Hadith: Whoever performs ablution perfectly, his sins will come out from his body, to the extent that it will come out from under his nails

عن عثمان بن عفان رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم:
«مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ الْوُضُوءَ خَرَجَتْ خَطَايَاهُ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ حَتَّى تَخْرُجَ مِنْ تَحْتِ أَظْفَارِهِ».
[صحيح] - [رواه مسلم] - [صحيح مسلم: 245]

‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"Whoever performs ablution perfectly, his sins will come out from his body, to the extent that it will come out from under his nails."
[Authentic hadith] - [Narrated by Muslim] - [Sahih Muslim - 245]

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that if a person performs ablution while observing its Sunnahs and etiquettes, this will cause his sins and misdeeds to be expiated and forgiven - to the extent that his sins will come out from under the nails of his hands and feet.

Benefits from the Hadith

1. The Hadīth urges us to be keen on learning the ablution and its Sunnahs and etiquettes and to act accordingly.
2. It highlights the merit of ablution and that it expiates minor sins. As for major sins, they require repentance.
3. For sins to come out of a person's body, he is required to perform ablution perfectly and without shortcomings, as illustrated by the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).
4. The expiation of sins mentioned in the Hadīth is conditional upon the avoidance of major sins and repentance therefrom. Allah Almighty says: {f you avoid the major sins[20] which are forbidden to you, We will absolve your [minor] sins.} [Surat an-Nisā’: 31]