Wudu: Purification Of Body And Soul From Sins

The act of wudu, or ablution, is a ritual purification with water in Islam, performed before prayer and after certain other activities. According to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, wudu washes away sins. Abu Umamah reported that the Prophet said: When a man performs his ablution intending to pray and he washes his hands, the sins of his hands fall down with the first drop. When he rinses his mouth and nose, the sins of his tongue and lips fall down with the first drop. When he washes his face, the sins of his hearing and sight fall down with the first drop. When he washes his arms to his elbows and his feet to his ankles, he is purified from every sin and fault, like the day he was born from his mother.

Wudu washes away sins of the face, mouth, and nostrils

Wudu is an important Islamic practice, and it is believed that it washes away sins. According to the Prophet Muhammad, when a man performs his ablution intending to pray, the first drop of water washes away the sins of the body part it touches.

When a Muslim rinses their mouth and nose during wudu, the first drop of water washes away the sins of their tongue and lips. This is because the mouth and nose are considered part of the face, and rinsing them is obligatory.

The teachings of Prophet Muhammad state that when a man washes his face during wudu, the first drop of water washes away the sins of his hearing and sight. Thus, wudu washes away the sins of the face, mouth, and nostrils.

The purification of the self through wudu is not valid if one deliberately or mistakenly omits rinsing the mouth and nose. This is because the mouth and nose are included in the washing of the face, which is enjoined in the Quranic verse.

Wudu washes away sins of the hands

According to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, wudu washes away the sins of the hands. Abu Umamah reported that the Messenger of Allah said:

> "Whenever a man performs his ablution intending to pray and he washes his hands, the sins of his hands fall down with the first drop."

Abu Huraira also reported that the Messenger of Allah said:

> "When a Muslim or believer washes his face (in course of ablution), every sin he contemplated with his eyes, will be washed away from his face along with water, or with the last drop of water; when he washes his hands, every sin they wrought will be effaced from his hands with the water, or with the last drop of water."

Therefore, wudu washes away sins of the hands, as well as the sins of the face, tongue, lips, hearing, sight, feet, and arms.

Wudu washes away sins of the feet

Wudu, or ablution, is a fundamental purification ritual in Islam. It is a prerequisite for various acts of worship, including Salah (prayer), reading or touching the Quran, and entering the Masjid (mosque).

The Prophet Muhammad is quoted as saying:

> "When a Muslim, or a believer, washes his face (in the course of Wudu), every sin which he committed with his eyes will be washed away from his face with water, or with the last drop of water; when he washes his hands, every sin which is committed by his hands will be effaced from his hands with the water, or with the last drop of water; and when he washes his feet, every sin his feet committed will be washed away with the water, or with the last drop of water; until he finally emerges cleansed of all his sins."

Thus, wudu washes away sins of the feet, as well as the hands, eyes, lips, tongue, hearing, and sight.

The act of wudu is not just a physical act of cleansing but also a spiritual one. It signifies the purification of the heart and soul, allowing the believer to stand before Allah in a state of physical and spiritual cleanliness.

Wudu washes away sins of the eyes

According to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, wudu washes away the sins of the eyes. Abu Umamah reported that the Messenger of Allah said:

> "Whenever a man performs his ablution intending to pray and he washes his face, the sins of his hearing and sight fall down with the first drop. When he washes his arms to his elbows and his feet to his ankles, he is purified from every sin and fault, like the day he was born from his mother."

Abu Huraira also reported that the Prophet said:

> "When a Muslim or 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 water, or with the last drop of water."

Qadi Iyad commented on this hadith, saying:

> "What is meant by their coming out with the water is metaphorical and figurative in terms of their forgiveness, because sins are not physical entities that can literally come out."

Al-Qusairi said:

> "The person performing ablution should intend, when washing his hands, to purify them from what distances him from Allah, and to shake off anything that distracts him from Allah. By rinsing the mouth, he purifies it from the contamination of sinful speech. By passing water through his hair, he detaches it from what may lower him from the highest levels to the lowest. By washing his face, he purifies himself from following whims, seeking undesirable status, and showing humility for reasons other than Allah. By cleansing his nose, he removes pride and arrogance. By purifying his eyes, he removes the inclination to look at disliked things and seeking benefits or harms for other than Allah."

Wudu washes away sins of the ears

Wudu is the Islamic procedure for ablution, which is performed before prayer. According to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, the performance of wudu washes away sins.

Abu Umamah reported the following hadith:

> "Whenever a man performs his ablution intending to pray and he washes his hands, the sins of his hands fall down with the first drop. When he rinses his mouth and nose, the sins of his tongue and lips fall down with the first drop. When he washes his face, the sins of his hearing and sight fall down with the first drop. When he washes his arms to his elbows and his feet to his ankles, he is purified from every sin and fault, like the day he was born from his mother. If he stands for prayer, Allah will raise his status by a degree. If he sits, he will sit in peace."

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 22267

Grade: Sahih li ghayrihi (authentic due to external evidence) according to Al-Arna’ut

This hadith demonstrates that wudu washes away the sins of the ears, as well as the sins of the eyes, tongue, lips, hands, arms, and feet.

In another hadith, Abu Huraira reported:

> "When a bondsman—a Muslim or a believer—washes his face (in course of ablution), every sin he contemplated with his eyes, will be washed away from his face along with water, or with the last drop of water; when he washes his hands, every sin they wrought will be effaced 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 have walked will be washed away with the water or with the last drop of water with the result that he comes out pure from all sins."

Source: Sahih Muslim 244

This hadith reiterates that wudu washes away the sins of hearing, along with the sins of sight and the rest of the body.

While the majority of scholars view that wiping the ears during wudu is recommended, it is not obligatory. However, the practice of wiping the ears during wudu was always performed by Prophet Muhammad, and some scholars consider it obligatory.

Therefore, it can be concluded that wudu washes away the sins of the ears, as well as the rest of the body, according to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.

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