Abu Uthman says that once I was with Hazrat Salman Farsi (may Allah be pleased with him) under a tree. He took hold of a dry branch of it and shook it, so its leaves began to fall. Then he said, "O Abu Uthman! Why do you not ask me why I did this?" I said, "Why did you do this?" He said, "Once I was with the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) under a tree, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did the same with me, and the same question and answer took place. After that, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said that when a Muslim performs ablution well and offers the five prayers, his sins fall away just as these leaves are falling." Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recited this verse: 'And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember.'