In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Our houses, our masjids, our streets, our waterways, our parks, and other public places and buildings are part of our environment. We should keep them clean. One characteristic of a good life is that it is lived in clean, healthy and comfortable surroundings. The soul of human was created in such a way as to be able to feel pleasure in the cleanness and beauty of Heaven.
Cleanliness has been considered one of the important factors by which to judge a civilization’s or society’s development. Islam places great emphasis on cleanliness, both physically and spiritually. On the physical side, Islam requires the Muslim to clean his body, his clothes, his house, and his surroundings, and he will be rewarded by Allah.
Allah has made our environment beautiful and useful for us. If we don't protect our environment, we will not be able to fully enjoy and benefit from it, and we will lose it eventually.
Allah Almighty says in the Qur'an,
وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَـٰلِحًا ۚ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ ۖ هُوَ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱسْتَعْمَرَكُمْ فِيهَا فَٱسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى قَرِيبٌ مُّجِيبٌ ﴿٦١[Qur'an, Hud 11:61]
And to Thamud [We sent] their brother Salih. He said, "O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. He has produced you from the earth and settled you in it, so ask forgiveness of Him and then repent to Him. Indeed, my Lord is near and responsive." (61)
The least form of beauty is the streets. And it is closely linked to how deep is faith in the hearts of Muslims.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) made clearing obstacles away from the path of people as part of faith. He says: “Faith has over seventy branches or over sixty branches, the most excellent of which is the declaration that there is no god but Allah, and the humblest of which is the, removal of what is injurious from the path: and modesty is the branch of faith.”
Removing obstacles from people’s path means taking away objectionable stuff such as stones, thorns, garbage, etc. It goes without saying that keeping the streets free from objectionable things is not throwing garbage wherever you want.
Narrated by Abu Dharr Al-Ghafari that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "Removing any harm from the road is charity (that will be rewarded by Allah)." [Bukhari]
Removing harmful and objectionable things from the path of people is also one of the deeds by which Allah forgave one of his slaves and let him into paradise.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) says: "While a man was on the way, he found a thorny branch of a tree there on the way and removed it. Allah thanked him for that deed and forgave him." In another narration: “A thorny branch of a tree thrown on the way used to hurt people. A man removed it and Allah let him into paradise.”
So, the man was forgiven his sins and admitted into Jannah. Why? Because he removed a harmful thing from people’s way. Now compare this with someone who throw obstacles in people's way, who intimidates people, who harms people, who kills people, who plant landmines. If the former would go to Paradise, then where would the latter go? So, be very careful not to do anything that may cause harm, disturbance or fear to people, like playing fireworks or honking your cars, or irritation to people, even indirectly such as leaving or throwing garbage on the streets, inviting flies and rodents.
Narrated by Mu'adh that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) says, "Beware of the three acts that cause you to be cursed: relieving yourselves in shaded places (that people utilize), in a walkway or in a watering place." [Al-Albaani]
A great companion, Aba Barza (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace): “Allah's Messenger, teach me something so that I may derive benefit from it." He said: "Remove the troublesome thing from the paths of the Muslims.”
A female companion of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to clean the mosque. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) did not see her one morning. So he asked about her only to learn that she had passed away the night before. He said to the Companions: “Should not you have told me? Take me to her grave. They took him where he prayed for her.”
Reflect for a moment that this companion, who was mentioned in the history of Islam and became memorable in the books of sunnan, has not done anything except that she used to clean the mosque, but the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) had noticed her and he prayed for her. So be instrumental in keeping your masjid clean and free from garbage and bad odor. Inshaa Allah you will be noticed in the Day of Judgment.
May Allah enable us to preserve our environment and keep it safe and clean. Ameen
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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