“Cleanliness is next to
godliness”, this aphorism is with us since ages. It is an indirect biblical
statement and countless people have commented upon it, orally as well as in
text. I have gone through the pages of history to get to the bottom of
statement. I turned pages of dictionaries to know it meaning. But no clear
explanation and meanings are found. Some regarded it mere physical cleanliness
of thing and some even went on to say. “I cleaned my hands but didn’t get closer
to God”. Some famous writers like P.J.O’ Rourke said: “Cleanliness becomes more
important when godlessness is unlikely”. Many indulged in the battle of words of
godliness and godlessness. Diversity, diversion and delusion of meanings damned
this adage. So, it is matter of prime importance to get to the real meaning of
cleanliness, godliness and the whole statement. Godliness denotes state of being
pure, virtuous and holiness thus getting close to God. And cleanliness means an
act of purification leading to the level of sanctification. The whole statement
means cleanliness takes a common man to the proximity of God. This journey
starts from cleanliness of clothes, body and surroundings. Everything around us
should be clean and beautiful. For which, Addison says “Beauty produces love,
but cleanliness preserves it”.
Then, there is the cleanliness of mind. Mind should be clear off from all the
feelings of hatred, harm and haram( sinful). Buddha’s eight fold path emphasized
much in the cleanliness of mind. When the dirt of sinfulness is obliterated from
the screen of mind, noble, lovable and pious actions come into action. The
tongue sings sweat song of love, fraternity and kindness. When actions and words
are clean, purity of soul and spirit is an ultimate product. When soul is
soaring sky high in morality; purity, piety and piousness of God is not far
away. So cleanliness means cleaning of clothes, body, mind, heart, gossip and
soul. It is a multistage process and elevates one closer to God. Perhaps, it is
the level of cleanliness for which The Holly Book says “God loves the clean”
.That is why! The core and crux of all the religions is “cleanliness” of all
kind.
Bacon said, “Cleanliness of body was ever esteemed to proceed from a due
reverence to God, to society, and to ourselves”.
Look at the globe, you will find two categories of countries. In one group of
countries, you will find cleanliness of all forms and these are the countries
which we call ‘advanced’. While in a group of countries where there is lack of
cleanliness, they are languishing behind in every field .So, the progress of
nations is interlinked with the cleanliness. May Allah bestow us the quality of
cleanliness and make us worldly advanced and spiritually strong. At the end, I
want to present a short poem, read it and follow it and get out of the present
day quagmire.
Clean this, Clean that
Clean body, Clean clothe
Clean mind, clean soul
And get closer to the Sole
Cleanliness is half Iman
Cleanliness is half Islam
Cleanliness leads to godliness
Cleanliness ends godlessness.
Kar Safai, Paa Bhalai
Sift hay yeh khas khudai