Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad
O YOU who have attained to faith! Do not attempt to pray while you are in a state of drunkenness, [but wait] until you know what you are saying; nor yet [while you are] in a state requiring total ablution, until you have bathed - except if you are travelling [and are unable to do so]. But if you are ill, or are travelling, or have just satisfied a want of nature, or have cohabited with a woman, and can find no water - then take resort to pure dust, passing [therewith] lightly over your face and your hands. Behold, God is indeed an absolver of sins, much-forgiving
M. M. Pickthall
O ye who believe! Draw not near unto prayer when ye are drunken, till ye know that which ye utter, nor when ye are polluted, save when journeying upon the road, till ye have bathed. And if ye be ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from the closet, or ye have touched women, and ye find not water, then go to high clean soil and rub your faces and your hands (therewith). Lo! Allah is Benign, Forgiving
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
O ye who believe! Approach not prayers with a mind befogged, until ye can understand all that ye say,- nor in a state of ceremonial impurity (Except when travelling on the road), until after washing your whole body. If ye are ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from offices of nature, or ye have been in contact with women, and ye find no water, then take for yourselves clean sand or earth, and rub therewith your faces and hands. For Allah doth blot out sins and forgive again and again
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab
O believers! Do not approach prayer while intoxicated until you are aware of what you say, nor in a state of ˹full˺ impurity—unless you merely pass through ˹the mosque˺—until you have bathed. But if you are ill, on a journey, or have relieved yourselves, or been intimate with your wives and cannot find water, then purify yourselves with clean earth, wiping your faces and hands. And Allah is Ever-Pardoning, All-Forgiving.
Safi Kaskas
Believers, do not attempt to pray while you are in a state of drunkenness, but wait until you know what you are saying; nor if you are in a state of major ritual impurity until you have bathed unless you are traveling and are unable to do so. If you are ill, are traveling, have relieved yourselves, or had intercourse, and cannot find any water, then find some pure dust and wipe your faces and your hands with it. God is always ready to pardon and forgive.
Wahiduddin Khan
Believers, do not approach your prayers when you are drunk, until you understand what you say, nor when you are in a state of impurity, except when you are on a journeytill you have bathed. And if you are ill, or on a journey or have relieved yourselves or when you have consorted with women and you cannot find any water, then find some clean sand and wipe your face and your hands with it. God is gracious and forgiving
Shakir
O you who believe! do not go near prayer when you are Intoxicated until you know (well) what you say, nor when you are under an obligation to perform a bath-- unless (you are) travelling on the road-- until you have washed yourselves; and if you are sick, or on a journey, or one of you come from the privy or you have touched the women, and you cannot find water, betake yourselves to pure earth, then wipe your faces and your hands; surely Allah is Pardoning, Forgiving
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
O those who believed! Come not near the formal prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying nor defiled but as one who passes through a way until you wash yourselves. And if you had been sick or on a journey or one of you drew near from the privy or you came into sexual contact with your wives and you find no water, then, aim at getting wholesome, dry earth. Then, wipe your faces and your hands. Truly, God had been Pardoning, Forgiving.
T.B.Irving
You who believe, do not attempt to pray while you are drunk, until you know what you are saying; nor after a seminal emission - except when traveling along some road-until you take a full bath. If you are ill or on a journey, or one of you has come from the toilet, or has had contact with any women, and you do not find any water, then pick up some wholesome soil and wipe your faces and your hands with it. God is Pardoning, Forgiving.
Abdul Hye
O you who believe! Don’t offer the prayer while you are intoxicated until you know (the meaning) of what you utter, nor when you are defiled (or in a state of sexual impurity) except when passing on way (traveling) until you wash yourselves. If you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you came from a toilet, or you had a sexual contact with women but did not find water, then do Tayammum with clean earth and rub with it your faces and your hands. Truly, Allah is Pardoning, Forgiving.
