"O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles." - (Al-Ma’idah: 6)
Islam emphasizes the importance of purifying our bodies since it strengthens our souls, ultimately bringing us closer to the One who is the Creator of all.
All Muslims perform ablution (Wudhu) before offering prayer or reciting the Qur’an. This is a simple yet obligatory practice of washing certain body parts, including one’s hands, feet, arms, mouth, nostrils, ears, and face.
Not to mention, while performing Wudhu purifies our body, it also induces great health benefits that positively affect our mental and physical wellbeing.
Here are some tested and proven benefits of ablution that attest to the importance of it for us as Muslims:
1- The Act of Ablution Reduces Depression
Our religion claims ablution as a therapeutic experience, especially for those suffering from depression. In point of fact, several yoga experts encourage these days to perform Wudhu before going to bed, saying it relaxes our mind and bodies, ensuring a good night’s sleep.
2- Keeps Our Skin Looking Fresh and Young
Performing Wudhu refreshes our skin by opening our skin pores, removing fatigue, and cleaning all the dust accumulated while dispersing sweat and fats.
3- Plays a Vital Role In Good Oral Hygiene
Ablution includes purification of the mouth such that it removes any food particle remains from our teeth, tongue, and gums, preventing oral health issues. It also strengthens our facial muscles and gets rid of bad mouth odors.
4- Keeps the Germs From Entering Our Bodies
Not to mention, rinsing nostrils when performing Wudhu ensures no germs are getting trapped in our nose follicles, which effectively prevents the germs from entering our system.
5- Prevents Wax Buildups
Furthermore, rinsing the insides and outsides of our ears during ablution removes the extra wax layer, preventing mastoiditis from arising while putting a stop to wax buildups.
6- Strips Our Skin Of Hidden Bacteria
Washing between our toes and fingers removes those germs and bacteria that stay well-hidden otherwise.
7- Improves Blood Flow and Mental Health
It is proven that putting pressure on certain points of our arms improves our overall blood flow, and performing ablution ticks all the right boxes in this aspect. There are three major veins in our elbows connected to our brain, heart, and liver, and putting pressure on them gives our body strength both physically and mentally.
Consequently, we can find multiple Hadith and verses in the Qur’an that emphasize the importance of purifying our bodies. It is that part of our faith in Allah (SWT) that gives us mental, spiritual, and physical health benefits, all in equal measure.
