Is this correct concerning 'Wudu' or Ablution?

[Heba E. Husseyn]

AsaSalaam Alaykum everyone. 
My nephew (sister's son) has video taped quite a few lectures on Islamic issues that keep coming on TV.  Yesterday we visited my sister's house and I was watching one of those tapes which was a lecture by Br. Steve Rockwell of Sheikh Deedat Center in Canada.  He was talking about how to perform salaah, and mentioned at length about 'wudu' (or ablution).  He said that before offering salaah even if you take a full shower, you still need to perform wudu after your shower.  The reason he gave was that wudu has a physical and spiritual side to it.   Paraphrasing this aspect of his lecture, he added that when you do your wudu after your shower, you should be making supplications as you perform the wudu .... like, when you wash your face supplicate to Allah to protect your face from Hellfire.  When you wash your hands, ask Allah to make your hands do good things and when you touch your hair, you should ask Allah to grant you the shade of Jannah.   Well, sure these are good supplications but there's no hard and fast rule that we have to offer it while performing wudu.  Supplications are usually said after the salaah.   The Quran has very much simplified the procedure of wudu but people make it complicated.  From what I understand on wudu in the Quran, it's for physical cleanliness not spiritual.  For spiritual cleansing we have the salaah itself, and before offering every salaah we make a verbal intent or niyyah.  So I really don't agree with Br. Steve dividing the process of wudu into physical and spiritual.  He is just trying to make a simple matter complicated.  This is how all simple matters gradually become complex.   

[Zainab_M]

No, I don't think this is correct about 'wudu.'   I've also heard this view from other people too, though I didn't see this lecture.   I suppose such ideas arise from the concept that it is necessary to make an intent for every act of worship, which is correct.  But in the case of salaah, 'wudu' is not the intent or 'niyah.'  The intent for salaah is the verbal niyah we recite in our own words just before starting of offer salaah.  Wudu, as you agreeably mentioned, is for physical cleanliness.  Since the Noble Quraan has expressed the importance of being physically clean, one must try to stay physically clean as much as possible and especially during prayers.  Also, when people are offering salaah in a congregation and if they're not clean or smelling of body odor .. this can make others standing close to this person uncomfortable and uneasy.  After a person takes a full & proper shower and puts on fresh clothes (even if clothes are old doesn't matter as long as they're clean), that's the best way for complete physical cleansing.  At most, one can rinse one's mouth and clean up one's nostrils after the shower .. but I don't see the need for a full wudu.  As we've already stated, the niyah for salaah is made when we stand for salaah, minutes before we start offering it.  At this time we must make sure that our face, neck, hands, arms and feet are clean as instructed in the Quraan.  A full shower automatically fulfils this condition very well. 

And Allah knows best.

Salaams and peace ..

[N. Truth Seeker]

Wudu is not about niyyah.  It is something which requires us to be clean physically.  For that reason often people perform 2 or sometimes even 3 salah with a single wudu, if they have maintained it without getting themselves physically dirty with tangible filth.  Passing wind is not included in invalidating wudu.  This is a hadith idea. 

Even Tayumum is not about niyyah.  It's about self satisfaction that we have followed a step commanded by Allah in case we are sick or water is not available, because Allah does not want us to miss our salah only because of our inability for using water .... also Allah does not want to make matters difficult for us.

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Thanks sister and brother.  I saw Sister Zainab's response sometime ado which was very helpful.  Was in a bit of hurry and forgot to acknowledge it .. it's an older post.  After your response, guests are also leaving queries on it.