The Study Quran
O you who believe! Draw not near unto prayer when you are drunken until you know what you are uttering, nor in a state of ritual impurity—unless you are passing through—until you have washed. But if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you has come from satisfying a call of nature, or you have touched women, and you find no water, then resort to clean earth, and wipe your faces and your hands. Truly God is Pardoning, Forgiving
Talal Itani & AI (2024)
O you who believe, don’t approach prayer while intoxicated, until you know what you’re saying, nor while unclean—except when travelling—until you have bathed. If you are ill, on a journey, have relieved yourselves, or have been intimate with women, and can’t find water, find clean sand and wipe your faces and hands with it. God is Ever-Pardoning, Most Forgiving.
Talal Itani (2012)
O you who believe! Do not approach the prayer while you are drunk, so that you know what you say; nor after sexual orgasm—unless you are travelling—until you have bathed. If you are sick, or traveling, or one of you comes from the toilet, or you have had intercourse with women, and cannot find water, find clean sand and wipe your faces and your hands with it. God is Pardoning and Forgiving
Dr. Kamal Omar
O you people who have Believed! Approach not salat when you are drunk until you are aware of what you will utter (in recitations during the act of Prayer), and nor in a state of impurity (due to emission of sexual fluid) — except (when you are a) passerby (on the) road (because there you may not be able to have a bath and change spoilt clothes) — until you arrange a wash. And if you are people down with disease or on a journey, or one of you has come out of the toilet or you have made sexual contact with women and you find not water — then you people utilize clean clay (to soak the emissions and clean the part); then rub (with some additional clean dust) your faces and your hands (upto the wrists). Surely, Allah is Oft-Pardoning, Oft-Forgiving. [ See Note alongside 5/6 ]
O believers! Do not offer your Salah when you are drunk until you know what you are saying; nor after seminal emission, except when you are travelling, unless you wash your whole body. If you are sick, or on a journey, or one of you has used the toilet, or has had contact with women (sexual relation with wives) and can find no water, then make Tayammum: take some clean earth and rub your faces and hands with it. Allah is Lenient, Forgiving
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali
O you who have believed, do not draw near to prayer (when) you are drunken until you know what you are saying, nor (when) you are ritually unclean, (i.e. unclean through the emission of semen, or sexual discharge "in woman") except when you are traversing a way, until you have washed yourselves. And in case you are sick, or on a journey, or (in case) any of you comes from the privy, or you have had contact with women, yet you have not found water, so have recourse to good soil, (i.e. a high dry place, a mounting place) then wipe (most of) your faces and hands. Surely Allah has been Ever-Clement, Ever-Forgiving
Muhammad Sarwar
Believers, do not pray when you are drunk, but, instead, wait until you can understand what you say. Also, do not pray when you have experienced a seminal discharge until after you have taken a bath, unless you are on a journey. If, while sick or on a journey, you can find no water after having defecated or after having had carnal relations, perform tayammum by touching your palms on the pure earth and wipe the (upper part of) your face and the backs of your hands. God is Gracious and All-forgiving
Muhammad Taqi Usmani
O you who believe! Do not go near Salah when you are intoxicated, until you know what you say, nor in a state of ‘major impurity‘., __save when you are traversing a way__until you take a bath. If you are sick, or in travel, or if one of you has come after relieving himself, or you have had contact with women, and you find no water, go for some clean dust and wipe your faces and hands (with it). Surely, Allah is Most- Pardoning, Most-Forgiving
Shabbir Ahmed
(Those who attain belief shall promptly establish the Divine System in the community, and the Masjid would assume the role of the community center. The believers will assemble in the Masjid for prayer, and to address social welfare and community action). O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! Join not the Salat congregation if your mind is beclouded for any reason, until you understand what you utter, else you might say senseless words that disturb the assembly. Physical cleanliness contributes to moral purity. So, take a bath after ceremonial impurity. If you are traveling, or are ill, or coming from the privy, and cannot find water, take a little clean sand or earth and lightly rub your faces and hands, before entering the Masjid. (This will help you prepare psychologically for the assembly (5:6)). Allah pardons and absolves your imperfections
Dr. Munir Munshey
Oh you who believe! Do not come near ´salat´ if you are drunk, until you know what you utter. Nor if you are spiritually unclean (after a sexual contact) _ unless you are traveling _ until you (bathe and) clean yourself. If you are sick or traveling, or if any of you has been to the toilet, or if you have come in (sexual) contact with (your) women and you do not find water (to clean yourself), then perform ´Tayyamum´. Find a clean slab of soil and (after touching it) run your hand over your face and hands. Indeed, Allah is Lenient and Merciful
