It is the cold season, and if you have children, chances are they have been sniffling and sneezing for the past few weeks, or even months. Wintry weather can wreak havoc on our immune systems, as viruses and bacteria look for warm places to hide and thrive. And what could be more inviting than your child’s cute, warm button nose?
As inevitable as it may be for children to catch a bug or two at school, the mosque, or a playdate, there are plenty of steps we can take to minimize the chances of them falling sick. It all begins with excellent hygiene. Fortunately, Islam provides us with the guidelines we need to maintain cleanliness and excellent health. Good hygiene holds a central place in Islam. Allah says in the Quran:
“Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:222)
Purification is not only beneficial for our bodies but also forms the basis for the spiritual aspects of our faith. The famous books of ahadith have whole sections dedicated to purification because of how much time the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, spent teaching his followers about its importance. In one hadith, the Prophet summed it up, when he said:
“Cleanliness is half of faith.”
(Sahih Muslim)
Even our rituals of worship are considered incomplete unless we are in a state of purity and cleanliness. Wudu is the ritual washing of the hands, face, head, and feet before prayer, and it instills discipline and a state of physical and spiritual purity. Without wudu, our prayer does not even count! Outside of worship, the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, also encouraged other forms of cleansing. He taught the importance of washing hands before eating, cleaning oneself thoroughly after using the restroom, and even brushing the teeth. His wife, Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, reported that if he wanted to sleep while he was in a state of major ritual impurity, he would perform ablution. If he wanted to eat or drink, he would first wash his hands and then eat or drink (Sunan al-Nasa’I, 258).
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, encouraged his followers to also maintain good hygiene practices. He advised:
“Five practices are of the fitrah (natural disposition): circumcision, shaving the pubic region, clipping the nails, and cutting the mustaches short.”
(Sahih Bukhari and Muslim)
Contagious diseases have always been a part of human history, and over 1,400 years ago, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, introduced health guidelines that are still relevant today. For instance, in a famous hadith about quarantine, he said:
“If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it; and if it breaks out in a place where you are, do not leave that place.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim).
This guidance was a powerful reminder during the COVID-19 pandemic when people implemented hygiene measures and social distancing worldwide. While those days are behind us, seasonal illnesses and viruses like COVID-19 remain a reality. Sadly, we cannot always keep our children at home, quarantined away from the sniffles outbreaks in their classrooms. That means we have to try our best to implement some Prophetic hygiene practices at home.
Here are some things parents can do to keep our families clean and safe this season:
1. Encourage children to keep their clothes clean.
Sometimes, being a little smelly and dirty is just part of being a kid. Other times, it is just plain excessive and disrespectful. It is of utmost importance to teach children to be mindful of how they look and smell. We can teach them to keep their clothes neat and clean. Even children as young as two or three can learn how to put their dirty clothes in the laundry basket and help mom and dad put items in the washing machine. One helpful rule to tell children is if it has been worn more than two or three times, is stained, or is stinky, then it needs to go to the laundry basket or straight into the washing machine. Make sure to wash clothes and bedsheets regularly to maintain a clean space at all times. Get children into the habit of making their beds and keeping their sheets clean and neat.
2. Keep feet clean and shoes off.
It is the custom in Muslim lands and some non-Muslim cultures to remove shoes indoors. Sometimes, people have special house shoes or sandals they swap into once they get home. Those indoor shoes are never used to step outside. Others just walk barefoot or wear socks inside. As Muslims, we are encouraged to take off our shoes before entering our prayer spaces, and the same goes for entering the home where we often perform prayers, as well. Wearing shoes indoors means dragging in all sorts of filth, including dirt, debris, and even worse things. It is best to keep a shoe rack in the foyer, on the porch, or in a coat closet close to the front door to ensure children have a place to place their footwear as they are coming back home from school or playing outdoors. Depending on family preferences and what is culturally appropriate, they may use sandals or shoes reserved especially for inside the home.
