faith (kuffar) - a term traditionally applies to non-Muslims - as “the worst of all beings” (Sura 8:55, Sura 98:6). Islam teaches that unbelievers are both spiritually unclean because they reject Islam, and physically unclean since they don’t perform cleansing rituals. “The polytheists are 'spiritually' impure, so they should not approach the Sacred Mosque after this year." (Sura 9:28)

Jews and Christians (People of the Book) 

Both the Quran and Hadith are filled with accusations against Jews and Christians. Sura 5:60 clearly shows that Islam considers Jews and Christians unclean: 

“Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Shall I inform you of those who deserve a worse punishment from Allah ˹than the rebellious˺? It is those who earned Allah’s condemnation and displeasure—some being reduced to apes and pigs and worshippers of false gods. These are far worse in rank and farther astray from the Right Way.” 

The reference to the “rebellious” in this verse goes back to the verse before it where Allah was talking to Muhammad about the People of the Book.  This verse also says that Jews and Christians have a lower status and some have even been turned into animals.   

Note that Jews were some of the first people who rejected Mohammed and Islam, which is likely why Islam has a contempt for Jews. You can read more about this here. 

The Quran also forbids Muslims from befriending Jews or Christians. It commands Muslims to fight them until they accept Islam or die (Sura 5:51, Sura 4:89, Sura 9:29). This is the Islamic doctrine of jihad, and you can read more about it here. 

Women 

You may have noticed earlier, but two of the greatest impurities in Islam, menstruation and childbearing, apply only to women. Muslim women have no way to escape their uncleanliness, because in Islam, women are inherently unclean.

The Hadith teaches that a passing woman, donkey, or dog cancels a Muslim’s prayer (Sahih Muslim:510a). The Quran labels women as worthless and unclean. 

How can a Muslim become clean?

Ritual washing- Ablution (Wudu and Ghusl) 

Now that we have explored what is unclean, let’s look at Islam’s mandatory cleansing ritual of ablution. There are two kinds of ablution, wudu and ghusl. 

If a Muslim is unclean in the first degree, then they have to perform wudu (half ablution) before prayer. If they are unclean in the second degree, then they have to perform ghusl (full ablution).         

Cleanliness and Prayer

Ablution is part of the second pillar of Islam (prayer or salat). Even if a Muslim is totally clean, he is still required to wash himself before his five daily prayers. The Hadith describes ablution as a good deed that cleans a person from sin:   

'Uthman bin 'Affan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah said, "He who performs the Wudu' perfectly (i.e., according to Sunnah), his sins will depart from his body, even from under his nails." Riyad as Salihin 1026

Although Islamic scholars deny it, Islam likely derived its washing rituals from Old Testament ceremonial laws and 7th-century Jewish washing rituals (see our source here).       

Here are the 9 steps of wudu a Muslim must perform before prayer:

1. Have the motive (Niyyah) to clean himself before prayer

2. Wash the hands and wrists x 3

3. Rinse out the mouth and nostrils x 3

4. Wash the face (from hairline to neck). This includes the chin and nostrils. 

5. Comb facial hair with water (if applicable)

6. Wash hands, arms and elbows x 3

7. Run wet hands over head and ears (from forehead to nape of the neck)

8. Rub the feet, cleaning the tops of feet and ankles is key 

9. Recite the Islamic confession of faith or Shahadah. Shahada is the first of the Five Pillars of Islam.

Why do Muslims wash specific parts of their body?

Sahih Muslim 244 explains that Muslims wash each part of their body to remove sin:

“Abu Huraira reported: Allah's Messenger said: When a bondsman-a Muslim or a believer-washes his face (in course of ablution), every sin he contemplated with his eyes, will be washed away from his face along with water, or with the last drop of water; when he washes his hands, every sin they wrought will be effaced from his hands with the water, or with the last drop of water; and when he washes his feet, every sin towards which his feet have walked will be washed away with the water or with the last drop of water with the result that he comes out pure from all sins.” 

Why do Muslims use a prayer mat?

While Muslims are not required to use a prayer mat (sajjadah), most do to maintain cleanliness after washing. Muslims often use prayer mats to imitate Mohammad (Sahih al-Bukhari 381). 

Prayer mats must be laid out in a clean area and stored in a clean place. A popular way to store the prayer mat is to fold it in half and roll it up. Prayer mats cannot have any images of living things. To learn why, read this post.   

How does the right hand relate to cleanliness in Islam?

Islam’s cleanliness rules demand Muslims use their right hand for clean things (eating, greeting) and their left hand for unclean things (hygiene). Sahih Muslim 2020a teaches Muslims: 

“Ibn 'Umar reported Allah's Messenger as saying: When any one of you intends to eat (meal), he should eat with his right hand. and when he (intends) to drink he should drink with his right hand, for Satan eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand.”

For the same reason, Muslims must begin ritual cleansing on the right side of their body (Sahih Bukhari 168). 

What does the Bible say about cleanliness?

Throughout the Bible, the Lord used cleanliness to show the separation between holiness and unholiness.     

During Old Testament times, physical cleanliness was a temporary requirement for the Israelites to enter the Tent of Meeting. But when Christ came, He fulfilled all the requirements of the law (Matthew 5:17-18) and his blood became the permanent cleansing for repentant sinners (Hebrews 10:10). Consider Hebrews 9:13-14: 

“For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” 

Because Jesus' sacrifice was sufficient, it made Old Testament ceremonial laws unnecessary (Romans 14:20, Romans 14:14, Colossians 2:20-21). 1 John 1:9 teaches us that Christ cleanses those who put their faith in Him: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The Lord has always been far more concerned with the state of our hearts, rather than physical cleanliness (1 Samuel 16:7). Jesus loved and healed many ceremonially unclean people because of their faith. On the other hand, Jesus called the Pharisees whitewashed tombs, because even though they followed all the rules perfectly, they had no faith or love (Matthew 23:26-28). 

The Bible emphasises holiness over cleanliness. Christians are to pray for the Lord’s sanctification (Psalm 51:10) and seek to live holy lives (1 Peter 1:15-16, Ephesians 4:1, James 4:8). 

The Bible does teach that our bodies are the temple in which the Holy Spirit lives, so we are to take care of them (which would naturally include keeping them clean)! Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?"  (1 Corinthians 3:16)

How do Islam’s cleansing rituals affect Muslims? 

Can you imagine having to constantly worry that something you ingest or touch could affect your eternal life? This is what our Muslims friends think about regularly. 

Muslims are victims of the lie that ritual cleansing outweighs their bad deeds. In reality, ritual cleansing only weighs Muslims down. For religious Muslims, ritual cleansing can create a sense of self-righteousness. For perfectionist Muslims, it can cause constant fear and doubt. For all Muslims, it can give a false sense of peace and security if they are doing it well. Ultimately, ritual cleansing leaves Muslims with spiritual burnout and eternal death. 

How to talk about cleanliness and holiness with your Muslim neighbor 

Muslims must clean themselves to pray, but Christ cleanses Christians so we can be in His presence and spend eternity with Him (Hebrews 10:22). 

Cleanliness is a heavy burden to Muslims that has caused many to question Islam and leave the faith. As Christians, we should use this topic as an opportunity to share the Gospel. Explain to your friend that water and work cannot make us clean, but only the blood of Christ.  

Here are some questions you can ask your Muslim friend: 

• Why would Allah order such difficult cleansing rituals when he created the functions of the human body? 

• Do you ever wonder if Allah cares more about your physical cleanliness than whether you feel his love?   

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you that your blood makes me white as snow. Help my Muslims friends to see that only you can cleanse them, give them peace, and make them holy. Amen.