The wisdom behind purification in Islam includes: 1. Purification is in harmony with the sound nature (fitrah) that Allah, may He be exalted, instilled in people. 2. Islam is a religion of cleanliness and beauty, and it encourages its followers to stand out among other people by cleaning their bodies, combing their hair, wearing the purest of clothes and smelling good. 3. Modern, well-founded scientific studies have proven that cleanliness and purification protect a person from many diseases, and that filth is the cause of many diseases. 4. The Muslim is required to meet and converse with his Lord, may He be exalted [in prayer]. 5. Whoever strives to purify his body and clothes from filth and impurities should be even keener to purify his heart and soul of bad characteristics.

• If Allah tests a person with calamity because of his sin, and he bears it with patience and gratitude, Allah, may He be exalted, will forgive him his sin, raise him in status in Paradise and give him the reward of those who are patient and seek reward with Him. • If the one who is affected is a disbeliever, then his calamity cannot be to raise him in status. • If the one who is affected is a Muslim who commits sin openly or is a blatant evildoer, then it is most likely that he is being requited and punished with this calamity. • If the Muslim is a devoted worshipper, obedient and righteous, and there is nothing between him and Allah but true servitude, gratitude, praise, repentance and submission to Him, may He be glorified, then it is most likely that this calamity is a kind of honour and raising in status. • If the one who is affected shows displeasure and panic, then it cannot be thought that his calamity is an honour from Allah to raise him in status. • The practical benefit that one should think about is that every calamity and test is good for him and will bring reward if he is patient and seeks reward with Allah, and that every test and calamity is bad for him if he panics and gets angry.