48. The Prayer Erases Sins

عن أبي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّهُ سمع رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول أَرَأَيْتُمْ لو أَنَّ نَهَرًا بِبَابِ أَحَدِكُمْ يَغْتَسِلُ فيه كُلَّ يَوْمٍ خَمْسًا ما تَقُولُ ذلك يُبْقِي من دَرَنِهِ قالوا لَا يُبْقِي من دَرَنِهِ شيئا قال فَذَلِكَ مِثْلُ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ يَمْحُو الله بها الْخَطَايَا

Abu Hurayrah (rta) reports that he heard God’s Messenger (sws) saying: “Consider the fact that if there is a stream flowing near the door of anyone of you in which he bathes five times every day; can any trace of dirt remain on him?” They replied: “No trace of dirt will remain.” The Prophet (sws) [thereupon] said: “This is the example of five prayers. God erases sins through them [in a similar manner.]”[1]

[1]. Ibid., vol.1, 197, (no. 505).