The document discusses the medical benefits of ablution in Islam based on immunology principles. It explains how each step of ablution acts as a mechanical or chemical barrier that helps protect the body from infection by removing microorganisms and dirt particles. Washing the hands, mouth, nose, face and other exposed areas frequently as prescribed in ablution maximizes the body's natural defenses and prevents the settlement and growth of pathogens. The document provides historical examples to illustrate how ablution has protected Muslims from disease outbreaks.

1. Dr. Sayed Inseram Ali
B.Sc. (Hons), M.sc,; AACC, ASMT,ASM:USA
R.M. CANADA; IFFCC U.K

2. In the Name of God,
The Compassionate,
The Merciful

3. Because of the continuous development of medical science, many
discoveries have been made over the recent years. Interestingly, many of
these breakthroughs had already been revealed in the Qur’an and
established in the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) more than
1,400 years ago. As a result many non-Muslims are realizing that the
teachings of Islam are the unequivocal truth.
Sayed Inseram Ali
Madinah Munuwara, Saudi Arabia
October, 2000

4. Explaining the medical interpretations of ablution is a bit technical;
however, what follows is hopefully a clear presentation and explanation
of this subject for those having little background of medical knowledge.
There is a branch in the medical sciences called Immunology. This
subject is defined as the way in which the body can protect itself from
invasion by pathogenic (infectious) microorganisms and provide a
defense against their harmful effects. The healthy human body
continually comes into contact with microorganisms such as
bacteria, fungus, virus, etc. these microorganisms may be ingested
through food, inhaled or enter into the body through blood, a cut or
through nasal and mouth droplets while sneezing and coughing etc.
despite the constant challenges from the environment, the body
naturally guards itself against infection. So it is possible fro a person to
overcome the microorganism and become immune to that infection.
This protection is maintained by a number of defense mechanisms
working on their own or together. Many theories have been suggested to
explain immunity. The theory most commonly used today is the Defense
Mechanism of the Body, which is divided into two major groups:
1. Natural Immunity (non-specific)
2. Acquired Immunity (specific)

5. Natural (non-specific) immunity is provided by all the
mechanisms that form an immediate non-specific barrier to
infections. They consist of four sub groups:
1A. Mechanical Barriers:
These include the skin, the stomach lining, the genital area and
the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. Nasal and ear
hairs act as a filter. The action of coughing and sneezing removes
mucous that contains microorganisms.
1B. Chemical Barriers:
These are secretions that contain substances which have an anti
microbial action; for example, mucous membrane secretions
contain the enzyme lysozyme which is found in the eye, the
respiratory tract and the in the genital area. Secretions
containing acid are present in the gut and genital area. That salt
and fatty acids found in skin secretions are also anti microbial.

6. 1C. Phagocytosis:
In the blood, phagocyte cells engulf and destroy an organism by
digestion at the site of entry or infection, thereby protecting the body.
1D. Anti Microbial Commensal Flora:
Commensal flora of the body stops the growth of pathogenic organism
by performing antagonistic action against bacteria with certain
substances like colicin.
2A. Acquired Immunity (specific):
By taking vaccines, toxins and microorganisms are usually inactivated
or destroyed which gives protection against specific organisms.
Thus under the topic of ablution, I will discuss the first two factors of
natural (non-specific) immunity, which is also known as the First Line
Defense Mechanism.

7. When a person performs ablution five times a day, he gets
protection from different bacterial, viral and fungal
infections. There is no doubt that if proper cleaning has not
been done or procedure of ablution has not been
conducted, a person is likely to get any infection. On the
hand, if the proper cleaning of the exposed parts of the
body is done frequently as in ablution, a person is
maximizing the natural ability of his body to protect
himself against different infections. All microorganisms
require time, moisture, food, a favorable pH (acidic or
alkaline) and salts for growth to occur.

8. So, if all of the factors are favorable, then the
microorganisms will grow and cause infection. One of
the benefits of ablution is that it breaks up the
microbial deposits on the body and helps protect it
from infection. Thus, ablution acts as the first line of
defense and does not allow the microorganisms to
enter into and establish their activity on the skin and
on the other exposed parts of the body.

9. In the Holy Qur’an, Allah describes ablution, as in the
following verse: “O you who have believed, when you
rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your
forearms to the elbow and wipe over heads and wash
your feet to the ankles…” (5:6)
Performing ablution has many steps. The religious
formality is started by having the intention to purify
oneself for the sake of Allah and in accordance with the
Sunnah by saying: Bismillahirahmanirahim (in the
Name of God, The Compassionate, The Merciful).

10. The next step involves washing one’s hands
three times. When a Muslim washes his hands
for ablution, he must also wash in between the
fingers to eliminate all the dirt and dust
particles from the skin. Without a doubt, the
hands are exposed to a lot of dirt and dust
particles on daily basis. These particles contain
microorganisms, and in the presence of sweat
and fatty acids, these microorganisms grow
well and cause infections. Thus the hands are
not safe for eating, praying etc. unless they are
washed in this way

11. After washing the hands, the mouth is washed. This step
of ablution is also significant. As humans, we are often
suffering from all different kinds of throat infections.
Since the tissue in the mouth and at the back of throat is
very soft, any irritation can cause infection. Three
different type of microorganisms cause these throat
infections: viral, bacterial and fungal. To protect the
throat against these infections, the mouth should be
washed with a gargling motion that reaches the throat.
This is the area where most of the dust particles
accumulate, whether a person is typically outside or in an
air-conditioned room. For example, in a dry climate with
a lot of dust, the dust particles can settle in the mouth
and cause an infection.

