Ablution
sins or diseases through the use of ritual washing, or the practice of using ritual washing as one part of a ceremony to remove sin or disease.
Ablution in the Hebrew Bible
Israelites in the Hebrew Bible did not believe that ablution could literally wash away sin or disease. However, they did believe that God commanded them to use cerain ablution ceremonies in a number of circumstances.
- When a person was initiated into a higher state: e.g., when Aaron and his sons became priests, they were washed with water previous to their investiture with the priestly robes (Lev. 8:6).
- Before the priests approached the altar of God, they were required to wash their hands and their feet.
- Ablution was part of the procedure for removing
Ablution in Judaism
There is an article on Ablution in Judaism today.
Ablution in Christianity
The Christian practices of baptism and foot-washing are instances of ablution.
Pilate declared himself innocent of the blood of Jesus by
washing his hands (Matt. 27:24). This act of Pilate may not,
however, have been borrowed from the custom of the Jews. The
same practice was common among the Greeks and Romans.
The Pharisees carried the practice of ablution to great
excess, thereby claiming extraordinary purity (Matt. 23:25).
Mark (7:1-5) refers to the ceremonial ablutions. The Pharisees
washed their hands "oft," more correctly, "with the fist" (R.V.,
"diligently"), or as an old father, Theophylact, explains it,
"up to the elbow." (Compare also Gospel of Mark 7:4; Lev. 6:28; 11: 32-36;
15:22) (See Washing.)
Ablution in Islam
In Islam, Wodoo or ablution is observed by Muslims preceding each prayer, if one is in a state of impurity. Physical cleanliness before Allah (God) is deemed a necessity and purification is intended for not only ones soul, but body as well. One must wash the face, feet, hands, ears, arms and other bodily regions prior to prayer recitation and prostrations. If footwear remains clean but the ablution becomes invalid, one is allowed to just gently pass wet fingers on the upper part of the foot garment, but the other prerequisites still must be carried out. Ablution remains valid for up to twenty-four hours (or in case of a journey, three days) and is nullified if blood, pus or vomit is drawn, if one urinates, passes wind or stool, or falls into deep sleep. If clean or sufficient quantities of water are unavailable, worshippers are allowed to use clean sand or earth on the face and hands. Cleansing oneself is also committed before one touches the Holy Qur'an, the authoritative holy text for Muslims. A full body ablution is carried out after sexual intercourse or if one intends to visit the local places of worship.
Ablution references in literature
In Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, there is a reference to ablution. "Out, out damned spot", cries Lady Macbeth, unable to cleanse her guilt by washing her hands.
