Times of the Prayers - Sahih al-Bukhari 528

I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "If there was a river at the door of anyone of you and he took a bath in it five times a day would you notice any dirt on him?" They said, "Not a trace of dirt would be left." The Prophet (ﷺ) added, "That is the example of the five prayers with which Allah blots out (annuls) evil deeds."

Commentary on the Hadith

This noble hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari contains a profound similitude illustrating the spiritual purification achieved through the five daily prayers. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) draws a comparison between physical cleanliness through frequent bathing and spiritual purification through regular prayer.

Just as bathing five times daily in a flowing river would remove all physical impurities, performing the five obligatory prayers regularly cleanses the soul from spiritual impurities and minor sins. This purification occurs provided the prayers are performed with proper conditions, sincerity, and devotion.

The wisdom behind this comparison lies in making abstract spiritual concepts tangible to human understanding. The river represents divine mercy and the prescribed prayers serve as channels through which this mercy flows to purify believers from the spiritual contamination of sins committed between prayers.

Scholarly Insights

Classical scholars emphasize that this purification primarily applies to minor sins, as major sins require specific repentance. Imam An-Nawawi explains that the prayers serve as kaffarah (expiation) for sins committed between them when performed with proper fulfillment of conditions and avoidance of major sins.

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani in Fath al-Bari notes that the hadith indicates the cumulative effect of prayers - each prayer cleanses what came before it, and the five together provide comprehensive spiritual maintenance throughout the day and night.

The placement of the river "at the door" signifies the accessibility and ease of this divine mercy, reminding believers that spiritual purification is within reach through the established acts of worship.