Cleanliness, Public Pedagogy and Najjifu Afniatakum -Wahidul Islam

Once upon a time in a small town in Bangladesh, there lived a wise old teacher named Hakeem. He often walked around the neighborhood with a broom in his hand and a smile on his face. He also carried paint and brush for graffiti on cleanliness. Children admired him, adults respected him, and even the stray cats followed him because wherever Hakeem went, the streets became cleaner, brighter and the dumb walls became interactive with his wall writings.

One morning, as he swept the road near the mosque, he said to a group of curious children, “Do you know what the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said? ‘Najjifu Afniatakum’ — clean your courtyards.” He also requested the Imam of the mosque whom he met on the way, to inspire prayees in his mosque to always carry a bag with them so that they can keep the chocolate pouch, banana leaves or biscuit packets in it. And thus keep their courtyards clean.

A boy named Rahim asked, “Why is cleaning so important, Uncle Hakeem?”

Hakeem sat them down and told them a story—not just from the past, but about today’s world which is currently grappling with an immense and growing waste problem. As of 2023, global municipal solid waste (MSW) generation was approximately 2.3 billion tonnes annually. Projections indicate that this figure could rise to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050 if current trends persist.

“In our country,” he began, “some people still throw litter on the streets. In some villages, people don’t have proper toilets. But that can change—and fast—if we all work together. This is called public pedagogy, a fancy word that means learning together through media, campaigns, and community action.”

He pointed to a nearby wall where a graffiti was sprayed by him, making people aware of littering and a poster on another wall which showed a famous actor picking up garbage. “TV shows, Facebook, and even plays in the streets can help people understand why cleanliness matters.”

The children nodded eagerly.

“Now,” Hakeem continued, “if our leaders, teachers, and even religious figures talk often and again about keeping our surroundings clean, people will listen. If we teach children like you to care about clean spaces, you’ll go home and teach your families too.”

Rahim’s little sister giggled, “Like when I told Ammi to use the dustbin?”

“Exactly!” said Hakeem. “That’s how real change starts.”

Then he told them about a time not too long ago when Bangladesh reduced open defecation a lot—just in 10 years! “They used posters, village meetings, and even prizes for clean homes,” he said. “More recently, we’ve seen people cleaning riverbanks and reducing plastic waste. It can be done!”

“Let me warn you against plastic waste,” he said adding that dangerous plastic waste is a significant component of this issue. Humans produce over 350 million metric tons of plastic waste each year. Without changes to current policies, global plastic waste generation is projected to triple by 2060, reaching approximately one billion metric tons annually.​

“But what about rules?” asked another child, “Shouldn’t people get punished if they make a mess?”

Hakeem nodded. “In Islam, harming others or the environment is a serious matter. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said removing something harmful from the road is charity. Scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah said rulers must keep public spaces clean. So, yes—fines, community service, even public warnings can be part of the solution. Some Muslim countries already do this, like Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.”

He paused, then added gently, “But Islam also teaches us that cleanliness is part of faith. Not just our bodies, but our homes, streets, and even courtyards. A clean environment is part of being a good Muslim—and a kind human.”

He also said, “The financial implications are substantial. In 2020, the global direct cost of waste management was estimated at USD 252 billion. When considering the hidden costs associated with pollution, health issues, and climate change resulting from poor waste disposal practices, this figure rises to USD 361 billion.” “Without urgent action, the annual global cost could nearly double to USD 640.3 billion by 2050,” the cleanliness crusader sighed.

Hakeem further said, “Great Islamic scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah and Yusuf al-Qaradawi said that: Throwing waste on roads is harmful and should be stopped by the government. Dumping waste irresponsibly is haram (forbidden) if it harms people or the environment. Cleanliness is a trust from Allah that we must protect!

If someone litters in a Muslim country, the government, following the footsteps of Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and UAE, can give a punishment (called taʿzīr).”
The children looked around. The road was clean now, but there were leaves and wrappers down the lane.
“Let’s go clean that too!” shouted Rahim.
And so they did, laughing and learning as they worked.
From that day on, more people in the town started keeping their courtyards and roads clean. They didn’t wait for rules or rewards—they did it because they understood, deep down, that cleanliness brings blessings. Just like Hakeem always said:
“Clean streets, clean hearts, clean faith.”