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GLOBAL NEWS THE TURKISH HAMMAM IS NOT MERELY FOR PHYSICAL CLEANSING IT IS AN ACTIVITY DEEPLY ROOTED IN MUSLIMS PUBLIC AND RELIGIOUS LIFESTYLE
This article examines the hammam, or traditional Islamic bathhouse, as both a spiritual and communal institution in Muslim societies. Building on Greco-Roman thermae, the hammam evolved into a space rooted in Islamic principles of purification, linked to rituals like ghusl and wudu (ablution). Prof. Mesut Idriz highlights its role in hygiene, spirituality, and urban life, while Prof. Ebru Ibish stresses its connection to Islam’s teaching that “cleanliness is half of faith”. More than a bathhouse, the hammam embodied equality, health, and hospitality, leaving an enduring legacy that continues to inspire discussions on heritage, wellness, and community today.
Unlike the ancient Greco-Roman thermae, which were primarily used for bathing and relaxation, Turkish public bathhouses, known as hammams, played a vital role in the Muslim world as centers of spirituality and community life, notes Mesut Idriz, Professor of Islamic Studies at Sharjah University, in a new article.
Prof. Idriz, who is also the Director of Sharjah International Foundation for the History of Muslim and Arab Sciences (SIFHAMS), exposes in his research the history and cultural significance of the hammam, or traditional Islamic bathhouse, tracing its roots and evolution across Muslim societies.
For more information, click here
https://muslimheritage.com/turkish-hammam/
https://sifhams.sharjah.ac.ae/en/ne/Pages/detail.aspx?mcid=267&clt=en
