Sahih al-Bukhari — Hadith 528
Narrated by Abu Hurairah
أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَنَّ نَهَرًا بِبَابِ أَحَدِكُمْ، يَغْتَسِلُ فِيهِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ خَمْسًا، مَا تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ يُبْقِي مِنْ دَرَنِهِ... قَالُوا لاَ يُبْقِي مِنْ دَرَنِهِ شَيْئًا. قَالَ فَذَلِكَ مِثْلُ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ، يَمْحُو اللَّهُ بِهَا الْخَطَايَا
Translation
The Prophet said: '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 added: 'That is the example of the five prayers with which Allah blots out evil deeds.'
Commentary
This hadith uses a vivid, everyday metaphor to explain the spiritual function of the five daily prayers. Just as bathing in a river five times a day would leave no physical dirt on a person, the five prayers cleanse the soul of minor sins committed between them. The analogy makes the abstract concept of spiritual purification tangible and accessible. It also reveals the Prophet's teaching method: rather than issuing commands, he used rhetorical questions and images from daily life to lead his companions to understanding.