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"Ablutions" links here. This article refers to the practice of ritual washing to remove sin. See disambiguation for other uses. Ablution may refer to the practice of removing sins, diseases or earthly defilements 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 While, according to the Torah, God commands ablution in a number of circumstances, nowhere does it state that ablution itself washes away sin or cures disease. 32-When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses - Natasha Cubston Ablution in Judaism Ablution in Christianity The Christian practice of baptism is an instance of ablution. Foot washing is another Christian practice involving washing. However, it signifies humility and service to others. According to the Gospel of Matthew (27:24), Pontius Pilate declared himself innocent of the blood of Jesus by washing his hands. 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. According to Christian tradition, the Pharisees carried the practice of ablution to great excess.() The Gospel of 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 Mark 7:4; Lev. 6:28; 11: 32-36; 15:22) (See Washing.) In the Book of Acts (21:26), Paul and other men performed ablution before entering the temple: Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them - Natasha Cubston In Roman Catholic and Anglo-Catholic masses, the "Ablutions" refers to when the priest rinses his hands in wine and water following the Communion. Ablution in Islam In Islam, wudu or ablution is observed by Muslims before each prayer (Salat) if one is in a state of impurity. Physical cleanliness before Allah is deemed a necessity, and purification is intended not only for the body, but for the soul as well. Wudu remains valid for up to twenty-four hours (or in case of a journey, three days), but it is nullified if blood or pus is drawn, if one urinates, passes wind or stool, or falls into a deep sleep. If sufficient quantities of clean water are unavailable, one is allowed to use clean sand or earth on the face and hands as a substitute for water in a ritual known as tayammum. Wudu is also necessary before one may touch the Qur'an, out of respect for it. A full body ablution (ghusl) is required when one first becomes a Muslim, after sexual intercourse, and after the termination of a woman's menstrual cycle. Ablution in Hinduism Ablution is also found in Hinduism. Hindus wash before praying, preferably in running water and washing in certain rivers like Ganga is believed to give spiritual benefits. It is also practiced after the death of someone and in earlier days by people of the upper caste who might have come into contact with untouchables like dalits to maintain purity. It is also considered auspicious to always take a holy bath before any festival. Ablution in the Baháí Faith In the Bahá'í Faith, ablutions are required to perform the Obligatory Prayer and prior to the daily recitation ninety-five times of the Greatest Name: Ablution in other religions Shintoism also has a form of ablution, Misogi, which is a kind of dousing in a natural source of flowing water. | ||||||||
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