O you who believe ! when you rise up to prayer , wash your faces and your hands as far as the elbows , and wipe your heads and your feet to the ankles ; and if you are under an obligation to perform a total ablution , then wash ( 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 and wipe your faces and your hands therewith , Allah does not desire to put on you any difficulty , but He wishes to purify you and that He may complete His favor on you , so that you may be grateful .