5 Fitrah In Islam According To Ahadith
The 5 fitrah in Islam were followed by all of the prophets of Allah. Allah urges all of mankind to follow the sunnah of the prophets so that they will be better and more perfect.
Fitrah is the natural belief in Allah that people have from the moment they’re born. The environment in which people are brought up in has a strong influence on whether or not they continue upon fitrah.
- A University of Oxford study concludes that humans are predisposed to believe in gods and an afterlife.
Influence Of Parents
During your childhood, your parents are the ones whom you’re influenced by the most. They raise, nurture and protect you. You think that they know everything. They hold 100% authority over you.
It’s very difficult to resist the customs and beliefs that are imposed upon you by your parents. If they raise you to be a Christian, a Jew or a Polytheist, most of the time, you’re pretty powerless to go against that.
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
Sahih Muslim
No babe is born but upon Fitra. It is his parents who make him a Jew or a Christian or a Polytheist. A person said: Allah’s Messenger, what is your opinion if they were to die before that (before reaching the age of adolescence when they can distinguish between right and wrong)? He said: It is Allah alone Who knows what they would be doing.
If non-Muslim prepubescent children pass away, Allah doesn’t punish them for not adhering to Islam.
Influence Of Shaitan
After reaching puberty, Allah begins to hold people to account for which religion they follow. You become answerable for your deeds – good or bad.
It’s at this time that Shaitan is on your back, encouraging you to go further astray from adhering to Islam. Whether or not you’re born into a Muslim family, it’s up to you to decide to follow the correct religion.
‘Iyad b. Him-ar reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ), while delivering a sermon one day, said:
Sahih Muslim
Behold, my Lord commanded me that I should teach you which you do not know and which He has taught me today. (He has instructed thus):
… I have created My servants as one having a natural inclination to the worship of Allah but it is Satan who turns them away from the right religion and he makes unlawful what has been declared lawful for them and he commands them to ascribe partnership with Me, although he has no justification for that.
Fitrah In The Qur’an
Allah urges mankind to adhere to the fitrah of Him in Surah Ar-Rum:
So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth. [Adhere to] the fitrah of Allah upon which He has created [all] people. No change should there be in the creation of Allah. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.
Qur’an 30:30
Deeds Connected To The 5 Fitrah In Islam
Sunan al-fitrah are acts that befit the natural state of man.
The 5 fitrah in Islam are:
- Circumcision
- Shaving the pubic hairs
- Clipping the nails
- Plucking the armpit hairs
- Trimming the mustache
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:
Sunan Ibn Majah
“The Messenger of Allah said: ‘The deeds connected to the Fitrah are five (or five things are connected to the Fitrah): circumcision, shaving the pubic hairs, clipping the nails, plucking the armpit hairs and trimming the mustache.'”
The benefits of the 5 fitrah in Islam far outweigh the temporary pain that they cause. They provide better hygiene when one is urinating, defecating and having sexual intercourse.
Circumcision
Islam is the religion of Prophet Ibrahim (alayhi salam).
And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty. [It is] the religion of your father, Abraham. Allah named you “Muslims” before [in former scriptures] and in this [revelation] that the Messenger may be a witness over you and you may be witnesses over the people. So establish prayer and give zakah and hold fast to Allah. He is your protector; and excellent is the protector, and excellent is the helper.
Qur’an 22:78
Prophet Ibrahim (alayhi salam) circumcised himself with an axe when he was eighty years old.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Sahih al-Bukhari
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said “The Prophet Abraham circumcised himself after he had passed the age of eighty years and he circumcised himself with an adze.”
Circumcision is a symbol of those who belong to Islam.
- A University of Sydney study finds the protection afforded by early infant male circumcision against infections and other adverse medical conditions exceed the associated risks by 200 to one.
Trimming The Moustache
It’s sunnah to trim the moustache and leave the beard as it is.
Narrated Ibn `Umar:
Sahih al-Bukhari
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Cut the moustaches short and leave the beard (as it is).
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) advised the Muslims to do the opposite of what the pagans do. Trimming the moustache was prescribed in order to avoid resembling the pagans.
Abu Huraira reported:
Sahih Muslim
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Trim closely the moustache, and grow beard, and thus act against the fire-worshippers.
Narrated Nafi: `Ibn Umar said, The Prophet (ﷺ) said, ‘Do the opposite of what the pagans do. Keep the beards and cut the moustaches short.’ Whenever Ibn `Umar performed the Hajj or Umra, he used to hold his beard with his hand and cut whatever remained outside his hold.
Sahih al-Bukhari
Start With The Right Side
When removing hair or clipping nails according to the 5 fitrah in Islam, it’s recommended to start with the right side.
Narrated `Aisha:
Sahih al-Bukhari
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to like to start from the right side on wearing shoes, combing his hair and cleaning or washing himself and on doing anything else.
Maintenance
The 5 fitrah in Islam shouldn’t be neglected for more than forty nights. This is prescribed for both men and women.
Anas reported:
Sahih Muslim
A time limit has been prescribed for us for clipping the moustache, cutting the nails, plucking hair under the armpits, shaving the pubes, that it should not be neglected far more than forty nights.
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