In Islam, the faithful must wash before each of the five daily sayings of prayer, and tanks or wells are provided at mosques for worshippers cleansing. There are numerous references in the Old Testament of the Bible to ritual purification with water. For example, it is stated in the book of Exodus that priests are instructed, upon punishment of death, to wash their hands and feet before approaching the altar. In Christian baptism, as in ancient Egyptian mortuary rituals, the two ideas of the water of life and the cleanliness of water were brought together. The water which washes away dirt and corruption, became also the water of life, bringing about a spiritual rebirth.
Water stories seem to be a common thread which is woven throughout all the cultures of the world.
Whether it s the tale of creation or of the great flood, many vastly different civilizations share similar stories of water related incidents. Perhaps the most common is that of the fountain of youth. In numerous folk and fairy tales, there is a magical liquid which cures all diseases and makes anyone who drinks it immortal. Water is the origin of society. Civilization was formed on the riverbeds and ancient man prospered because of this.