12. By washing five times a day all the bacterial or
dust particles that are settling in the throat can
be eliminated, thereby protecting the
individual against infections. In
addition, washing the mouth and using the
meswak (a tooth stick) five times a day cleans
the gums and the intradental spaces of the
teeth. This eliminates the bacteria and food
particles in the mouth leaving it with a
fresh, clean smell. This illustrates a further
case of how a mechanical barrier safeguards
our body from infections.

13. The third part of ablution is washing
the nose. Water is inhaled and exhaled
from the fright hands into the nose
three times. There is a filtration system
in the nose comprised of small hair
follicles. This filtration system prevents
the dust particles from going directly
inside the nose.
Another significant pint while making
ablution is that the nose should be
washed from the inside, especially in
cold, dry places, as there is always a
secretion inside the nose.

14. This secretion is dried and forms a crust
inside the nose. If this is attached to the hair
itself, it may cause a chance for infection to
occur if the dry crust is removed. The internal
part of the nose is very soft tissue and is
therefore extremely sensitive and liable to
bleed. Furthermore, any little injury to this
area can help the organism to settle and cause
an infection.
Washing back to the middle part of the nose
three times can eliminate all the settled dust
particles and secretions, thereby protecting
one from different nose infections like sinuses
and boils in the root of the hair follicles.

15. The next stage is to wash the face from the
forehead to chin, including the cleaning and
messaging of eyes. Washing the face increase the
circulation, cleans the eyes and all the dust
particles deposited on the face. Likewise, the
sweat on the is also removed. These secretions of
sweat being cleaned off are in the nature of fatty
acids and they form a layer on the skin. . If this
layer on the skin is not cleaned often, it provides a
good opportunity for bacteria to grow to make a
skin infection.

16. On the contrary, frequently washing the face, as in
ablution, eliminates the chances for wrinkling of the skin and
keeps the skin smooth, even at old age.
Interestingly, it is a practice to many women in china to wash and
message their eyes with water. They believe that by doing this
they will not get any eye infections or develop the cataract eye.
This inside corner of the eye has special enzyme that kills most of
the bacteria and protects the eye from infections. However, if
dust particles accumulate in this area over time because they
were not washed out, then there is more of a likelihood that an
eye infection will occur.

17. The following true story also illustrates the importance of
washing the face in ablution. There was a catastrophic civil war in
Rwanda in which cholera was prevalent. Two medical
doctors, one from Sudan and the other from Rwanda, were
working in Germany at the time. Because of strife in
Rwanda, both of these doctors went to Rwanda to help the
injured people. These injured people were in lined up to be
treated. The Rwandan doctor mentioned to the Sudanese doctor
that the population of Rwanda is only about 1% Muslim.
Thereafter, the Sudanese doctor said he would be able to identify
which people standing in the treatment are Muslims.

18. A few days of being amazed at how the Sudanese
doctor was able to precisely tell the Muslims from the
non-Muslims, the Rwandan doctor asked, “How do you
know that certain people are Muslim and others are
not?” The Sudanese doctor disclosed that in Islam we
perform the ritual of ablution before prayers. This
ablution makes faces clean, clear and with spiritual
light. The Rwandan doctor was affected deeply. Before
along, he became a Muslim.

19. Washing both arms up to the elbow is the
next step. The washing of the arms
ensures that sweat, fatty acids and dust
particles near the hair follicles are
removed to prevent any possible infection.

20. The next step is washing the head. This step also
includes the washing of the ears because the ears
have openings that have deep grooves and hairs.
These grooves and hairs are ideal for the settling of
dust particles. Therefore, cleaning the ears with a
moist index finger five times a day protects the ears
from dust accumulation and possible infection.
Cleaning the neck is also preferred as it helps
prevent itching due to acidity which can possibly
lead to an allergy.

21. Washing the feet up to the ankles is the last
step in performing ablution. When washing the
feet up to the ankles, one must wash between
the toes since these are the areas where
sweating and fatty secretions are more
predominant. If this area is not washed
frequently and properly, a defensive odor may
occur. Similarly, a fungus may develop, which is
commonly known as athlete’s foot. When the
feet are washed properly and regularly, one
feels a relaxed and fresh feeling.

22. Performing ablution has another important benefit.
Using hot and cold water for the ablution increases the
blood circulation throughout the body. As a result, one
feels refreshed and more energetic.
Furthermore, increasing the blood circulation
throughout the body makes the body’s defense
mechanisms more active and powerful.
Moreover, making ablution can reduce static electricity
which is often attributed to skin problems like the
shrinking of the skin

23. In conclusion, from all this explanation it is well understood that
the immunological hypothesis provides the principles of
immunity and the first line of the defense mechanisms;
nevertheless, in all of this information, no guidance is provided
on how to protect ourselves from infectious diseases. However,
Islam required ablution more than 1,400 years ago which shows
humanity how to be protected from infectious diseases by a
thorough washing of exposed body parts five times a day. To my
knowledge, Islam is the only religion that requires its believers to
follow certain hygienic procedures that safeguard the human from
infectious diseases.

24. There is a very common saying:
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. So let’s
also say: Make ablution five times a day and
keep the doctor away.
Clearly, health is wealth and blessing from God.

25. About the Author:
Sayed Inseram Ali is a microbiologist who worked as a
Lecturer with the Department of Microbiology at the
University of Karachi from 1965-1970. Thereafter, he joined
the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia as a Regional
Director of Laboratories in Madinah for twenty years (1970-
1990). He has been working at the Zain Clinical Laboratory
as the Technical Director since 1990. He also writes and
delivers lectures on Islam and the medical sciences

26. Sayed Inseram Ali, Technical Director
Zain Clinical Laboratory
PO Box # 803
Madinah, Saudi Arabia
Telephone: (9664) 5236361
Fax: (9664) 8251978