question #1 Sahih Muslim 503d, Book 4, Hadith 284 : What is the significance of performing ablution before prayer in Islam?

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went at noon towards al-Batha’, he performed ablution, and said two rak’ahs of the Zuhr prayer and two of the ‘Asr prayer, and there was a spear in front of him. Shu’ba said and Aun made this addition to it on the authority of his father Abu Juhaifa: And the woman and the donkey passed behind it.