The Principle of Original Cleanliness (Taharah)

Abstract

Original Cleanliness (taharah) is a supportive principle to that of original permissibility, and what it says is that all things are clean and nothing is unclean in the state of nature. Life itself is the origin of cleanliness, and this includes even pigs and dogs, although this is not without some disagreement. But only some animals are clean for human consumption, according to the rules of ritual slaughter. Juridically, taharah means cleanliness from impurity and filth in both the physical and nonphysical senses. Both of these can be temporary or permanent. Taharah is inclusive of both the religious and temporal dimensions of cleanliness.