Abu Malik al-Ash‘ari reported God’s messenger as saying, “Being purified is half of faith, saying ‘Praise be to God’ fills the scale, saying ‘Glory be to God’ and ‘Praise be to God' fill or fills* the space between the heavens and the earth, prayer is a light, sadaqa is a proof , endurance is a shining glory, and the Qur’an is a proof on your behalf or against you. All men go out early and sell themselves, thereby setting themselves free or destroying themselves.” *An alternative reading is given in the text, the first feminine dual and the second feminine singular. Muslim transmitted it. A version has, “Saying ‘There is no god but God’ and ‘God is most great’ fills the space between heaven and earth.” I did not find this version in the two Sahihs, in al-Humaidi's book [Al-jam' bain as-sahihain], or in the Jami but Darimi mentioned it in place of “Glory be to God and Praise be to God.”

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Shall I not guide you to something for which God blots out sins and raises men's ranks?” When his hearers expressed their desire that he should tell them, he said, “Performing complete ablution although circumstances make it difficult, travelling far to mosques, and looking expectantly to the next time of prayer after prayers have been said. That is the defence of the frontier.”* The tradition of Malik b. Anas has, “That is the defence of the frontier; that is the defence of the frontier. He repeated it twice.” *Here meant in a spiritual sense, as a defence against infidelity and wrongdoing. Muslim transmitted it. Tirmidhi’s version has thrice.

‘Uthman reported God’s messenger as saying, “When the time for a prescribed prayer comes, if any Muslim observes proper ablution, humility and bowing, it will be an expiation for his past sins, so long as he has not committed a major sin; and that means for all time.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Uqba b. 'Amir reported God’s messenger as saying, “If any Muslim performs ablution well, then stands and prays two rak'as, setting about their performance both inwardly and outwardly, he will be guaranteed paradise.” Muslim transmitted it.

He also reported God’s messenger as saying, “In a believer adornments will reach the places which ablution reaches." Muslim transmitted it.

Thauban reported God’s messenger as saying, “Keep to the straight path, which you will not be able to do, know that your best action is prayer and that only a believer observes ablution carefully." Malik, Ahmad, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God's messenger as saying, “He who performs ablution when in a state of purity will have ten blessings recorded for him.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Jabir reported God’s messenger as saying, “The key of paradise is prayer, and the key of prayer is being purified." Ahmad transmitted it.

Shabib b. Abu Rauh reported on the authority of one of the companions of God’s messenger that God’s messenger prayed the morning prayer and recited Ar-Rum*, but became confused about it. When he finished the prayer he said, “What is the matter with people who pray along with us without performing the purification properly? It is only those who cause us confusion about the Qur’an.” *Qur’an, xxx. Nasa’i transmitted it.

A man of the B. Sulaim said: God's messenger counted them in my hand, or in his hand, saying, “The glorifying of God is half the scale, ‘Praise be to God’ fills it, ‘God is most great’ fills the space between heaven and earth, fasting is the half of endurance, and being purified is half of faith.” Tirmidhi transmitted it and said that this is a hasan tradition.

‘Abdallah as-Sunabihi reported God’s messenger as saying, “When a believer performs ablution, then rinses his mouth, the sins go out from his mouth; when he snuffs up water, the sins go out from his nose; when he washes his face, the sins go out from his face so that they go out from under his eyelashes; when he washes his hands, the sins go out from his hands so that they go out from under his fingernails; when he wipes his head, the sins go out from his head so that they go out from his ears; and when he washes his feet, the sins go out from his feet so that they go out from under his toenails. Then his walking to the mosque and his prayer will provide extra blessings for him.” Malik and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Abu Huraira told of God’s messenger coming to the cemetery and saying, “Peace be upon you, believing ones, and if God will we shall join you. I wish we had seen our brethren.” He was asked, “Are we not your brethren, messenger of God?” and replied, “You are my companions; our brethren are those who have not yet been born.” They asked, “How will you recognise those members of your people who have not yet been born, messenger of God?” He said, “Tell me; supposing a man had horses with white blazes and white marks on their legs among horses which were pure black, would he not recognise his own horses?” They replied, “Certainly, messenger of God.” He said, “They will come with white faces and arms and legs owing to ablution, and I will arrive at the Tank before them.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Darda’ reported God’s messenger as saying, “I shall be the first to be permitted to prostrate himself on the day of resurrection, and I shall be the first to be permitted to raise his head. I shall then look at what is in front of me and recognise my people among the peoples; and I shall do the same behind me, on my right hand and on my left.” A man asked, “How will you recognise your people among the peoples from Noah’s time onwards?” and he replied, “They will have white faces, arms and legs owing to the mark of ablution, no others being like that. I shall recognise them because they will be given their books in their right hands, and I shall recognise them with their offspring running before them.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “Prayer without purification is not accepted, neither is sadaqa from the profits of un­ faithful dealing.” Muslim transmitted it.

Jabir b. Samura said that a man asked God’s messenger whether they should perform ablution after eating mutton and he replied, “You may perform ablution or not, as you wish.” He asked if they should perform ablution after eating camel flesh and he replied, “Yes, perform ablution after eating camel flesh.” He then asked whether he might say prayers in sheepfolds and he replied, “Yes”; but when he asked whether he might say prayers in places where camels lie down, he replied, “No.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If any of you has a pain in his abdomen, but is doubtful whether or not anything has issued from him, he should not leave the mosque unless he hears a sound or perceives a smell.” Muslim transmitted it.

Buraida said that God’s messenger prayed the prayers on the day of the Conquest with one ablution and wiped over his shoes. ‘Umar said, “You have done something today that you have not been accustomed to do.” He replied, “I have done it purposely, ‘Umar.” Muslim transmitted it.

Suwaid b. an-Nu‘man said that he went out with God’s messenger in the year of Khaibar , and when they were at as-Sahba’ which is very near Khaibar, he prayed the afternoon prayer. He then called for food, and when only some flour was produced, he ordered it to be moistened; then God’s messenger and the company ate. After that he got up to pray the sunset prayer, and when he and the company had rinsed their mouths he prayed without performing ablution. Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “No ablution is necessary except when one makes a sound or breaks wind.” Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

‘Ali said: I asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about prostatic fluid and he replied, “For prostatic fluid ablution is necessary, but for seminal emission washing.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.