CAIRO — A Malaysian company launched on Monday, February 1, the world's first high-tech machine to help Muslims make their pre-prayer ablution rite without excessively wasting water in line with their faith teachings.
"The (Automatic Wudu' Washer) AWW will revolutionize the wudu' in all Islamic countries making wudu' cleaner, faster and above all saving millions of liters of water," the company, Inventors AACE Technologies, said on its website.

The ornate, green-colored machine is fully computerized according to its inventors.

It comes with automatic sensors and basins to curb water usage during the rite.

"The user is not required to touch the taps as the taps are activated by water proof diffuser sensors along with audio prompts that is controlled by a central PLC system to dispense water automatically to the taps for each wudu' washing sequence as stipulated in the Holy Qur'an," the website added.


"The used water is then discharged from the rear end of the unit through one pipe outlet." 
The machine's surfaces are all coated with nano silver to prevent contact fungal and bacterial infection.

"Besides, the AWW allows a person to perform the wudu' while standing in an hygienic, comfortable and quick manner with blow drying after each wudu'," the inventors said.

"The AWW also recites the `doa' (prayer) before and after each wudu automatically."

AACE Technologies took two years to develop the machine at the cost of $2.5 million and it will be sold at $3,000-$4,000 a piece.

Ablution is necessary for Muslims before performing the five daily prayers.

The ritual is meant to purify the body from impurities.

Water-saving 
The inventors hope the machine will help also help a good cause by saving millions of liters of water wasted during ablution rites everyday.

"Saving water is a motivation for people to adopt this system rather than the conventional methods, where there's a lot of water wastage," AACE Chairman Anthony Gomez told reporters in Kuala Lumpur, reported Reuters.

The device saves water at approximately 1.5 liters per ablution per person.

"During the Haj, two million people used 50 million liters water a day for wudu'," he said, referring to the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Makkah.

"If they introduce this machine they are saving 40 million liters per day."

The inventors are counting on rich countries the Middle East to snap up the machines.

The Gulf city of Dubai has shown interest in acquiring the product for its airport.

AACE also wants to target mosques and offices with new models that can be wall mounted in a group of six.

For Azman Mohamed Noor, a Musli9m from Singapore, the invention can prove beneficial for his country where water supplies are little

"Nothing is impossible," Azman Mohamed Noor said

"Of course we are trying ways and means to new products, those that can save mankind, those that can save nature."