The Effect of Wudhu

عن عثمان رضي الله عنه أنه دعا بماء فتوضأ ثم ضحك فقال لأصحابه ألا تسألوني ما أضحكني فقالوا ما أضحكك يا أمير المؤمنين قال رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم توضأ كما توضأت ثم ضحك فقال ألا تسألوني ما أضحكك فقالوا ما أضحكك يا رسول الله فقال إن العبد إذا دعا بوضوء فغسل وجهه حط الله عنه كل خطيئة أصابها بوجهه فإذا غسل ذراعيه كان كذلك وإذا طهر قدميه كان كذلك رواه أحمد بإسناد جيد وأبو يعلى ورواه البزار بإسناد صحيح وزاد فيه فإذا مسح رأسه كان كذلك (الترغيب والترهيب 1/211)

It is reported regarding Hazrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu anhu) that on one occasion he requested for some water and made wudhu. After completing the wudhu, he smiled. He then said to his companions, “Will you not ask me the reason for me smiling?” They then asked, “O Ameerul Mu’mineen, what has caused you to smile?” Hazrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu anhu) replied, “I had seen Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) make wudhu in the same manner I made wudhu, and he then smiled. He then said (to his companions), “Will you not ask me the reason for me smiling?” They then asked, “O Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), what has caused you to smile?” Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) replied, “When a servant asks for water to make wudhu, and then washes his face, Allah Ta’ala forgives every (minor) sin he had committed through the limbs of his face; and when he washes his forearms, the same transpires (i.e. Allah Ta’ala forgives the minor sins he committed with his hands); and the same thing occurs when he washes his feet (i.e. Allah Ta’ala forgives the minor sins he committed with his feet).”