Cut Nails; Easy Sunnah, Millions of Benefits

Cut Nails; Easy Sunnah, Millions of Benefits

Islam is a religion that upholds the value of cleanliness. One of the main ones is physical cleanliness. Islam has regulated various procedures for keeping physically clean, for example purification or thhaharoh. In fact, the importance of purification, such as ablution, is a legal condition for praying, which is one of the pillars of Islam. Thus, this cleanliness becomes inseparable in upholding the faith of a Muslim. The Prophet Muhammad SAW said:

God bless you

It means : "Cleaning is part of faith" (HR. Muslim)

The Qur'an, as a guide for human life, mentions one of the importance of maintaining personal hygiene, that Allah loves those who purify themselves. This is as stated in QS. Al-Baqarah verse 222, which reads as follows:

Amen

It means : "Verily Allah loves those who repent and loves those who purify themselves."

Of the various activities to maintain personal hygiene, the easiest thing to do is to cut your nails. The Prophet Muhammad SAW said which means:

"There are five kinds of fitrah, namely: circumcision, shaving pubic hair, trimming the mustache, cutting the nails, and removing the armpit knuckles. (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)

Based on this hadith, cutting nails is one of the sunnah fitrah that can be done. Every Muslim is recommended to cut nails and not let them grow long. Apart from being a sunnah of nature, cutting nails is also useful for maintaining personal hygiene related to human health, namely reducing dirt found under the nails.

The dirt on the nails usually contains worm eggs. Worm infection rates Ascaris lumbricoides in Indonesia as many as 66% of the 220 million population can be transmitted through nails. Research shows the existence of worm eggs of this type Ascaris lumbricoides by 12% of the total respondents (1). Apart from worms Ascaris lumbricoides, in the dirt of the nails can also be found other types of intestinal nematode worms such as Hookworms and Trichuris trichiura (2). This worm infection can be bad for human health. The impact of worms can cause reduced nutritional needs, calories and protein as well as blood loss. In addition, it can inhibit physical development, intelligence and work productivity and reduce body resistance (3).

Factors that influence the incidence of worms include environmental sanitation factors and human factors. One of them can be seen from the cleanliness of his nails. Dirty nails have 4 times the risk of being infected with worms compared to clean nails (4).

Based on the results of the above research, cutting nails which is one of the sunnah fitrah taught by the Prophet Muhammad SAW, is very important to do in keeping the body healthy. This is especially related to the incidence of worm infection which is bad for health. By regularly cutting your nails, it is hoped that you will not get sick due to worm infections. In addition, another disease that can be prevented by keeping hands clean, including nails, is diarrhea. The results of the study stated that preventing diarrhea can be done by: hand hygiene, namely by washing hands and cutting nails (5). Thus, the reward of sunnah is obtained easily, while at the same time obtaining many benefits; Avoid various diseases due to worm infections, diarrhea and other diseases.

To add to the blessings, it is sunnah to cut your nails on Fridays and no more than 40 days, according to the words of the Prophet Muhammad:

“We are given time to shave our mustaches, armpit hair, cut our nails, and shave our pubic hair no more than 40 days..” (Muslim HR).
God bless you

Bibliography :

Al-Qur'an and Al-Hadith

1. Listiany E, Charisma AM, Farida EA. Prevalence of Ascaris Lumbricoides Eggs in Nails and Personal Hygiene Levels in Janitor in Krian, Sidoarjo. J Media Anal Health. 2020;11(2):83.

2. Tirtayanti M, Dewi Widhya HS C, Dhyanaputri IS. Identification of Intestinal Nematode Worm Eggs in the Nails of Tile Craftsmen in Pejaten Village, Kediri, Tabanan. Meditory J Med Lab. 2016;4(2).

3. Idayani S, NLNDD Princess. Identification of Soil Transmitted Helminths Eggs in Children's Nails. J Health Sciences Bhakti Husada Heal Sci J. 2022;13(01):1–9.

4. US Muslims. Risk Factors for Deworming. J Med Hutama. 2020;02(01):402–6.

5. Lestari Hutasuhut A, Jundapri K, Suharto. Prevention of Diarrhea in Children by Hand Hygiene, Washing Hands and Cutting Nails. J Flora Nursing. 2022;15(1):1–7.

Written by :

Mujiyanto (NIK: 111002227)