Using Water after Defecation:
Muslims mock the Western system for using toilet paper after relieving, and boast that Islam ordered the cleanest way of using water 14 centuries ago.
However, Muslims are UNAWARE of original facts. Unfortunately, they don't know that Muhammad lived for 63 years, and for the first 62 years of his life, he didn't use any water, but used only three stones for cleaning after defecation.
It was only in the LAST 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. Only after that, 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.
Please read all details in our article:
Instead of boasting about cleanliness in Islam, Muslims are challenged to address why it took Allah 22 years (13 years in Mecca and 9 years in Medina) to reveal the logical ruling on defecation—namely, the instruction to use water for cleaning, or alternatively, three stones if water is unavailable.
Fun fact: The Prophet didn’t know what soap was, even though the ingredients—animal fat and the ash of salt-tolerant plants mixed with water to create lye—were abundant. They had everything needed to develop soap, which could have been the ultimate in cleanliness, yet the recipe was never revealed by a God who emphasized cleanliness.
Pubic Hairs:
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.
Female Circumcision:
Muhammad not only instructed women to shave their pubic hair but also promoted practices such as female circumcision under the pretext of hygiene, with the intent of enhancing male pleasure. This practice inflicted physical and psychological harm on women, disregarding their well-being and autonomy. To make matters worse, female circumcisions were often performed using the same razor for multiple procedures, significantly increasing the risk of severe infections and spreading diseases.
Wudu for Praying & Bathing after Intercourse/menstruation:
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 absolutely no 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.
Performing wudu five times a day before prayer can be seen as unnecessary and excessive, leading to significant waste of water. While cleanliness is important, this ritual goes beyond maintaining hygiene. Washing the face, hands up to the elbows, and feet repeatedly throughout the day is not essential for staying clean, as these areas do not accumulate significant dirt within such short intervals.
Moreover, excessive washing can strip the skin of its natural oils, potentially leading to dryness, irritation, or even skin conditions like eczema for some individuals. In a world where water scarcity is a growing concern, such practices may also be viewed as irresponsible when the same level of hygiene can be achieved with far less water.
Islam's requirement to perform wudu again after passing gas appears to conflict with logic and practicality. The act does not involve any impurity on the face, hands, or feet, yet these areas are the ones that must be washed. Meanwhile, the area directly involved in passing gas remains unaddressed. This ruling seems inconsistent and raises questions about its alignment with reason and wisdom.
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 the 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:
The next 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 labelling them impure in this state, exacerbating their emotional distress.
Hassan Radwan