ablution

Ablution refers to the act of washing parts of the body, or the body as a whole, for purposes of purification, hygiene, or religious observance. The term derives from the Latin abluere, meaning “to wash away.” In religious contexts, ablution denotes ceremonial cleansing performed before prayer or sacred acts, with practices differing across traditions.

In Islam, wudu is a prescribed partial ablution performed before the five daily prayers, involving washing the hands, mouth, nostrils, face, arms, head, and feet in a specific sequence. Ghusl is a full-body ritual wash required after certain impurities, and tayammum is a dry form of ablution used when water is unavailable.

In Judaism, ritual washing appears in several forms, such as netilat yadayim (washing the hands before meals and certain services) and mikveh, a pool or bath used for immersion in purification rites. The concept centers on sanctity and ritual purity within liturgical and daily life.

Other religious and cultural traditions also employ water-based purification rites, including temple bathing, cleansing before worship, and personal daily washing. The exact requirements, sequences, and meanings vary widely and are often tied to concepts of ritual cleanliness, purity, and spiritual readiness.

Secular usage of the term ablution is broader and non-religious. It can refer simply to washing for hygiene or sanitation, and is used in everyday language to describe cleansing acts. In institutional contexts, “ablution facilities” denote washrooms or washing stations.