I saw `Uthman performing ablution; he washed his hands thrice, rinsed his mouth and then washed hisnose, by putting water in it and then blowing it out, and washed his face thrice, and then washed hisright forearm up to the elbow thrice, and then the left-forearm up to the elbow thrice, then smeared hishead with water, washed his right foot thrice, and then his left foot thrice and said, "I saw Allah'sApostle performing ablution similar to my present ablution, and then he said, 'Whoever performsablution like my present ablution and then offers two rak`at in which he does not think of worldlythings, all his previous sins will be forgiven."