* The tradition of Malik b. Anas has,“That is the defence of the frontier; that is the defence of the frontier. He repeated it twice.”*Here meant in a spiritual sense, as a defence against infidelity and wrongdoing. Muslim transmitted it. Tirmidhi’s version has thrice.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying,“When a Muslim, or a believer, washes his face in the course of ablution, every sin he contemplated with his eyes will come forth from his face along with the water, or with the last drop of water; when he washes his hands, every sin they wrought will come forth 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 come out with the water, or with the last drop of water, with the result that he will come forth pure from offences.”Muslim transmitted it.

‘Uthman reported God’s messenger as saying,“When the time for a prescribed prayer comes, if any Muslim observes proper ablution, humility and bowing, it will be an expiation for his past sins, so long as he has not committed a major sin; and that means for all time.”Muslim transmitted it.

‘Uthman performed ablution, pouring water over his hands three times, then rinsing his mouth and snuffing up water, then washing his face three times, then washing his right arm up to the elbow three times, then washing his left arm up to the elbow three times, then wiping his head, then washing his right foot three times, then the left three times. He then said,“I have seen God’s messenger performing ablution as I have done it just now,”adding,“If anyone performs ablution as I have done, then prays two rak'as* without allowing his thoughts to be distracted, his past offences will be forgiven him.”*A section of the daily prayers. Each time of prayer has a specified number of rak'as (Bukhari and Muslim, the wording being Bukhari’s.)