Christianity
Islam
Judaism
Hinduism
Buddhism
Ritual Purity & Cleanliness
Purification before worship is required across traditions. Wudu in Islam, mikveh in Judaism, baptism in Christianity, and snana in Hinduism all express the conviction that approaching the sacred demands both physical and spiritual cleanliness.
Across the World's Religions
Christianity
- Practice
- Baptism as purification; washing of feet
- Key Text
- John 13:1-17; Acts 22:16; Hebrews 10:22
Islam
- Practice
- Wudu (ablution) before prayer; ghusl (full washing)
- Key Text
- Quran 5:6, 4:43
Judaism
- Practice
- Mikveh (ritual immersion); washing before prayer
- Key Text
- Leviticus 11-15; Numbers 19
Hinduism
- Practice
- Snana (ritual bathing) — purification in the Ganges
- Key Text
- Manusmriti 5.109; Garuda Purana 1.222
Buddhism
- Practice
- Physical cleanliness as part of monastic discipline
- Key Text
- Vinaya Pitaka, Mahavagga; AN 5.121