Clean thumbs

Manal was playing in the backyard when she heard her father calling for her. ‘I’m here by my flowers, Baba!’, she answered. Her father came to tell her that he was going to the car wash, and asked her if she wanted to go with him.

Manal loved the car wash. She liked all those bubbles and brushes and the sounds they made. She enjoyed sitting in the car and watching the big sponges swoosh all around her. She wiped her hands on her jeans and went to get her shoes.

She passed the living room, and saw her father praying his Asr salah. She smiled and continued walking to the closet. Manal was just finishing up putting on her sneakers and coat, when her dad came to get his shoes.

‘Hey bunny, all set? Oops did you forget to wash up, Manal? C’mon let me wipe that dirt off for you’, said her father leading her to the bathroom.

Her dad sure loved to be clean all the time. He even changed his clothes sometimes, when it was time to pray. He said he liked the feeling it gave him. After he wiped off her face and fingers, they got into the car and headed to the car wash.

Yesterday Manal’s dad had gotten some plants for their yard. Some of the pots had moved about during the car ride, so there was soil all over the trunk. She didn’t think it was much of a problem, but her dad wanted to get the car cleaned right away.

They got to the car wash and Manal jumped in her seat! She loved those whooshing brushes and the spraying soapy water. ‘Oooooh Baba! This is almost as good as that super fast roller coaster ride we went on!’, she said excitedly as the car moved along through the super cool noisy tunnel.

The outside of the car was clean and now they had to wait for a bit, so the people could clean the seats and the floor.

Manal didn’t like this part as much. Her dad bought her a bag of crackers to eat while they waited. She sat next to her dad on the waiting bench, munching her snack and watching the people do their jobs. ‘Manal, do you know why I wash up so often?’, asked her dad.

‘Hmm, because you like to play with water?’, she answered.

Her dad chuckled and tousled her hair. ‘Well I used to, as a kid. But now it’s because being clean and looking tidy is a part of our faith. I like to play in the dirt and plant flowers, just like you. But afterwards, I always make sure I wash up. The Quran has so many verses on being clean or pure. And when I go to pray*, I always want to look my best for Allah.’

‘So you mean, I can get messy when I’m doing stuff – but I always need to clean up afterward?’

‘That’s right. And especially if you’re digging, eating or painting. That way you don’t get stuff around you messy either.’, explained her Baba.

Their car was ready, and the cashier signaled for them to come over. Manal was just about to wipe her hands on her pants, when her dad glanced at her and raised his eyebrow. She giggled and grabbed a napkin from the counter, wiped the crumbs off her fingers and threw the empty bag of crackers and napkin into the trashcan. Her dad smiled and held out his hand. She walked with him to their newly washed car and they both drove home.

* O Children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of Prayer. (Al-A`raf 7:31)