He ﷺ also said in a ḥadīth recorded by Abū Dāwūd and others: “None of you completes his prayer until he perfects the ablution as Allah has commanded: he must wash his face and his hands up to the elbows, then wipe over his head and his feet up to the ankles.”

Understand, therefore, O Muslim, that perfecting ablution does not mean pouring large quantities of water; it means making sure that water reaches every part of the limb. Excessive pouring is wastefulness, which is forbidden. A person may lavish water yet still fail to achieve the obligatory purification. When the limbs are fully washed while using only a little water, that is the practice sanctioned by the Law.

The two Ṣaḥīḥs relate that the Prophet ﷺ would perform ablution with one mudd and would bathe with one ṣāʿ—up to five mudd.

He ﷺ likewise forbade squandering water. He once passed by Saʿd while the latter was performing ablution and said, “What is this extravagance?” Saʿd replied, “Can there be extravagance in ablution?” The Prophet answered, “Yes, even if you were at a flowing river.” Reported by Aḥmad and Ibn Mājah, with corroborating chains. Extravagance is the opposite of moderation.