then observing the prescribed order in it was obligatory. The same applies to the prescribed order here.

His saying, Most High: “And if you are in a state of major ritual impurity, then purify yourselves”—that is, perform ghusl. Abu al-Hasan al-Sarakhsī informed us; Zahīr ibn Ahmad informed us; Abu Ishaq al-Hashimī informed us; Abu Mus'ab narrated from Malik, from Hisham ibn Urwah, from his father, from Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that “when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, performed ghusl after major ritual impurity, he would begin by washing his hands. Then he would perform ablution as he did for prayer. Then he would put his fingers into the water and run them through the roots of his hair. Then he would pour three handfuls of water over his head with his hands, and then pour water over his entire body.” (1)

His saying, Most High: “And if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you has come from relieving himself, or you have had contact with women, and you cannot find water, then seek clean earth and wipe your faces and hands with it”—this proves that it is obligatory to wipe the face and hands with clean earth, which is soil. “Allah does not intend to impose hardship upon you” through what He has prescribed for you of ablution, ghusl, and dry ablution; “rather, He intends to purify you” from minor ritual impurities, major ritual impurity, and sins, “and to complete His favor upon you, so that you may be grateful.” Muhammad ibn Ka'b al-Qurazī said: “The completion of the favor is the expiation of sins through ablution,” just as Allah, Most High, says: “That Allah may forgive you your past and future sins” (Surah al-Fath, 2). Thus, He made the completion of His favor the forgiveness of his sins.

Abu al-Hasan Abd al-Wahhab ibn Muhammad al-Kisā'ī informed us; Abd al-Azīz ibn Ahmad al-Khallāl informed us; Abu al-Abbas al-Asamm informed us; al-Rabī' informed us; al-Shafi'i informed us; Sufyan narrated from Hisham ibn Urwah, from his father, from Humran, that Uthman performed ablution at al-Maqa'id, washing each limb three times, then said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say: ‘Whoever performs ablution as I have performed this ablution, his sins depart from his face, hands, and feet.’” (2)

Abu al-Hasan al-Sarakhsī informed us; Zahīr ibn Ahmad Abu Ishaq al-Hashimī informed us; Abu Mus'ab narrated from Malik, from Hisham ibn Urwah, from his father, from Humran, the freedman of Uthman, that Uthman ibn Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, was sitting at al-Maqa'id one day when the caller to prayer came and informed him that it was time for the afternoon prayer. He called for water and performed ablution, then said: “By Allah, I shall certainly relate to you a hadith, were it not for—”