Abu Matar (may Allah have mercy on him) says: We were sitting at the Rahbah gate in the mosque with the Commander of the Faithful, Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), when a man came and said, "Show me the ablution (wudu) of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)." It was the time of decline (zawal), so he called for Qanbar, his servant, and said, "Bring me a vessel of water." Then he washed his palms and face three times each, rinsed his mouth three times, inserted his finger into his mouth, and put water into his nose three times. (The complete hadith will come in the chapter on the description of ablution.)