One of the expectations from the students is to keep a neat and tidy appearance at all times and keep your appearance according to the sunnah. Do not even think of adopting an appearance that compromises the sunnah. In this way, we will be on our way to setting an Islamic lifestyle for ourselves. If we do not, it is only a matter of time before we will have a split personality, and a set of behaviors when we are under watch and another when we are not under watch. Maintaining a good appearance ties in with the Islamic theme of hygiene. Just related to that, a part of our appearance is keeping our nails clean and trimmed, making sure that we are coming in a clean state, making sure that we are not walking around with body odor or foul smells. This is the reality; when we are in any environment, we have to show respect to the fact that we are around people, and it is a matter of respecting others as well. It is not an Islamic habit to walk around with odors coming from one’s body or mouth. Once, the prophet (SAW) noticed that the sahaba (RA) were coming to the masjid from the fields after work or labor and they were wearing rough or thick clothes and were sweating profusely. Now, the masjid, which did not have the facilities like AC that we have today, was filled with the smell of sweat. The prophet (SAW) made it obligatory to take a bath every Jumuah. At that time, water was scarce, and people were doing labor jobs in the heat of Madinah, but he made it obligatory that anyone who came for Jumuah must take a bath before coming, and that they should have a pair of clothes aside from their daily clothes that they had just for Jumuah. Then, he taught them to use some oil or some product to groom their hair and perfume to help them smell pleasant. All of this was an exercise in presentation.

Whenever you are coming to a meeting or place of importance, you need to be presentable. Likewise, when you are coming for Jumuah, you need to be presentable. These are some things to look out for. Keep your own appearance and the way you groom yourself presentable. It is not about having the most expensive things; sometimes, we think that having the most expensive things means having the best appearance. Sometimes, you will have expensive things, and sometimes, you won’t, but it is about making sure that your appearance is neat and tidy irrespective of what you have. Even your shoes – do not come with scuffed shoes. Look after them. It is a matter of how much pride you take in yourselves. If you are in an army and you had scuffed-up boots, you would get in trouble and penalized, even though it is the army. They expect you to maintain your position because you are representing your country. They expect a sense of discipline instilled. Keep these things in mind and develop them into good habits. Today, people take pride in these habits, despite all of them being embedded in our tradition and culture.

[Adapted from a talk delivered by Mufti Aasim Rashid titled: “Maintaining Appearance”]