In other words, one’s attitude towards prayer should begin way before the takbir.

Wassalam.

So, by being a form of worship, is that why I’ve been told by a brother that you’re not supposed to talk about dunya while making wudu?

My email is salmanhusayni@yahoo.com

Wasalam
Salman

Sidi `Abd al Hakim: What is meant is that ablution only follows as a result prayer.

There is no doubt that ablution carries reward since it is fulfilling the command of Allah and His Messenger and a means to fulfilling other commands. “Means” here is the key word.

An act of worship can either be [1] Sought in itself (maqsud) or (2) Not sought in itself but a means (wasa’il) to fulfill that which is sought. Ablution comes in the later category. Imam Shurunbulali thus says in his Nur al Idah “wa sababuhu istibahatu ma la yahilu ila bihi” i.e. “Its cause is to make permitted that which is not permitted without it.”

But imagine someone spending all night doing ablution. Would we say he is rewarded? No, we’d probably think he’s alittle out of it. This is because ablution is not sought in itself, like prayer , but only ameans to make such things permitted. Thus it follows as a result of these acts fo worship – a tabi`.

Wasalam
Salman

Why wouldn’t ablution by itself be considered an act of worship? There are times when wudu is required, but not for the act of praying – when touching the qur’an for example.