picturingjordan.com/content/posts/cleanliness-comes-from-faith.md

+++ title = "Cleanliness Comes From Faith" slug = "cleanliness-comes-from-faith" author = "Alan Orth" date = 2017-07-25T16:15:22+03:00 images = ["/2017/07/IMG_20161120_143235.jpg"] description = "Graffiti in downtown Amman encourages Jordanians to keep the city clean by appealing to their Muslim faith." categories = ["Islam"] tags = ["Graffiti", "Amman"] +++

{{< figure src="/2017/07/IMG_20161120_143235.jpg" title="Graffiti in downtown Amman appeals to the faithful" alt="Graffiti with Arabic inscription depicting someone putting trash in a trash can" >}}

There is a popular notion that cleanliness is an important part of the Islamic faith, though you wouldn't know it from walking around Jordan. I have never seen people throw coffee cups, half-eaten sandwiches, tissues, etc on the street so carelessly — and often times with such finesse — as here in Jordan.

I saw this graffiti while walking around downtown Amman and thought the irony was too much to not share it. Loosely translated (this apparently comes from the words, actions, or habits of the prophet Muhammad), it says "cleanliness comes from faith" (al-nadafa min al-iman).