Self-cleaning
From Bahai9
General importance of all of the laws
"Were any man to taste the sweetness of the words which the lips of the All-Merciful have willed to utter, he would, though the treasures of the earth be in his possession, renounce them one and all, that he might vindicate the truth of even one of His commandments, shining above the Dayspring of His bountiful care and loving-kindness."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, par. 3)
General importance of attending to one's appearance
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."
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, p. 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.
- Note: this would presumably most logically be done before putting on any make-up (which is not forbidden unless it is applied out of moderation) and after one has washed one's face, such as for ablutions)
Parts of the Body
Face
- See Washing face
Mouth and nostrils
- "...to rinse out the mouth and snuff up water through the nostrils..."
Teeth
- "...use the tooth-stick..."
Armpits
- "...pluck the armpits..."
Hands and feet
- See pare one's nails.
Hands
- See Washing hands
Feet
- Wash feet (at least) once a day in summer; once every 3 days in winter
Lower body
- "...to perform ablutions after intercourse..."
(though see ritual uncleanliness on the lack of a ritual requirement to do so)
