عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ إِذَا تَوَضَّأَ الْعَبْدُ الْمُسْلِمُ أَوِ الْمُؤْمِنُ فَغَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ خَرَجَ مِنْ وَجْهِهِ كُلُّ خَطِيئَةٍ نَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا بِعَيْنَيْهِ مَعَ الْمَاءِ أَوْ مَعَ آخِرِ قَطْرِ الْمَاءِ فَإِذَا غَسَلَ يَدَيْهِ خَرَجَ مِنْ يَدَيْهِ كُلُّ خَطِيئَةٍ كَانَ بَطَشَتْهَا يَدَاهُ مَعَ الْمَاءِ أَوْ مَعَ آخِرِ قَطْرِ الْمَاءِ فَإِذَا غَسَلَ رِجْلَيْهِ خَرَجَتْ كُلُّ خَطِيئَةٍ مَشَتْهَا رِجْلاَهُ مَعَ الْمَاءِ أَوْ مَعَ آخِرِ قَطْرِ الْمَاءِ حَتَّى يَخْرُجَ نَقِيًّا مِنَ الذُّنُوب

Abu Hurairah (R) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: when a Muslim or a believer washes his face (in the course of Wudu’), every sin he has committed with his eyes is washed away from his face along with the water, or with the last drop of water. When he washes his hands, every sin they wrought is erased from his hands with the water, or with the last drop of water, and when he washes his feet, every sin towards which his feet walked is washed away with the water, or with the last drop of water, with the result that he comes out cleansed of all his sins…

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WUDU ’ (ABLUTION)

This Hadith mentions the excellence of Wudu’. Obviously a Muslim who performs Wudu’ five times daily would be free from sins and dirt. So, Wudu’ is a means of both outward and inward cleanliness.

Regarding Wudu’ (ablution) Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Qur’an:

يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُوا بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ

“O you who believe! When you intend to offer As-Salat (the prayer), wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, rub (by passing wet hand over) your heads, and (wash) your feet up to the ankles”

Before prayer, every Muslim must cleanse his hands, face, mouth and feet with clean water, removing all traces of stool, urine, or any other dirt. In this way he purifies himself physically and spiritually.

Wudu’ in Arabic language means beauty, goodness and light. There is a connection between the literal meaning and the meaning of the term. Because, when a Muslim performs Wudu’, he cleanses himself both physically and spiritually. He removes all kinds of physical dirt from his body and removes spiritual dirt like arrogance, envy, lust and destructive aims from his heart. Thus, he becomes a beautiful and good human both physically and spiritually. On the other hand, the Messenger of Allah (S) informed us that the parts of the body Muslims had washed in ablution will shine on the Day of Resurrection and that he will make the difference between his Ummah (community) and other communities by this shining on that Day. So, Wudu’ is a symbol of physical and spiritual cleanliness.

A TRUE STORY ABOUT ABLUTION

A doctor and an author were discussing several topics. Despite the doctor being against Islam and Muslims, the author was defending them. The doctor attacked:

- Islamic countries are undeveloped, and the Muslims do not care of hygienic efforts. They are so dirty.

Upon this author replied him:

-I do not agree with you. On the contrary, they are so clean. For example my feet are cleaner than your face!

The doctor was shocked:

- “It is impossible” he said.

The author asked him:

-How many times do you wash your face a day?

-Once or twice, doctor said.

The Author replied:

Muslim, Tahaarah 32

Al-Maidah: 6