Is istinja' (cleaning oneself after relieving oneself) obligatory when performing wudu' (the ablution for prayer)?

Question : The questioner says in her final question: If a person enters the restroom, performs istinja' (cleaning oneself after relieving oneself), and leaves without completing the wudu' (the ablution for prayer), and then the time for prayer arrives, does he renew the wudu' (the ablution for prayer) a second time?

Answer : No. If a person enters the toilet, relieves himself, performs istinja' (cleaning oneself after relieving oneself), and then the time for prayer arrives, he performs wudu' (the ablution for prayer) without performing istinja' (cleaning oneself after relieving oneself). This is because istinja' (cleaning oneself after relieving oneself) has no role in wudu' (the ablution for prayer); it is not one of its pillars, nor one of its obligatory acts. It is merely the removal of ritual impurity. Once it is removed, there is no need to wash that area again. Some laypeople may understand that whenever they want to perform wudu' (the ablution for prayer), they must go perform istinja' (cleaning oneself after relieving oneself), even if they have not urinated or defecated. This is a mistake. Istinja' (cleaning oneself after relieving oneself) is for purifying the place of urination or defecation. If it was purified the first time, it is not repeated. So, if a person relieved himself at ten in the morning, performed istinja' (cleaning oneself after relieving oneself), and then the time for the Zuhr (the midday prayer) prayer arrived, he would only perform wudu' (the ablution for prayer), and there is no need to repeat the istinja' (cleaning oneself after relieving oneself). May Allah reward you, and thank you to the sister questioner.