Muhammad lived for 63 years, and for the first 62 years of his life, he used three stones for cleaning himself after defecation. It was only in the final year of his life that he observed some of his companions using water for this purpose. When he inquired, they explained that they had learned this practice from the Jews in Medina. After this, Muhammad recommended to his followers that they could also use water for cleaning, though using three stones remained permissible (Halal), even when water was available.
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Using three stones for cleaning after defecation is far less hygienic than the modern practice of using tissue paper. Moreover, the tradition of using water for cleaning after defecation has long been common across Asia and predates Islam, having no direct connection to it.
The Islamic practice of trimming pubic and underarm hair also raises hygiene concerns. Historically, it involved sharing a single razor among multiple individuals for this purpose. For instance, in Sahih Bukhari, there is a Hadith about Khubaib borrowing a razor from a woman to trim his pubic hair. Sharing such tools without proper sterilization would have been highly unhygienic.
... Khubaib (a companion of Muhammad) remained imprisoned by them till they decided unanimously to kill him. One day Khubaib borrowed from a daughter of Al-Harith (a Kafir), a razor for shaving his pubic hair, and she lent it to him.
For women and girls, using shared razors to clean their pubic and underarm hair was not only difficult but also uncomfortable. Despite this, Islam required these practices to please their husbands. The focus was on increasing male enjoyment, without considering the potential harm or discomfort it could cause to women.
.... He (the prophet) said, 'What makes you in such a hurry?" I replied, I am newly married " He said, "Did you marry a virgin or a matron? I replied, "A matron." He said, "Why didn't you marry a young girl so that you may play with her and she with you?" When we were about to enter (Medina), the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Wait so that you may enter (Medina) at night so that the lady of unkempt hair may comb her hair and the one whose husband has been absent may shave her pubic region.
Muhammad not only instructed women to shave their pubic hair, but also encouraged additional practices like female circumcision, under the guise of hygiene, with the goal of increasing male pleasure.
Regarding practices such as ablution (wudu), bathing after intercourse, and bathing after menstruation, these customs were adopted by Muhammad after his arrival in Medina, influenced by Jewish traditions. Before this, during his 13 years in Mecca, there was little focus on cleanliness in Islamic teachings.
For more details, you can explore the Jewish cleanliness rituals in the linked article, which highlights practices like hand washing, bathing after intercourse, and bathing after menstruation, among others. Read more here.
Islam Apologists:
An apologist asked this question:
"In your view, what kind of hygiene arrangements could exist in the life of desert Bedouins?"
Answer:
Muslims need to acknowledge that during Muhammad's 13 years in Mecca, there was little emphasis on cleanliness or hygiene in his teachings. It was only after migrating to Medina and interacting directly with the Jewish community that Muhammad learned practices like performing ablution before prayer, bathing after sexual intercourse, and using water for cleaning after defecation instead of three stones.
If Islam were truly from a divine source, such a God would not need to wait 13 years in Mecca or rely on the practices of another community to introduce cleanliness guidelines. Instead, these instructions would have been revealed directly and immediately in Mecca without external influence.
Why Limit to Desert Bedouin Life?
Another important question arises: why is the focus solely on hot climate of desert Bedouin life? Islam claims to be a universal religion meant for all humanity. If that is the case, why does it appear to be shaped by the conditions of a desert lifestyle?
For instance, why did God impose the unnatural requirement of bathing after sexual intercourse before prayer? A person could easily achieve cleanliness by washing just the affected area.
Consider the following scenario: it’s winter, and after engaging in sexual activity at night, the husband regrets it because he now has to bathe with cold water early in the morning before prayer or wake up an hour earlier to heat water. Think of the plight of women in past centuries who lived in cold, snowy regions without indoor bathrooms. They had to venture out to public bathhouses in the middle of night to bathe with cold water before the morning Fajr prayer.
Moreover, in modern times, bathing in the cold and then heading out on a motorcycle or into harsh weather is practically inviting illness.
It seems that God, as presented in Islam, did not account for the struggles of people living outside the hot desert environment. The reason for this could be that these rules were formulated by Muhammad, who was confined to the desert's realities and did not consider circumstances beyond that.
Questioning the Islamic Concept of Impurity During Menstruation:
A third issue arises with how Allah, under the pretext of cleanliness, declared menstruating women impure and prohibited them from entering the mosque or touching the Quran.
The question is: is this blood coming from the fingers of the girl, which would make it logical to ban her from the Quran and the mosque? Or is this blood affecting her soul, which would justify barring her from spiritual worship, like prayer?
Women already experience emotional and physical challenges during this time, often battling depression. Yet, Allah, described as wise and compassionate, adds to their burden by labeling them impure in this state, exacerbating their emotional distress.
Hassan Radwan