Allah Is Pure And Loves Things That Are Pure

Explanation of Hadees

Allah is Pure and loves things that are pure

Nasir Jamaal Attari Madani

The Prophet of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: ‘أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنَّ اللهَ طَيِّبٌ لَا يَقْبَلُ إِلَّا طَيِّبًا’ ‘O people! Indeed, Allah is pure; He only accepts pure.’ (Muslim, p. 393, Hadees 1015)

‘طیب’ [Tayyib] means purity, but when it is ascribed to Allah, it means that ‘He is free of all defects.’ (Sharh Muslim lil Nawavi, vol. 7, p. 100) This Hadees constitutes one of the foundational principles in Islam. By way of this, we have been commanded to have regard for the pure things that are loved by Allah Almighty. The Lord, who is pure from all defects, loves that which is also pure. Allah Almighty approves of the beliefs that are void of polytheism (Shirk), disbelief (Kufr) and heresy. Those actions of the creation that are free from showing-off are accepted in His court. Clothing that is free from dirt is liked by Him. A heart that has no inner impurities, such as jealousy, arrogance, enmity and malice, is loved by Him. In short, making every stage of life beloved to Allah is contingent upon ‘purity’. Even the majestic Quran has declared that pure people are beloved to Allah Almighty.

The Quran states:

وَ اللّٰهُ یُحِبُّ الْمُطَّهِّرِیْنَ(۱۰۸)

And Allah loves the pure.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 11, Surah Al- Tawbah, Verse 108)

Cleansing the Ummah of impurities and uncleanliness was also amongst the significant purposes of the Final Prophet’s صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم advent. Ensuing the construction of the Ka’bah, Khaleelullah Sayyiduna Ibrahim عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام made the following Du’a:

رَبَّنَا وَ ابْعَثْ فِیْهِمْ رَسُوْلًا مِّنْهُمْ یَتْلُوْا عَلَیْهِمْ اٰیٰتِكَ وَ یُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتٰبَ وَ الْحِكْمَةَ وَ یُزَكِّیْهِمْؕ-

'O our Lord, and send amongst them a Messenger from themselves, that he may recite to them Your verses and teach them Your Book, and sound knowledge (wisdom) and purify them well.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 1, Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 129)

This referred to sending a messenger who purifies people of polytheism, idol-worship, all types of impurities and dirt, base actions and flaws. (Tafseer Khaazin, vol. 1, p. 92) Allah Almighty accepted the Du’a of Sayyiduna Ibrahim عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام and sent our Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم from his progeny.

Whether it be the downfalls and immodesty of society or a heap of impurities and filth, human nature is profoundly affected by its surroundings; their influence on a person’s personality is certainly noticeable. A clean house and area are reflective of the fastidiousness, commendable nature, reputation and positive outlook of their residents. Realisation of this importance is what Islam’s emphatic teachings on cleanliness aim to bring about. The Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘Islam is [a] pure [religion]. Therefore, you too should attain purity, because it is the one who keeps clean and tidy who will enter Paradise.’ (Kanz-ul-Ummal, vol. 5, p. 123, Hadees 25996) One narration mentions: ‘Attain purity with whatever is available to you. Allah Almighty has made cleanliness the foundation of Islam. It is only those who remain clean and tidy that will enter Paradise.’ (Jam’-ul-Jawami’, vol. 4, p. 115, Hadees 10624) On another occasion, the following was mentioned: ‘Keep the clothing that you wear clean. Take care of your conveyances. Your outward appearance should be clean, such that when you go to people, they respect you.’ (Jami’-us-Sagheer, p. 22, Hadees 257) ‘Allamah Abd-ul-Rauf Manaawi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه states: ‘This Hadees indicates towards refraining from everything that humans find repulsive and contemptible. Leaders and scholars should particularly refrain from such things.’ (Fayz-ul-Qadeer, vol. 1, p. 249)

Allah Almighty has commanded us to eat pure foods. The Quran states:

یٰۤاَیُّهَا النَّاسُ كُلُوْا مِمَّا فِی الْاَرْضِ حَلٰلًا طَیِّبًا ﳲ وَّ لَا تَتَّبِعُوْا خُطُوٰتِ الشَّیْطٰنِؕ-اِنَّهٗ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِیْنٌ(۱۶۸)

O people! Eat what is lawful and pure on the earth, and do not follow the footsteps of the Devil; undoubtedly, he is your open enemy.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 2, Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 168)

Tafseer Sirat-ul-Jinaan mentions that halal and طیب [Tayyib] [the words used in the verse] refer not only to that which is halal in itself, such as goat meat, vegetables, lentils, etc., but also that which we have acquired through permissible means, i.e. not by way of stealing, bribery, robbery, etc. (Siraat-ul-Jinaan, part 2, Surah Al-Baqarah, Taht-al-Ayah, 168, vol. 1, p. 268)

The Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘Allah Almighty has commanded the believers that which He commanded the messengers. He said [to the messengers]:

یٰۤاَیُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوْا مِنَ الطَّیِّبٰتِ وَ اعْمَلُوْا صَالِحًاؕ-

‘O Messengers, eat pure things, and perform good deeds;

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 18, Surah Al-Mu’minoon, Verse 51)

And He عَزَّوَجَلَّ said [to the believers]:

یٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا كُلُوْا مِنْ طَیِّبٰتِ مَا رَزَقْنٰكُمْ

O believers! Eat the good things that We have provided,

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 2, Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 172)

The Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم then made mention of a man who travels widely, whose hair are dishevelled and is covered in dust. He raises his hands towards the sky and proclaims, ‘O Lord! O Lord!’, whereas his food is Haraam, his drink is Haraam, his clothes are Haraam, and he has been nourished with Haraam; so how will his Du’a be accepted? (Muslim, p. 393, Hadees 1015)

Sayyiduna Sa’d رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ made a request to the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم: ‘Make Du’a that Allah accepts my Du’a.’ The Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said to him: ‘Make your food pure; your Du’as will be accepted.’ (Mu’jam Awsat, vol. 5, p. 34, Hadees 6495) The honourable father of A’la Hadrat, Allamah Maulana Naqi Ali Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه, states: ‘Take care in avoiding Haraam in your food, drink, clothing and earning, because the Du’a of the one who eats Haraam and does Haraam is often rejected.’ (Fazaail-e-Du’a, p. 60)

The aforementioned explanation is sufficient to make it clear that Islam has commanded its adherents to observe every kind of cleanliness: whether that be cleanliness of the body or soul; an individual or society; a house, Masjid or that of a local area. In short, Islam commands for the body, soul, mind, heart and surroundings to be kept clean. Islam encourages and likes the prevalence of etiquettes, manners, cleanliness and fineness. Conversely, it dislikes dirt, impurity and filth.