Syed Vickar Ahamed
O you who believe! Do not approach prayers (in a murky mind) intoxicated, until you can understand all that you say— Nor in a state of ceremonial impurity except when traveling on the road, until after washing your whole body; And if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes from offices of nature, or you have been in contact with women, and you find no water, then take for yourselves clean sand or earth and rub with it your faces and hands. Truly, Allah is Ever-Pardoning (’Afuw) and All Forgiving (Ghafoor, again and again)
O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of janabah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)
O you who believe, do not come near the contact-method while you are drunk, until you know what you are saying. Nor if you have had intercourse, unless travelling, until you bathe. And if you are ill, or traveling, or one of you has excreted feces, or you had sexual contact with the women, and could not find water: then you shall make ablution with clean soil by wiping your faces and hands. God is Pardoning, Forgiving
Abdel Haleem
You who believe, do not come anywhere near the prayer if you are intoxicated, not until you know what you are saying; nor if you are in a state of major ritual impurity- though you may pass through the mosque- not until you have bathed; if you are ill, on a journey, have relieved yourselves, or had intercourse, and cannot find any water, then find some clean sand and wipe your faces and hands with it. God is always ready to pardon and forgive
Abdul Majid Daryabadi
O Ye who believe! approach not prayer while ye are intoxicated until ye know that which ye say, nor yet while ye are polluted, save when ye be way faring, until ye have washed your selves. And if ye be ailing or on a journey, or one of you cometh from the privy have touched women, or ye and ye find not water, then betake your selves to clean earth and wipe your faces and your hands therewith; verily Allah is ever Pardoning, Forgiving
Ahmed Ali
O you who believe, do not perform your service of prayer when you are intoxicated until you are sure of what you are saying, nor when in a state of seminal pollution, until you have taken a bath, except when you are travelling. But in case you are ill or are travelling, or you have relieved yourself of nature's call, or cohabited with a woman, and cannot find water, then take wholesome dust and pass it over your face and hands: God is benign and forgiving
Aisha Bewley
You who have iman! do not approach the prayer when you are drunk, so that you will know what you are saying, nor in a state of major impurity — unless you are travelling — until you have washed yourselves completely. If you are ill or on a journey, or any of you have come from the lavatory or touched women, and you cannot find any water, then do tayammum with pure earth, wiping your faces and your hands. Allah is Ever-Pardoning, Ever-Forgiving.
Ali Ünal
O you who believe! Do not come forward to (stand in) the Prayer while you are in (any sort of) state of drunkenness until you know what you are saying, nor while you are in the state of ritual impurity (requiring the total ablution) – save when you are on a journey (and then unable to bathe) – until you have bathed (done the total ablution). But if you are ill, or on a journey, or if any of you has just satisfied a call of nature, or you have had contact with women, and can find no water, then betake yourselves to pure earth, passing with it lightly over your face and hands (and forearms up to and including the elbows). Assuredly God is One Who grants remission, All-Forgiving
Ali Quli Qara'i
O you who have faith! Do not approach prayer when you are intoxicated, [not] until you know what you are saying, nor [enter mosques] in the state of ritual impurity —except while passing through— until you have washed yourselves. But if you are sick or on a journey, or any of you has come from the toilet, or you have touched women, and you cannot find water, then make your ablution on clean ground and wipe a part of your faces and your hands. Indeed Allah is all-excusing, all-forgiving
Hamid S. Aziz
O you who believe! Approach not prayer while you are drunk (or mentally dull), until you know (can understand) what you are saying; nor yet while polluted - unless you are on a journey - until you have washed yourselves. But if you are sick, or on a jour
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad
You who believe, do not get close to mandatory prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you say, and not after orgasm until you wash except when you are traveling on a road, and if you are sick or on a trip or one of you comes from toilet (after bowel movement) or you had (sexual) contact with a woman and could not find water, then perform dry ablution using clean soil (or stone or sand) rubbing it to your faces and hands. God is pardoning and forgiving.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)
