2/16. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 261a — Ten Acts of Fitra and Clean Living
The characteristics of the fitrah
Hadith About Fitra: Ten Clean Habits in Islam
Sahih Muslim : 261a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 261a
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ زَكَرِيَّاءَ بْنِ أَبِي زَائِدَةَ، عَنْ مُصْعَبِ بْنِ شَيْبَةَ، عَنْ طَلْقِ بْنِ حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " عَشْرٌ مِنَ الْفِطْرَةِ قَصُّ الشَّارِبِ وَإِعْفَاءُ اللِّحْيَةِ وَالسِّوَاكُ وَاسْتِنْشَاقُ الْمَاءِ وَقَصُّ الأَظْفَارِ وَغَسْلُ الْبَرَاجِمِ وَنَتْفُ الإِبْطِ وَحَلْقُ الْعَانَةِ وَانْتِقَاصُ الْمَاءِ " . قَالَ زَكَرِيَّاءُ قَالَ مُصْعَبٌ وَنَسِيتُ الْعَاشِرَةَ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَكُونَ الْمَضْمَضَةَ . زَادَ قُتَيْبَةُ قَالَ وَكِيعٌ انْتِقَاصُ الْمَاءِ يَعْنِي الاِسْتِنْجَاءَ .
A'isha Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Ten are the acts according to fitra: clipping the moustache, letting the beard grow, using the tooth-stick, snuffing water in the nose, cutting the nails, washing the finger joints, plucking the hair under the armpits, shaving the pubes and cleaning one's private parts with water. The narrator said: I have forgotten the tenth, but it may have been rinsing the mouth.
[1] That is, cleaning the private area, using water.Reference : Sahih Muslim 261aIn-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 71USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 2, Hadith 502
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 261a
This hadith about fitra gives a clear picture of clean daily habits in Islam. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) named acts linked to natural purity: clipping the moustache, letting the beard grow, using the tooth-stick, taking water into the nose, cutting nails, washing finger joints, removing underarm hair, shaving pubic hair, and cleaning the private parts with water. The narrator also says the tenth was forgotten, and it may have been rinsing the mouth. The main lesson is simple: personal cleanliness is not a small side matter. It is part of the Prophet’s guidance. The hadith joins grooming, oral care, and private cleanliness in one easy list.
What we learn from this hadith
- Clean grooming is part of the guidance mentioned in the hadith.
- The tooth-stick and rinsing or nasal cleaning point to care for the mouth and nose.
- Cleaning private parts with water is clearly mentioned as part of purity.
- The narrator’s wording shows care in reporting what was remembered and what was uncertain.
