Writers 
Observing cleanliness is necessary for everyone everywhere. One must always keep his body and clothes clean. He must bathe himself at least once a week and must wash his face and hands with soap and water every morning. He must brush his teeth, comb his hair, trim his hair, wash his feet, and must also wear pure clothes. The holy religion of Islam emphasizes greatly about cleanliness and being well-dressed.
The Prophet (SAW) of Allah stated: “Cleanliness is a part of the faith (of Islam).”
The Holy Prophet (SAW) saw a man who was dirty, had messy hair and looked unattractive. The Prophet (SAW) stated: “Using the blessings of Allah is a part of the faith (of Islam).”
The Prophet (SAW) of Islam also stated: “A dirty person would be a bad worshipper of Allah.”
Imam Ali (R.A) stated: “Allah is beautiful and he likes beauty. And he also likes to see the effect of his blessings on his servants.”
Cleanliness and beauty is not only for women, but men should also be clean and well-dressed. Some men are not bothered about their cleanliness and take a bath only once a while. They do not care for the state of their clothes and do not bother about trimming their beards. They smell badly and thus make others keep away from them.
Those men who are careful about cleanliness and do lay importance on their clothing, mostly do so outside their own houses. That is they look clean and well-dressed outside the house for the people, not inside their homes for their families. They appear very smart in the streets, gatherings, etc. but as soon as they return home, they change into worn out clothes. They rarely attend to the state of their hair and faces at home for the sake of their families.
They might not even bother to wash their faces before eating breakfast. Men of this kind make their families not bother to look at them.
It is the duty of husband and wife to keep themselves neat, clean and attractive before each other and to avoid filthiness and remain in an abominable condition.
Hassan bin Jaham says: I saw that Imam Musa Kazim has dyed his hair. I wondered and asked him the reason for doing so. He said: If a man adorns his face and hair and wears neat and tidy dress it enhances the chastity of his wife’ (because if a woman loves her husband she will not pay heed to other men). Many women deviate from the path of chastity on account of the carelessness and inattention of their husband. Then he said: “Would you like to see your wife in a deplorable condition?” I replied: “No”.
He said: “She too, is like you and does not like to see her husband dirty and untidy. Of course, cleanliness, use of perfume and keeping one's head and face in good shape are the ways of the holy Prophet.”
During the time of one of the Caliphs a woman complained to the Caliph against her husband and requested that he might be summoned and asked to divorce her. The Caliph enquired about the reason for this request. The woman replied: “I don’t like my husband and it is intolerable for me to pull on with him.” The Caliph was inquisitive and questioned her further to find out the cause of her dispiritedness. He said to her: “Does your husband neglect to meet your expenses?” She replied: “No. There is none of these things. My husband is a good man but I do not like him.”
The Caliph ordered that the husband of the woman might be summoned. After some time the officials brought the man before the Caliph who was very dirty and untidy. His hair were ruffled, his nails were long and his dress was torn and shabby.
The Caliph assailed the man with questions so as to ascertain the cause of the dispiritedness of the woman, but could not find any clue to it. However, it occurred to him suddenly that possibly the reason for the woman’s discouragement was the shabby condition of the man. He, therefore, said to her: “You should go away today and come tomorrow along with your husband so that divorce may be made effective.”
The woman went away. Thereafter, as ordered by the Caliph, her husband’s hair were cut and he was bathed and provided a neat and tidy dress. The Caliph then ordered him to depart and to come on the following day along with his wife.
On the following day the Caliph kept waiting but none of them turned up. He then sent someone to bring them. On their arrival he said to the woman, “We are now prepared to order for your divorce.” The woman said with much agitation and fear: “I do not at all wish to leave my husband. I love him and regret what I said yesterday.” The Caliph smiled and encouraged them to lead a happy marital life.
The Caliph had guessed correctly. Abominable condition of man or woman may become the cause of discouragement and unkindness and even divorce and separation.
Dear Brother! If you cannot tolerate a dirty and shabby dressed wife, and you expect her to look clean and beautiful at home, then be sure that she expects the same from you. She too, hates the sight of a dirty, smelly and untidy husband. She also likes to see you clean and smart.
If you do not satisfy her expectations with regard to smartness, then she would notice other men who are clean and smart and she might even think they are from another world. She compares you with them and might lose interest in you. Therefore, try to look good at home as well as outside. Your wife would not notice other men if you were successful in drawing her attention towards yourself. Why should you look good for strangers in the streets but look messy before your wife and children?