O you who believe, do not approach prayer with a confused mind, until you can understand all that you say. Nor in a state of ceremonial impurity, until after washing your entire body. If you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you come from offices of nature, or you have been intimate with your woman, and you find no water, then take for yourselves earth, and rub your faces and hands with it, for God removes sins and forgives again and again
Musharraf Hussain
Believers, don’t come to the prayer whilst you are drunk stay away until you know what you are saying; nor when you are in the state of major ritual impurity, and when on a journey,until you have bathed yourselves. However , if you are ill or on a journey, or if you have relieved yourself or had sexual intercourse with your spouse , and you cannot find water, then purify yourselves with some clean sand, wiping your faces and forearms.Allah is Pardoner, Forgiver
Maududi
Believers! Do not draw near to the Prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying nor while you are defiled - save when you are travelling - until you have washed yourselves. If you are either ill or travelling or have satisfied a want of nature or have had contact with women and can find no water, then betake yourselves to pure earth, passing with it lightly over your face and your hands. Surely Allah is All-Relenting, All-Forgiving
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)
O you who believe, do not come near the contact prayer while you are intoxicated, until you know what you are saying. Nor if you have had intercourse, unless traveling, until you bathe. And if you are ill, or traveling, or one of you has excreted feces, or you had sexual contact with the women, and could not find water, then you shall select from the clean soil; you shall wipe your faces and hands. God is Pardoning, Forgiving.
Mohammad Shafi
O you who believe! Go not to prayer while you are under the influence of intoxication, until you know what you say, nor while you are in an unclean state — unless on the move from one place to another — until you take a bath. And if you are ill, or on a journey, or any of you has come from the toilet or you have been in sexual contact with the women, and you cannot get water, simulate the cleaning act then with pure earth, wiping your faces and your hands therewith. Indeed, Allah is Lenient, Forgiving
Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)
'O believers! Approach not prayer while you are intoxicated, until you have so much sense that what you say, you understand, nor when you are unclean without taking a bath except when you are travelling; and if you are ailing, or on a journey, or any one of you comes from privy, or you have touched women and you do not find water, then take some pure earth and wipe there with your faces and your hands. Undoubtedly, Allah is Pardoning, Forgiving.
O you who believe, do not observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) while intoxicated, so that you know what you are saying. Nor after sexual orgasm without bathing, unless you are on the road, traveling; if you are ill or traveling, or you had urinary or fecal-related excretion (such as gas), or contacted the women (sexually), and you cannot find water, you shall observe Tayammum (dry ablution) by touching clean dry soil, then wiping your faces and hands therewith. GOD is Pardoner, Forgiver.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah
Believers, do not come close to prayer when you are drunk, until you know what you are saying, nor when you are in a state of impurity, unless you are crossing through the way (prayer area) until you have bathed yourselves. If you are ill or on a journey, or if any of you comes from the toilet or you have touchedwomen, and you cannot find water, so touch pure dust and wipe your faces and your hands. Allah is the Pardoner, the Forgiver
Maulana Muhammad Ali
O you who believe, go not near prayer when you are intoxicated till you know what you say, nor after sexual intercourse -- except that you are merely passing by -- until you have bathed. And if you are sick or on a journey, or one of you come from the privy, or you have touched the women, and you cannot find water, betake yourselves to pure earth, then wipe your faces and your hands. Surely Allah is ever Pardoning, Forgiving
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira
You, you those who believed, do not approach the prayers and you are intoxicated , until you know what you are saying, and nor distant from God/impure , except crossing a road/way, until you wash yourselves with water , and if you were sick/diseased or on a long distance travel, or any of you came from the safe and hidden depression in ground used for human discharge (toilet) or you touched repeatedly/touched and felt repeatedly (could mean: had intercourse with) the women, so you did not find water, so wipe your hands and face with dust , pure/good dust, so wipe with your faces and your hands, that God was/is often forgiving/pardoning, forgiving
Bijan Moeinian
O’ you who believe, do not worship God while you are intoxicated [this is the first out of four verses that gradually prohibited the intoxication] so that you know what you are saying. Nor after sexual contact without bathing. If you are sick [and can not take a bath], traveling, have relieved yourself [have urinated, passed gas or defecated] and had sex with a woman and cannot find water, then touch clean soil and wipe of your hands and face; surely God [understands, makes it easy for your and] forgives and pardons [your shortcomings.]
