Cleanliness

Cleanliness is next to Godliness.

 

31. Cleanliness is next to Godliness the religions of God tell us: Cleanliness is not just words to be spoken without regards for action on our part. The Bahá’í Writings point us in the direction of staying clean, because it will help us feel better about ourselves and cleanliness opens up a clearer channel between ourselves and our Creator. Jewish symbols star-8pix JUDAISM: Genesis: 35:2 “Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:” Deuteronomy: 23:10 “If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp:” Deuteronomy: 23:11 “But it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with water: and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again.” Isaiah: 1:16 “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes; cease to do evil;” 1:17 “Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.” the cross-5pix CHRISTIANITY: 2 Corinthians: 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith The Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” 2 Corinthians: 6:18 “And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith The Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 7:1 “Dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” James 4:8 “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

Islamic symbol-10 pix ISLAM: 6. “O ye who believe! when ye prepare for prayer, wash your faces, and your hands (and arms) to the elbows; rub your heads (with water); and (wash) your feet to the ankles. If ye are in a state of ceremonial impurity, bathe your whole body. But if ye are ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from offices of nature, or ye have been in contact with women, and ye find no water, then take for yourselves clean sand or earth, and rub therewith your faces and hands. Allah (God) doth not wish to place you in a difficulty, but to make you clean, and to complete His favor to you, that ye may be grateful.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   5)

Islamic symbol-5pix “I testify that Allah’s Apostle said, ‘The taking of a bath on Friday is compulsory for every male Muslim who has attained the age of puberty and (also) the cleaning of his teeth with Siwak, and the using of perfume if it is available.”’

(Hadith, Bukhari Vol 2)

Zoroastrian symbol-12pix ZOROASTRIANISM: “Purity is for man, next to life, the greatest good, that purity, O Zarathushtra, that is in the Religion of Mazda (God) for him who cleanses his own self with good thoughts, words, and deeds.”

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Vendidad)

Ahura Mazda symbol-8pix “Zarathustra emphasizes the importance of holiness or cleanliness (of heart) is near to Godliness.” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan p. 259)

Hindu symbol-10pix HINDUISM: 34. “A Snataka who is able (to procure food) shall never waste himself with hunger, nor shall he wear old or dirty clothes, if he possesses property.” 35. “Keeping his hair, nails, and beard clipped, subduing his passions by austerities, wearing white garments and (keeping himself) pure, he shall be always engaged in studying the Veda and (such acts as are) conducive to his welfare.”

(Hindu, Laws of Manu chapter 4)

Hindu symbol 5-pix “When the body is well adorned, well dressed, when the body is well dressed, well cleaned, if the body is well cleaned, that self will also be.”

(Hindu, Upanishads vol. 1, Khandogya-Upanishad Part 4)

Buddhist wheel symbol-10 pix BUDDHISM: 1. “Whoever would put on the yellow robe without having cleansed oneself from impurity, disregarding self-control and truth, is not deserving of the yellow robe.” 1. “But whoever has cleansed oneself from impurity, is well grounded in all the virtues, and is possessed of self-control and truth, is deserving of the yellow robe.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 2 (tr. J. Richards))

Mandaean symbol-15pix SABEANISM: “We have cleansed our hands in truth (ku ja) And our lips with faith; We have uttered words of radiance. My mind is absorbed in (thoughts of) Light.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 104)

Mandaean symbol1 “Behold me, who have sought (cleanliness and) purification before Thee!” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 77)

The shrine-17pix BABI RELIGION: “Naught in the Bayan and in the sight of God is more loved than purity and immaculate cleanliness….”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 79)

The shrine10 pix “We must be clean and honest.” (The Babi  and Baha’i Religions 1844-1944, p. 476)

the greatest name-12pixBAHA’I FAITH: “It hath been enjoined upon you to pare your nails, to bathe yourselves each week in water that covereth your bodies, and 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’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 57)

the greatest name 8 pix“The believers are exhorted in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas to bathe regularly, to wear clean clothes and generally to be the essence of cleanliness and refinement.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 236)