when a person washes his face, the sins committed by his face depart; when he washes his hands, the sins committed by his hands—those very hands with which he may have struck or grasped—are washed away; and when he washes his feet, the sins committed by his feet are removed, until he emerges free of sin, praise be to Allah. This clearly demonstrates the merit of ablution. Yet how many of us actually keep this virtue in mind? Will this merit be recorded for a person whether he is mindful of it or not? The apparent—Allah willing—is that it will be written for him in either case. Still, remembering it makes the deed more perfect, for when a person is mindful he anticipates his reward from Allah and is certain that He will repay him fully. The situation is different for one who performs ablution while heedless. Even so, we hope that Allah will record the reward as well for the heedless person who performs wudu simply to clear his obligation. Allah is the One who grants success.

1029 – It is also related from Abū Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came to the graveyard and said, “Peace be upon you, abode of a believing people, and, if Allah wills, we shall soon be joining you. How I wish we could see our brothers.” The Companions asked, “Are we not your brothers, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “You are my Companions; our brothers are those who have not yet come.” They asked, “How will you recognize those of your community who have not yet arrived, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Tell me: if a man owned horses with white blazes and stockings among solid-black horses, would he not recognize his own horses?” They answered, “Certainly, O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “They will come with radiant faces and gleaming limbs from the traces of ablution, and I will be waiting for them at the Cistern.” Reported by Muslim.