Faridul Haque
O People who Believe! Do not approach the prayer when you are intoxicated until you have the sense to understand what you say, nor in the state of impurity until you have bathed except while travelling; and if you are ill or on a journey or one of you returns from answering the call of nature or you have cohabited with women, and you do not find water, then cleanse (yourself) with clean soil - therefore stroke your faces and your hands with it; indeed Allah is Most Pardoning, Oft Forgiving
Sher Ali
O ye who believe ! go not near Prayer when you are not in full possession of your senses, until you know what you are saying, nor when you are unclean, except when you are traveling along a way, until you have bathed. And if you are ill or you are on a journey while unclean, or if one of you comes from the privy or you have touched women and you find no water, then betake yourselves to pure dust and wipe therewith your faces and your hands. Surely ALLAH is the Effacer of sins, Forgiving
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
O believers! Do not go near Prayer in a drunken state until you are able to understand what you say. Nor (should you approach Prayer) until you bathe after total ablution becomes obligatory, unless you are travelling. And if you are sick, or on a journey, or return from a call of nature, or make sexual contact with (your) women and then fail to find water, then clean yourselves by using pure soil. So wipe your faces and hands. Surely, Allah is Most Pardoning, Most Forgiving
Amatul Rahman Omar
O you who believe! do not go near Prayer when you are not in full possession of your senses, until you understand all that you say (in your Prayers); nor (occupy yourselves in Prayer) when you are unclean (and under an obligation to have a bath) until you have bathed yourselves. But (you can do without a bath) when you are travelling a long way. If you are taken ill or (are) on a journey, or if one of you comes from the privy, or you have had (sexual) contact with women and you find no water (for bathing or ablution) then have recourse to pure and clean dust and wipe your faces and your hands (therewith). Indeed, Allah is Most Benign, Great Protector
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali
O you who believe! Approach not AsSalat (the prayer) when you are in a drunken state until you know (the meaning) of what you utter, nor when you are in a state of Janaba, (i.e. in a state of sexual impurity and have not yet taken a bath) except when travelling on the road (without enough water, or just passing through a mosque), till you wash your whole body. And if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes after answering the call of nature, or you have been in contact with women (by sexual relations) and you find no water, perform Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands (Tayammum). Truly, Allah is Ever OftPardoning, OftForgiving
New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame
O you who believe! Do not approach the prayer while you are drunk until you know what you are saying nor in a state of ritual impurity - unless when you are on a journey - until you take your ritual bath. And if you are sick or on a journey or one of you came from fulfilling the call of nature or you have touched with intimacy the women and you did not find water, then make a dry ablution by touching clean dust and then rub it against your faces and against your arms. Truly Allah indeed is oft-pardoning, Oft-Forgiving.
Munir Mezyed
O' you who Live by Faith! do not approach Prayer when you are drunken so that you may know what you utter, or when you have a seminal discharge till you wash your whole body with water- unless you are on a journey- However, If it happens that you are unable to find water when you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you coming out of the privy, or being in contact with women, then betake yourselves to clean sand and rub therewith your faces and hands. Most assuredly Allâh is Oft-Pardoning- Oft-Forgiving.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher
Oh you believers, do not come near prayer whilst you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying, and not whilst in a state of sexual impurity until you have showered, except when on a journey, and if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the toilet or you have touched women and you do not find water, then look for clean soil and wipe over your faces and hands, for Allah is lenient, forgiving.
