The Relevance of the Qur’an, Hadith, and Natural Science: An Analysis of the Effects of Wudu on Oxygen Exchange in the Blood

Mubarok, Faruq and Suhardi, Andi and Haris, Abdul (2026) The Relevance of the Qur’an, Hadith, and Natural Science: An Analysis of the Effects of Wudu on Oxygen Exchange in the Blood. Masters thesis, Universitas Islam Negeri KH Achmad Siddiq Jember.

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Abstract

This research discusses ablution (wudu) with a focus on the relevance of the Qur'an, Hadith, and natural sciences. Wudu has largely been studied from the perspectives of fiqh and spirituality, while integrated studies examining the benefits of wudu on blood pressure and oxygen saturation (SpO₂) through the lens of the Qur'an, Hadith, and modern science remain very limited. This research aims to identify the relationship between wudu and blood pressure and SpO₂, analyze the benefits of wudu from the perspectives of physics, chemistry, and biology, and uncover the wisdom of wudu by establishing relevance between the Qur'an, Hadith, and modern science.
This study employed a mixed-method explanatory sequential design, beginning with Phase I (quantitative) followed by Phase II (qualitative). Phase I (quantitative) consisted of a one-group pretest-posttest experiment involving female students aged 18–25 years under four conditions (night fasting, daytime fasting, non-fasting, and menstruation). Blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) and SpO₂ were measured before wudhu, after wudhu, and after tarawih prayer. Quantitative data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test and paired t-test (α = 0.05). Phase II (qualitative) consisted of a literature study on QS. Al-Maidah: 6, QS. Ar-Rahman: 7–9, Hadith narrated by Bukhari and Muslim, as well as literature on physiology, biochemistry, and hydrotherapy, which were analyzed using thematic analysis to explain the quantitative findings.
The results of Phase I showed that wudhu has a bidirectional adaptive effect: in participants with initially high blood pressure (≥130 mmHg), wudhu reduced mean systolic pressure by 7.7 mmHg (p = 0.008); in participants with low blood pressure (<110 mmHg), wudhu increased mean systolic pressure by 6.9 mmHg (p = 0.024); while in participants with normal blood pressure (110–130 mmHg), no significant changes were observed. Tarawih prayer further reduced systolic pressure by an average of 4.4 mmHg in the high blood pressure group (p = 0.046). SpO₂ increased significantly in the daytime fasting group (p = 0.014), non-fasting group (p < 0.001), and menstruating group (p = 0.001), but not significantly in the night fasting group. The results of Phase II explain that the procedures of wudhu, including the sequence of washing, the distinction between ghasl and masḥ, and the threefold washing of the hands and feet, theoretically correlate with mechanical skin stimulation, reduction of sympathetic tone, nitric oxide (NO) release due to shear stress, and vasodilation following exposure to room-temperature water. Furthermore, the principle of mīzān (balance) in QS. Ar-Rahman: 7–9 is consistent with the concept of physiological homeostasis identified in this study.

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