Ablution

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"Ablutions" links here. This article refers to the practice of ritual washing to remove sin. See disambiguation for other uses.

Ablution may refer to the practice of removing sins, diseases or earthly defilements through the use of ritual washing, or the practice of using ritual washing as one part of a ceremony to remove sin or disease.

Contents

1 Ablution in the Hebrew Bible
2 Ablution in Judaism
3 Ablution in Christianity
4 Ablution in Islam
5 Ablution in Hinduism
6 Ablution in the Bahá'í Faith
7 Ablution in other religions
8 Ablution references in literature

Ablution in the Hebrew Bible

While, according to the Torah, God commands ablution in a number of circumstances, nowhere does it state that ablution itself washes away sin or cures disease.

When a person was initiated into a higher station: e.g., when Aaron and his sons became priests, they were washed with water prior to their investiture with the priestly robes (Lev. 8:6).
Before the priests approached the altar in the Temple, they were required to wash their hands and their feet.
Ablution is part of the prescribed procedure for removing ritual impurity. Eleven forms of this process are described in Leviticus 12-15.
Ablution is prescribed as one part of certain legal proceedings, symbolizing that a person was not guilty of a crime. For example, the elders of the nearest village where a murder was committed were required, if the murderer were unknown, to wash their hands over the expiatory heifer, saying, while doing so, "Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it" (Deut. 21:1-9).

Ablution in Judaism

See the article on Ablution in Judaism.

Ablution in Christianity

The Christian practice of baptism is an instance of ablution. (Foot-washing is another Christian practice involving washing. However, it signifies humility and service to others.)

According to the book of Matthew, Pilate declared himself innocent of the blood of Jesus by washing his hands (27:24). This act of Pilate may not, however, have been borrowed from the custom of the Jews. The same practice was common among the Greeks and Romans.

According to Christian tradition, the Pharisees carried the practice of ablution to great excess.() Mark (7:1-5) refers to the ceremonial ablutions. The Pharisees washed their hands "oft," more correctly, "with the fist" (R.V., "diligently"), or as an old father, Theophylact, explains it, "up to the elbow." (Compare also Gospel of Mark 7:4; Lev. 6:28; 11: 32-36; 15:22) (See Washing.)

Ablution in Islam

People washing before prayer at the Badshahi mosque in Lahore, Pakistan.

In Islam, Wudu or ablution is observed by Muslims preceding each prayer, if one is in a state of impurity. Physical cleanliness before Allah (God) is deemed a necessity and purification is intended for not only one's soul, but body as well. One must wash the face, feet, hands, ears, arms and other bodily regions prior to prayer recitation and prostrations. If footwear remains clean but the ablution becomes invalid, one is allowed to just gently pass wet fingers on the upper part of the foot garment, but the other prerequisites still must be carried out. Ablution remains valid for up to twenty-four hours (or in case of a journey, three days) and is nullified if blood, pus or vomit is drawn, if one urinates, passes wind or stool, or falls into deep sleep. If clean or sufficient quantities of water are unavailable, worshippers are allowed to use clean sand or earth on the face and hands. Cleansing oneself is also committed before one touches the Qur'an, the authoritative holy text for Muslims. A full body ablution, ghusl, is carried out after sexual intercourse, the termination of a woman's menstrual cycle or when one first becomes a Muslim.

Ablution in Hinduism

Ablution is also found in Hinduism. Hindus wash before praying, preferably in running water and washing in certain rivers like Ganga is believed to give spiritual benefits. It is also practiced after the death of someone and in earlier days by people of the upper caste who might have come into contact with untouchables like dalits to maintain purity. It is also considered auspicious to always take a holy bath before any festival.

Ablution in the Bahá'í Faith

In the Bahá'í Faith, ablutions are required to perform the Obligatory Prayer and prior to the daily recitation ninety-five times of the Greatest Name:

Ablutions are specifically associated with certain prayers. They must precede the offering of the three Obligatory Prayers, the daily recitation of 'Alláh-u-Abhá' ninety-five times, and the recital of the verse prescribed as an alternative to obligatory prayer and fasting for women in their courses.

The prescribed ablutions consist of washing the hands and the face in preparation for prayer. In the case of the medium Obligatory Prayer, this is accompanied by the recitation of certain verses.

That ablutions have a significance beyond washing may be seen from the fact that even should one have bathed oneself immediately before reciting the Obligatory Prayer, it would still be necessary to perform ablutions.

When no water is available for ablutions, a prescribed verse is to be repeated five times, and this provision is extended to those for whom the use of water would be physically harmful. (Note 34, Kitáb-i-Aqdas)

Ablution in other religions

Shintoism also has a form of ablution, Misogi, which is a kind of dousing in a natural source of flowing water.

Ablution references in literature

In Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, there is a reference to ablution. "Out, out damned spot", cries Lady Macbeth, unable to cleanse her guilt by washing her hands.

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