Health & Hygiene :Don’t Be Mean, Stay Clean

We’ve always heard the old adage “Health is Wealth,” which Ralph Waldo Emerson, a great American philosopher, rephrased as “The First Wealth Is Health.” Health & hygiene are essential aspects of a good life that is because one cannot enjoy a wholesome life without good health. The status of mental, physical, and emotional well-being is referred to as health.In the other hand, hygiene corresponds to cleanliness and is an essential part of wellbeing. Healthy wellbeing follows a healthy life. To strengthen the body’s immune system, one must be stable in health and hygiene. Hygiene and health are inextricably linked. The practice of proper hygiene aids in the prevention of the transmission of disease and illness. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan campaign was launched by Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in order to improve the living standards of Indian people through hygiene and sanitation, as well as to make India cleaner and safer. Therefore, it is the responsibility of every person in the nation to make the environment hygienic. In modern times, it has become so important to take care of one’s health and hygiene. With increasing population, noise, and toxic gas emissions, maintaining one’s health and hygiene must be a top priority for all.
Health refers to a positive condition in which all aspects of the mind and body are in balance. It also functions and maintains the balance of the other components. In other words, fitness refers to a state of physical well-being in which all aspects of the body are functioning properly. A stable person is one who has a sound body and a sound mind, as it has been stated and shown. One of the characteristics of life that makes a person survive longer is their health. Health, according to the World Health Organization, is described as a condition of full emotional, moral, physical, and social well-being, rather than simply the absence of disease. The pursuit of good health by a Muslim is consistent with his redemption in the afterlife as well as his enjoyment of life in this world. The Quran is clear on this point, stating, “O you who believe! Fear Allah, and let every soul look to what it sends forward for the tomorrow. And fear Allah; Allah is aware of what you do”. (59:18-19). We must remember our obligations towards our own bodies, which have been entrusted to us. If we do not hold the trust, we will be questioned. We must provide a basic understanding of health, health services, and diseases.
The Quran is essentially a framework about man’s moral, emotional, and physical well-being. It also draws man’s attention to the science of life, encouraging him to investigate and learn what has been made subservient to him. The holy Quran lays down basic observances for the preservation of individual and social health through teaching cleanliness, exercise and nutrition. Let me take a look at various facets of personal grooming from an Islamic viewpoint.
Hand washing: More than 1400 years ago, Islam made ablution obligatory before offering prayer, demonstrating to humans how to shield themselves from infectious diseases by thoroughly washing exposed body parts five times a day, makes it the faith that allows its adherents to observe such sanitary practices in order to protect themselves from infectious diseases. Throat infections are caused by three distinct groups of microorganisms: infectious, bacterial, and fungal. The mouth should be cleaned with gargling movements to ensure that water enters the throat and protects it from infections. This is where the majority of the dust particles collect. Both dust and infectious species can be removed by washing five days a day, shielding the person from infection. Furthermore, brushing one’s teeth before praying is a Sunnah. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is to be said, “Your mouth is the Quran’s path, so keep them fragrant” (Bukhari) . Finally, I’d like to suggest that parents and guardians commence teaching children how to keep themselves clean at an early age. Encourage children to better clean themselves as soon as they are old enough to do so. In Islam, taking care of one’s grooming and wellbeing is not only considered a healthy practice, but it is often turned into practices that are part of the religion. Not to forget that during these testing times of covid19 pandemic, it is crucial to sanitize our hands and practice good hygiene to keep ourselves guarded from the viral disease.
(The author is Research Scholar at Kashmir University. Views are his own)
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