There are two ways to understand the meaning of “Purification is half of iman.” The first way to understand purification is in terms of physical cleanliness. Although Islam teaches cleanliness in all things, our homes and masajid are not always a reflection of this. We should strive for cleanliness in all things, whether it is keeping our homes clean or our masjids orderly.
The word iman is also used to mean prayer, which reflects the importance of prayer as the foundation for iman (faith). Prayer is the distinguishing factor between belief and disbelief. When one goes to pray, they must first make wudu (abolution). Therefore, the second way to understand the concept of purification is that it is half of the prayer. A physical act of purification enables us to prepare for prayer externally and internally.
