Self-cleaning

General importance of attending to one's appearance

Expression of importance for cleanliness

"God loveth those who are pure. Naught in the Bayan and in the sight of God is more loved than purity and immaculate cleanliness."

(The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 80).

"Therefore strive that the greatest cleanliness and sanctity, which is the great desire of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, should be resplendent among the Bahá’ís, and that the companions of God should surpass the rest of mankind in all conditions and perfections; that they may be physically and morally superior to others; that through cleanliness and purity, refinement and health, they may be the chief of wise men, and that by their affranchisement, their prudence, and the control of their desires, they may be the princes of the pure, the free and the wise."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá’í World Faith, p. 336).

See also

• Tablet of Purity.

Although physical, it has a spiritual effect

"...although bodily cleanliness is a physical thing, it hath, nevertheless, a powerful influence on the life of the spirit."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet of Purity, in Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, sec. 129)

See also

• Music (also described as being material with a spiritual effect)

Spend half of the day in search of livelihood, guaranteeing your material life and dignified appearance

"...Share your time with God. Spend half of the day in search of livelihood, guaranteeing your material life and dignified appearance, and dedicate the other half in the acquisition of moral virtues and service at the threshold of God..."

(Attributed to 'Abdu'l-Bahá, quoted on back cover of "Economics of the Future" (see here for a discussion of this quotation))

Believers exhorted to be the essence of cleanliness and refinement

"The believers are exhorted in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas to...generally...be the essence of cleanliness and refinement. The Synopsis and Codification, section IV.D.3.y.i.-vii., summarizes the relevant provisions.

(Notes to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 167)

The purpose of Muhammad's revealing laws (on personal hygiene) was to free people from the chains of fanaticism and forestall the objections which confuse the mind and conscience of the simple and helpless

"Would it have been impossible for Muhammad to reveal a Law which bore no resemblance whatever to any practice current in the Days of Ignorance? Rather, the purpose of His consummate wisdom was to free the people from the chains of fanaticism which had bound them hand and foot, and to forestall those very objections which today confuse the mind and trouble the conscience of the simple and helpless."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 29)

Aspects of cleaning

Note: All of the excerpts from Secret of Divine Civilization below which highlight aspects of cleanliness have been extracted from the midst of the following quotation:

"The people of the Days of Ignorance engaged in many practices which the Law of Islám later confirmed...Can one, God forbid, assume that because some of the divine laws resemble the practices of the Days of Ignorance, the customs of a people abhorred by all nations, it follows that there is a defect in these laws? "

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Secret of Divine Civilization, pp. 28-29)

General/whole body

Clean selves with what had formerly been employed

"It hath been enjoined upon you...to clean yourselves with whatsoever ye have formerly employed. Take heed lest through negligence ye fail to observe that which hath been prescribed unto you by Him Who is the Incomparable, the Gracious."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, par. 106)

Question: Does this anticipate and recommend new devices such as modern toothbrushes, etc.

Bathing

• To bathe in clean water (which has not been used) (though better to pour water over oneself (e.g., showering)) at least once a week
• Not to use public pools as in Persian baths where water stagnates and is not changed

Use rose water and other pure perfumes

• To make use of rose water and pure perfumes

Specific parts of the body

Face

• See Washing face (cleaning); see also ablutions

Mouth and nostrils

• "...to rinse out the mouth and snuff up water through the nostrils..."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 28)

Teeth

• "...use the tooth-stick..."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 28)

Armpits

• "...pluck the armpits..."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 28)

Hands and feet

• See pare one's nails.

Hands

• See Washing hands; see also ablutions

Feet

• Wash feet (at least) once a day in summer; once every 3 days in winter (preferably with warm water)

Lower body

• "...to perform ablutions after intercourse..."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 28)

(though see ritual uncleanliness/ritual uncleanliness - semen on the lack of a ritual requirement to do so)

See also

• Grooming
• Make-up