عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏ “‏إذا توضأ العبد المسلم – أو المؤمن- فغسل وجهه، خرج من وجهه كل خطيئة نظر إليها بعينيه مع الماء، أو مع آخر قطر الماء، فإذا غسل يديه، خرج من يديه كل خطيئة كان بطشتها يداه مع الماء، أو مع آخر قطر الماء، فإذا غسل رجليه، خرجت كل خطيئة مشتها رجلاه مع الماء، أو مع آخر قطر الماء، حتى يخرج نقيًا من الذنوب

Abu Hurairah RA reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “When a Muslim, or a believer, washes his face (in the course of Wudu’), every sin which he committed with his eyes, will be washed away from his face with water, or with the last drop of water; when he washes his hands, every sin which is committed by his hands will be effaced from his hands with the water, or with the last drop of water; and when he washes his feet, every sin his feet committed will be washed away with the water, or with the last drop of water; until he finally emerges cleansed of all his sins.” [Muslim]

When a person commits a sin, it leaves a stain or blemish on his limbs. People of piety can sometimes see these stains because of their spiritual insight. Performing a perfect Wudhu with the correct intention will cause such sins to be physically washed away by the grace of Allah. This is the literal meaning of the Hadith. According to the figurative interpretation, the Hadith would mean that Allah forgives sins.

In addition to believing that Wudhu washes away sins, a person should be remorseful over having committed a sin and make a firm resolution not to commit the sin again. Wudhu washes away only minor sins because forgiveness for major sins requires Taubah. Wudhu cleanses the body from apparent impurities and purifies the carnal self from spiritual impurities.

EASY GOOD DEED – Caring for Widows

Abu Hurairah has related that the Holy Prophet said:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ السَّاعِي عَلَى الأَرْمَلَةِ وَالْمِسْكِينِ كَالْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ – وَأَحْسِبُهُ قَالَ – وَكَالْقَائِمِ لاَ يَفْتُرُ وَكَالصَّائِمِ لاَ يُفْطِرُ

One who makes efforts (for earning to be spent) on a widow and the destitute is like a striver in the cause of Allah, and I think he also said: He is like one who constantly stands for prayer and observes fast without breaking it. [Bukhari and Muslim]

Another narration has a very similar wording:

السَّاعِي عَلَى الأَرْمَلَةِ وَالْمِسْكِينِ كَالْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَوْ كَالَّذِي يَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَيَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ

“The one who looks after a widow and a poor person is like the Mujahid in the cause of Allah, or like the one who fasts all the day and stands (in prayer) all the night.” [Tirmidhi]

عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ أَبِي أَوْفَى، يَقُولُ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُكْثِرُ الذِّكْرَ وَيُقِلُّ اللَّغْوَ وَيُطِيلُ الصَّلاَةَ وَيُقَصِّرُ الْخُطْبَةَ وَلاَ يَأْنَفُ أَنْ يَمْشِيَ مَعَ الأَرْمَلَةِ وَالْمِسْكِينِ فَيَقْضِيَ لَهُ الْحَاجَةَ

Abdullah bin Abi Awfa RA said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite a great deal of remembrance, engage little in idle talk, make the prayer long and keep the khutbah short, and he would not refrain from walking with a widow or poor person and tending to their needs.” [Nasai]

The Holy Qur’aan and Ahadith are both replete with injunctions to help, aid and assist the orphans and widows. The few Ayahs and Prophetic sayings quoted above show how much this action is appreciated by Allah. Hence, whenever there is a chance to help a widow, it should never be lost and whatever good one can do should be done; this shall – Allah willing – earn the doer much merit, provided the good deed is done with sincerity and not to impress others or hold them in thrill, and the real intent is to earn the Divine Pleasure only.