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.
“The … two terms of thermae (ancient Greco-Roman) and hammam (Arabic and Muslim vocabulary) both refer to the meaning of steam bath or spreader of warmth…” Prof. Idriz. However, he adds that the hammam in Muslim societies played a religious role and was frequented to perform rituals that required the washing of the entire body in pure water and “in specific cases for both the living and the dead.” Prof. Idriz relates hammam bathing to the Islamic tradition of Ghusl, which he calls: “…major ablution (that) must be performed whenever a state of major ritual impurity has been incurred: following sexual intercourse, seminal emission, menstruation, or childbirth.”he hammam was an integral part of the urban planning of Islamic cities; although primarily a public bathing facility, it featured prominently in Islamic cultural life.
Inherited from the Roman thermae, Muslims across regions invested heavily in their construction, and some of the surviving hammams are preserved as architectural marvels of the Ottoman dynasty. The hammam tradition, while sharing similarities with Roman thermae and European spas, developed unique practices grounded in Islamic principles, says Prof. Idriz. He even links the role of the hammam in Islamic history to the emphasis that Islam’s holy book, the Quran, places on water as the source of life. In Islam, water has an elevated spiritual meaning, reflected in Islamic purification rituals such as wudu, Arabic for ablution, and the full-body wash or ghusl. These religious obligations helped popularize and institutionalize the hammam as a communal space accessible to all classes.
“The hammam tradition is rooted in the Islamic emphasis on cleanliness and the sacredness of water. Throughout Muslim history, the hammam made it easier for people to stay clean and spiritually prepared.” Ebru Ibish, Professor of Legal Studies and Ethics at the International Balkan University (IBU), Skopje, North Macedonia, relates the tradition of the hammam in the Muslim world to Islam’s emphasis on cleanliness and purification of the physical body, which for Muslims is part of the purification of the soul. “In Islam, the emphasis on cleanliness, attention to detail in personal hygiene, and spiritual purification are deeply embedded in religious teachings and daily practice. For this reason, it is only natural that the hammam, a place dedicated to cleansing both the body and spirit, is strongly associated with these core values of the faith.”When it comes to the popular appeal of the hammam, Muslims usually mention one widely recognized saying: “Cleanliness is half of faith.” Prof. Ibish states that cleanliness is a part of Islamic teachings, and the hammam for Muslims serves as a vital place for purification. “In line with this teaching, the hammam stands as a vital institution where Muslims historically fulfilled this aspect of their faith, making it a cornerstone of both religious observance and community life, highlighting the profound importance of maintaining personal hygiene.” Prof. Ibish maintains that Islam strongly emphasizes cleanliness and purity of both body and soul; thus, visiting the hammam for Muslims is more than a social or hygienic custom.
“It is deeply rooted in Islamic tradition that reflects the religion’s continuous reminder that maintaining purity is a duty not only for the physical body but also for the spiritual self. It is a practice that bridges inner and outer cleanliness.”
“The hammam is a practical institution in Islam. It is an aspect that offers a structured environment that encourages regular hygiene, while also fostering a sense of spiritual renewal and well-being through purification rituals.”
