Most if not all of us are aware of the significance of cleanliness in Islam. Whether it is personal hygiene or the purity of the environment around us, there is no doubt that Islam seeks to promote such a culture in our belief. Reading news reports on the Haj, it was disconcerting to note that some pilgrims complained of unhygienic conditions, be it at toilets, in camps, or at religious sites. They charged that due to the shortage and long lines at latrines, many were using fields and grounds around the worship areas to answer the call of Mother Nature. Others complained of the amount of garbage that would pile up and be scattered all over because there was not enough clean-up activity. However, I have to ask these people: Who is actually making and spreading the filth and waste? Is it the authorities, or the people themselves, who for some reason believe that the mess they create is for someone else to clean up? No government in the world can do enough if the people themselves are not willing to pick up their own mess. The zeal and fervor that goes into one's practice of the rituals of Haj or any other religious activity should have also translated into making a concerted effort to keep one's environment clean so as not to offend one's neighbors. That is the spirit of Islam. It is not simply a matter of going through the motions, but of also ensuring the well-being of others. Cleanliness is not the responsibility of an Asian contracted employee. In Jeddah, a European woman out for her daily walk along our sidewalks reports: "During my routine, I pass almost daily in front of the former office building of the Jeddah Governor. The building is nice, but since the day the Governor moved to his new office building no care has been taken of the old building and the garden. Meanwhile, trees have died, and grass and weeds are growing. Why not take care of this building and preserve it, or use it for something else instead of letting it just go to ruin? "Opposite this building there is a park. It is still being used by families, but has become quite a dangerous playground for children as stones and glass splinters are lying around. Plants are not really taken care of, and there are some deep holes in the grass. It shows a complete lack of proper maintenance. "For the litter decorating the park instead of pretty colored flowers, the people should also share the blame along with the authorities as it is an unfortunate fact that people use the whole city as a waste bin. “I agree that there are not enough waste bins around. Waste bins can even be beautiful as can be seen in the Nusa Dua area in Bali where there are waste bins in the form of all sorts of animals and decorative art to invite people to use them. The behavior of some of the inhabitants here displays a lack of respect toward other people. Another question still arises in this context: Why let go to wrack and ruin a stylish historical building with its garden on one side of the road and why not on the other side try to create a real park? "Back to my daily walking with eyes wide open: dirt, rubbish is everywhere, drain covers are missing (a phenomena I encountered only a few months back, but I notice it today with increasing frequency), bushes are crowding into the sidewalks denying people an easy passageway and forcing them to walk on the street. Instead of nice plants one comes across road-sign poles bent and lying on the ground. "Furthermore since the lack of respect shows everywhere, drivers often block pedestrians by leaving their cars on the sidewalk forcing pedestrians to walk in the street. “Is there any responsible person to inspect the status of the streets, sidewalks, parks and buildings? Or are these responsible people just sitting at a desk? Can anything be done about the lack of respect and love for the environment?" she concluded. Words spoken through the eyes of a visitor, albeit a long-term one! The authorities in recent times have put a lot of effort into cleaning up the city. But have the residents responded in a responsible manner? It is indeed the lack of respect toward our environment and the absence of collective will that has created this mountain of dirt out of a molehill. And it will not disappear unless we discipline ourselves in accordance with our faith and be kind to our neighbors and the environment around us by upholding the doctrine of cleanliness in every act we perform.
— The author can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @talmaeena
