Allah is beautiful and loves beauty. So, how much do we reflect this beauty in our lives?
The saying 'Cleanliness is from faith' in Islam is not a cliché, it is a lifestyle. Weekly nail cutting, body cleanliness, applying good scent are requirements of 'fitrah' (nature). Wearing the best clothes while going to the masjid is a Quranic command. Mixing into society smelling of sweat, with dirty socks is a violation of others' rights. A Muslim must command respect with their appearance and be an example with their cleanliness. Our body is a trust to us, taking good care of it is an expression of gratitude.
Even when Allah sent Prophet Moses to Pharaoh, He commanded 'speak to him with gentle speech (qawl layyin)'. As members of a religion that commands addressing even the greatest tyrant with kindness, why can we be so rude to each other? Shouting, insulting, using rude words does not suit a Muslim. Our tone of voice, style, word choice should be 'aesthetic'. Breaking a heart is like destroying the Kaaba. Roses, not thorns, should spill from our tongue.
Removing a stone from the road is charity. This hadith shows the importance given to environmental aesthetics. Sweeping in front of our house, planting flowers on our balcony, not harming the architecture of the city... These are also parts of our aesthetic understanding. When you look at Ottoman cities, you see the elegance of fountains, birdhouses. We should also beautify the place we live in within our means. Because beauty feeds the soul and reminds of Allah.
"Sometimes when piety is mentioned, misconceptions like dressing shabbily, being sullen, or completely ignoring the world come to mind. Yet our Prophet (PBUH) would comb his hair, apply the best scents, give extreme importance to teeth cleaning (miswak), and always smile at people. Islam is not a religion of rudeness or sloppiness; Islam is the pinnacle of elegance, subtlety, and aesthetics. Come, let's crown our 'Muslim' identity with aesthetics and kindness."
Elegance should be the most distinctive characteristic of a Muslim. The cleanliness and harmony of the clothes we wear, the decency of the words we choose while speaking, keeping our environment clean... All these are reflections of faith. A Muslim should add peace and beauty to the place they enter. Rude behaviors, a repulsive appearance cast a shadow on that luminous message of Islam. Remember, we are representatives of our religion; we must endear Islam with our state and attitude, not make it hated.