3. Shower as soon as they get home.
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“It is a duty for Allah upon every Muslim to perform a ritual bath at least once every seven days, washing his head and his body.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari)
Although in this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said once a week, we must keep in mind we live in a time and place where water is readily available, alhamdulillah. For our children, who tend to get sweaty and grimy pretty quickly, it is best to encourage them to bathe every day. One of the best ways we can keep our children from getting sick and spreading nasty illnesses is by having them shower as soon as they come home from school, extracurricular activities, or outdoor play. Just as we remove our shoes to keep the dirt outside, showering will wash away any filthiness and bacteria that may have come in contact with your child’s skin, hair, and nails.
4. Trim the nails.
Speaking of nails, remember when our children were infants and we would carefully trim their delicate nails every few days? Well, if there is one thing that has not changed, it is that our kids’ nails continue to grow at a rapid rate. And at the tip of those seemingly innocent little fingers, is a haven for bacteria and germs. If your child is still young, make sure to trim their nails and toenails regularly for them. The Sunnah says not to let our nails grow for more than forty days, but more than likely they will need a trim much sooner.
Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, who was the servant of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
“He set a time for us to trim our mustaches, cut our nails, pluck our armpit hair, and shave our pubic hair; we were not to leave that for more than forty days.”
(Sahih Muslim)
Once children are older and can handle a nail clipper, they can cut their own nails, but be sure to remind them. Even teenagers forget to mind their hygiene!
5. If your child is sick, keep them home.
A while back, I attended an award ceremony for my elementary school kids. The principal and teachers announced different categories of awards like honor roll and outstanding artist. When they got to the award for perfect attendance, I wondered how these children are able to go through the whole school year without getting sick. Or is it that they are going to school while they have symptoms of illness? I thought to myself, “Are these students with perfect attendance the ones getting my children sick all the time?” Hopefully not. All jokes aside, whenever a child is sick, it is best they stay home. Symptoms like fever, cough, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea warrant a relaxing day at home with some chicken soup, ginger ale, crackers, and a favorite TV show. Children, just like adults, need time to rest, too!
6. Mind their breath.
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was diligent about keeping his teeth and mouth clean. It is important that we teach our children to emulate him by encouraging them to brush their teeth regularly and make sure their breath is always fresh. There are plenty of products children can use to keep their mouth clean like good toothpaste, mouthwash, miswak (a natural chewing stick used for cleaning teeth), floss, water pic, breath mints, and sugar-free gum (for when they are not in the classroom, of course!).
Keeping the mouth clean is so imperative, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him said,
“If I had not found it hard for my followers or the people, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth with Siwak for every prayer."
(Sahih Bukhari)
7. Wash hands often.
Last, but certainly not least, if we want our children to be clean and healthy, they should wash their hands frequently. Instil the healthy habit of washing hands upon waking, before eating, after using the restroom, when entering the house, and after doing artwork or anything that makes their hands messy. A great way to get into the habit of regular handwashing is making wudu every time we go into the bathroom. Not only will we be prepared for prayer, but also keep our hands clean in the process. That is a bonus!
Each of us plays a vital role in keeping our homes and families clean, safe, and healthy. In Islam, maintaining good hygiene is not only a practical necessity but also an act of gratitude to Allah, who has blessed us with perfect bodies to care for and honor during our time on Earth. Teaching our children the importance of cleanliness is more than just about physical health, it is about instilling a lifelong habit of self-respect and mindfulness. When we help our children develop these habits early, they are more likely to carry them into adulthood, inshaAllah, God willing. Moreover, a clean and healthy environment allows us to focus on the more important work of nurturing love, harmony, and tranquility in our homes.
Wendy Díaz is a Puerto Rican Muslim writer, award-winning poet, translator, and mother of six (ages ranging from infant to teen). She is the co-founder of Hablamos Islam, a non-profit organization that produces educational resources about Islam in Spanish (hablamosislam.org). She has written, illustrated, and published over a dozen children’s books and currently lives with her family in Maryland. Follow Wendy Díaz on social media @authorwendydiaz and @hablamosislam.
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