Humran, who was the freed slave of Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), narrates that a water jug passed by Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him). He (may Allah be pleased with him) called for it, performed ablution, and completed his ablution thoroughly. Then he said, "If I had heard this from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) only once, twice, or three times, I would certainly not have narrated it to you. I have heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say (countless times): 'Whoever performs ablution and completes his ablution well, then stands for prayer, Allah will surely forgive his sins that are between that prayer and the next prayer.'" Ka'b bin Muhammad said, "Whenever I heard a hadith from any companion of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), I would search for it in the Qur'an. So I searched for it and found it: «إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُبِينًا (١) لِيَغْفِرَ لَكَ اللَّهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ وَيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكَ» (Al-Fath: 1,2) 'Indeed, We have given you a clear conquest, that Allah may forgive for you what preceded of your sin and what will follow and complete His favor upon you.' So I realized that indeed Allah did not complete His favor upon him (peace and blessings be upon him) until He forgave his sin. Then I recited this verse: «إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ» (Al-Ma'idah: 6) 'When you rise for prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows.' Until I reached: «وَلَكِنْ يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكُمْ» (Al-Ma'idah: 6) 'But He wants to purify you and complete His favor upon you.' So I recognized that indeed Allah did not complete His favor upon them until He forgave them."