be successive, with no gap between washing one limb and washing the one that came before it; rather, the limbs should be washed one after another as far as possible.

These, then, are the obligatory elements of ablution that must be fulfilled, just as Allah has set them out in His Book.

The scholars have differed over the ruling on pronouncing the basmalah at the beginning of ablution—whether it is obligatory or merely recommended. In any case, all agree that it is prescribed and should not be neglected. Its wording is to say, “Bismillah” (“In the name of Allah”); and if one adds, “ar-Rahman ar-Rahim” (“the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful”), there is no harm.

The wisdom—Allah knows best—behind singling out these four limbs for ablution is that they are the quickest parts of the body to move in committing sins. Accordingly, purifying their outer surfaces is a reminder to purify their inner reality. The Prophet ﷺ informed us that whenever a Muslim washes any of these limbs, every sin committed by that limb is removed, and that his misdeeds flow out with the water, or with the last drop of water.

After washing these limbs, the Prophet ﷺ directed the believer to renew his faith by reciting the two testimonies of faith, indicating the combination of physical and spiritual purification. The physical purification is with water, in the manner Allah has described in His Book for washing these limbs; the spiritual purification is through the two testimonies, which cleanse a person of associating partners with Allah.

At the close of the verse on ablution, Allah the Exalted says, “Allah does not intend to place you in hardship; rather, He intends to purify you and to complete His favor upon you, so that you may be grateful” (Qur’an 5:6).