Health and Islam: Taking a shower and bathing

Islam has directed both man and woman to wash all over the body, with waer soon after 'physical intimacy' between a husband and a wife or other 'release' of fluids.

Allah (swt) says:

And if you are under an obligation to perform a total ablution, then wash yourselves.

Modern science has proven that the human body loses a part of its vitality and activity after each "intimate relationship', and will not return by any action other than washing all of the body with water.  It is also obligatory upon women to wash their bodies and remove the dirt after their monthly cycles.  This washing recovers the woman's vitality and activity.  Muslim jurists refer to other obligatory and recommended baths that make Muslims clean, in most cases, and away from dirt and filth.

From the book: The Educational system in Islam.
(Mentioned in the post A discussion on health in Islam)
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