After bathing, is prayer valid without repeating the ablution?

Q: A question from a person in Iraq, which says: Upon finishing the bath, is prayer valid without repeating the ablution, considering that he has purified himself in the bath? And is there a condition if one wants the bath to suffice for the ablution?

A: The scholars have differed on this matter. The stronger view is that if one takes a full ritual bath for major ritual impurity with the intention of removing both impurities, that suffices; because the minor impurity is included in the major one. However, the Sunnah, the perfection, and the better course is to do what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did: he would first perform the ablution after cleaning himself, washing his private parts and the area around them, then perform the ablution for prayer, then pour water over his head three times, then over his right side, then his left side, then complete the rest of the body, then wash his feet in a separate place. This is what is prescribed, and this is the perfection, following our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).