Obligatory and optional aspects of ablution

[Dr. Md. Rausan Zamir]

In Islam, ablution, or Wudhoo', is to wash one’s face, hands, arms, head and feet with water. Allaah, the Most High, Says (what means): “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..." [Quran 5:6]
Abu Hurayrah may Allaah be pleased with him narrated that he Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Allaah does not accept the prayer of one who nullified his ablution until he performs it again.” [Al-Bukhaari, Muslim, Abu Daawood and At-Tirmithi]
There is a consensus among the Muslim scholars that ablution is part of Islamic law. Therefore, it is a recognised fact of the religion.