Abu Matar (may Allah have mercy on him) says: We were sitting with the Commander of the Faithful, Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), at the gate of Rahbah in the mosque when a man came and said, "Show me how the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) performed ablution." It was the time of decline (zawal). So he called Qanbar and said, "Bring a vessel of water." Then he washed his palms and face three times each, and rinsed his mouth three times, then put some fingers into his mouth, and put water into his nose three times, and washed his arms three times, and wiped his head once, and said, "The inner part of the head is from the face, and the outer part is from the head." Then he washed his feet up to the ankles three times each. At that time, drops were dripping from his beard onto his chest. Then he drank a sip of the water from the ablution and said, "Where is the one who asked about the ablution of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? The ablution of the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was like this."