“For Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean...” (al-Baqara, 222).
Medieval times are often depicted as being dark, smelly, and unclean. Images of open sewers, disease and plagues are often shown on TV, and rightly so. In the West it is normal to show these images about the Middle Ages, because that is what the West was in the Middle Ages, unclean and unsanitary. However, the rest of the world was different, especially the land of the Muslims. Products in the bathroom cabinets of the 10th century Muslims and their hygienic practices rival that of today's.
A Muslim's faith requires him to be pure and clean. He is required to shower immediately after intercourse and shower before going into the Friday sermon. He is also required to perform ablution (or wudhu) 5 times a day before each prayer. The wudhu consists of rinsing the nose and mouth, washing the face, arms and feet and wipe behind one's ears. I can go on and on about when and how the Muslims are to keep clean. But I hope you get the point.
As you can see, Muslims had to be really clean. So, it is no surprise that Muslims were the ones to invent the essential of cleanliness, the soap. The invention of this product can not be attributed to one single Muslim, it is an accumulation of knowledge by Muslim chemists. They made soap by mixing oil (usually olive oil) with al-qali (a base, yes the opposite of acid, that base). This was then boiled to achieve the right mix, left to harden and then used in the bath houses.
As you can see, Muslims had to be really clean. So, it is no surprise that Muslims were the ones to invent the essential of cleanliness, the soap. The invention of this product can not be attributed to one single Muslim, it is an accumulation of knowledge by Muslim chemists. They made soap by mixing oil (usually olive oil) with al-qali (a base, yes the opposite of acid, that base). This was then boiled to achieve the right mix, left to harden and then used in the bath houses.
Manuscripts from the 13th century details more recipes for soap making. For example, take some sesame oil, a sprinkle of potash, alkali and some lime, mix and boil. As with many other Muslim products and ideas, soap arrived to Europe with the crusaders. By the 18th century soap was already an established industry, but added to it was colorful perfumed soaps, toilet soaps and medicinal soaps.
Islam inspired men to create the glorious soap and revolutionize the world, the world of cleanliness as well.
Islam inspired men to create the glorious soap and revolutionize the world, the world of cleanliness as well.
Credit: Muslim Heritage in Our World
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