Linda “iLHam” Barto
O Believers, do not approach the ritual prayers while you are intoxicated. Wait until you can understand what you are saying. Do not come in a state of ritual impurity, with an exception for when you are traveling. Wait until you have washed thoroughly. If you’ve been sick or on a trip, or if you’ve just been to the toilet, or if you’ve been involved in intimate touching, and you can’t find any water, resort to clean sand, and use it to rub your faces and hands. Allah blots out sins and forgives again and again.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation
O you who have attained faith, do not approach prayer while you are drunk so that you may know what you say, nor while you are in a state of major impurity—unless you are traveling—until you have bathed. And if you are sick or traveling or one of you returns from relieving oneself or you have touched women (in intercourse) and cannot find water, then find clean soil and wipe your faces and your hands with it. Indeed, Allah has always been Pardoning, Oft-Forgiving.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab
You who believe, do not attempt to pray while you are drunk, until you know what you are saying; nor after a seminal emission - except when traveling along some roaduntil you take a full bath. If you are ill or on a journey, or one of you has come from the toilet, or has had contact with any women [sexually], and you do not find any water, then pick up some wholesome soil and wipe your faces and your hands with it. Allah (God) is Pardoning, Forgiving.
Samy Mahdy
O you who believed! Do not approach the prayer while you are drunk, till you know what you say; nor impure (After sexual act) except you are passersby travelers, until you have bathed. And if you are diseased, or traveling, or one from you comes from the toilet (For defecation or urination), or you have been in contact with women (By sexual relations) so you did not find water, so perform Tayammum with good ground, so wipe therewith your faces and hands. Surely, Allah is ever Pardoning, Forgiver.
Sayyid Qutb
Believers, do not attempt to pray when you are drunk, [but wait] until you know what you are saying; nor when you are in a state of ceremonial impurity, except if you are on your way, until you have bathed. But if you are ill, or travelling, or if one of you has come from the toilet, or if you have cohabited with a woman and can find no water, then have recourse to pure dust, passing therewith lightly over your faces and your hands. God is indeed Most Lenient, Much-Forgiving.
Ahmed Hulusi
O believers, do not approach salat when you are not aware of what you do (in a drunken state) until you are conscious of what you are saying, or impure (after sexual intercourse) until you have performed whole body ablution, unless you are traveling. If you are sick or traveling, or come from the place of relieving yourselves (lavatory), or you have had sexual intercourse and you were not able to find water (to wash yourselves; ablution), then seek clean earth and wipe your faces and hands with it. Indeed, Allah is the Afuw, the Ghafur.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli
O' you who have Faith! do not approach prayer when you are intoxicated, until you know what you say, nor when you are polluted - unless you be passing through - until you wash yourselves. And if you are ill or on a journey, or one of you come from privy or you have touched the women and you cannot find water, then betake yourselves to pure earth then wipe your faces and your hands; Verily Allah is Pardoning, Forgiving
O you who conformed to Islam: Do not engage in the act of worship while you are under the influence of intoxicants nor pray when you are spiritually unconditioned, unless you are on the road, until you have bathed. And if you are sick or on the road or have defecated or touched women and the sensation or contact stirred you to passion, and you did not find water for ablution, then metaphoric ablution be a religious rite: apply clean sand, dust or dry earth lightly to your faces and hands; Allah is ever 'Afawun (Indulgent) and Ghafurun
Mir Aneesuddin
O you who believe ! do not go near worship (salat) when you are intoxicated (not conscious) until you know what you say, nor when you have not taken a bath after sexual intercourse (or passing out of semen during sleep etc) until you have bathed, except when you are traveling on a road, and if you are sick or on a journey or one of you comes from the toilet or you have touched women, then (under the above circumstances if) you do not find water then take clean dust and wipe your faces and your hands, Allah is certainly Pardoning, Protectively Forgiving.
The Wise Quran
O those who believed! Do not approach prayer while you are drunk, until you know what you say; nor after a seminal emission, unless you are passing by the way, until you have washed yourselves. And if you are sick, or on a journey, or one of you comes from the toilet, or if you have touched a woman, and you cannot find water, then use good surface sand and wipe your faces and your hands; indeed, God is pardoning, forgiving.