Allah’s Explicit Injunction for the Ummah
Allah the Almighty, and the Most High clearly says in the Quran, that He sends blessings upon the Prophet. He also orders His believers to send their blessings and salutations upon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Allah says:
“ Allah and His angels give blessings to the Prophet. O you who believe, call for blessings on him, and greet him with a prayer of peace.” [Quran 33:56]
Fulfilling this Quranic injunction is imperative, but there are a number of reasons why a believer should avidly send blessings and salutations on the Prophet.
1. Your worries / concerns will be lightened and sins forgiven.
Ubayy ibn Kaʿb ﵁ said “I once told the Messenger of God ﵆ ‘O Messenger of God, I invoke much (du’a). What portion should I offer salutations upon you?’
The Prophet ﷺ replied, “However much you wish.”
To this I asked, “A fourth?”
He said, “If you wish, but should you increase the number, it will be better for you.”
I then asked, “A third?”
He said, “If you wish, but should you increase the number, it is still better for you.”
I then asked, “A half?”
He said, “If you wish, but should you increase the number, it is still better for you.”
I then said, “Indeed in my invocation, I shall make all of my prayers upon you!”
To this, the Messenger of God replied, “If you do that you will be freed from all your worries and all your wrongs pardoned.” [Tirmidhi]
2. Allah will send blessings on you.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever sends blessings upon me, Allah will send ten blessings (mercies) upon him.” [Muslim]
What does this signify? This shows that the importance of the Prophet ﷺ is so high, that when you make ṣalawāt upon him, you can cast your cares away! Allah will deal with it for you. Salutations upon the Prophet ﷺ is the cornerstone to every blessing! In doing so, if we are remembered by Allah Most High, what greater gift could a believer desire?
3. It will draw you close to the Prophet in the Hereafter.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The closest of people to me on the Day of Resurrection will be those who sent the most blessings upon me.” [Tirmidhi]
We can consider the meaning of ‘closest’ as those in nearest physical proximity to him ﷺ or those most eligible for intercession.
A murīd came to one of the Arifin Billah and said: “Master! Tell me, how do I know if I am enlisted among the successful ones or the losers?” The Arif replied; “My son! The clear sign that differentiates the successful ones from the losers is the persistence of recitation of Salati Ala Nabiy Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam. So check yourself, if you find yourself among those who persistently recite Salatin-Nabiy then you’re among the successful ones and if you find that you don’t recite it, you are one of the greatest losers.”
The murīd asked: “Master! What is the evidence of this from the Quran?” The Arif said: “The evidence is from the clear saying of the True One: "Allah and His angels give blessings to the Prophet." The losers will not find themselves engaged in that as the successful ones have engaged themselves with Allah and His Angels in the affairs of the GATE of the greatest means of success – ṣallā -llāhu ʿalayhī wa-ʾālihī wa-sallama.”
The murīd then asked; “Master! What is the meaning of ‘persistence’ in relation to this matter?” The Arif replied; “It means you should constantly recite it as a litany daily upon the Prophet ﷺ. But know that there is ‘success’ and there is ‘greater success.’ The successful one is he who simply recites Salatin-Nabiy on a daily routine but the most successful one is he who Salatin-Nabiy ﷺ has become his food, drink, thoughts, worry and even the air he breathes.” At this saying, the murīd shed a lot of tears bowing his head.
The Arifullah said to him: “Wipe your tears for this is the beginning of your success and if not that you’re enlisted among the successful ones, you will not be inspired to come here and ask these questions.”
4. The Prophet will receive and return your greetings.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “There is no one who sends greetings of peace (Salam) upon me, but Allah will restore to me my soul so that I may return his Salām.” [Abu Dawud]
How wonderful for us that the best and most noble of creation acknowledges our existence and answers our greetings!
Where Islamic scholars maintain that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ returning Salām applies to both those groups of people who are present at his grave and those who are far away. The difference being that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ hears the one who recites ṣalawāt before him, whereas the ṣalawāt recited from a distance are conveyed to him.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Allah has angels who go around on earth conveying to me the salaam of my Ummah.” [Nasa’i]
5. Your sins will be erased and your status raised.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever sends blessings upon me once, Allah will erase ten sins from him and will raise him ten degrees in status.” [Nasa’i]
It is prescribed that each believer send as many blessings upon the Prophet ﵆ as he/she can. In return he/she will achieve great reward from this world and the Hereafter.
6. It helps your du’a to be accepted.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “When any one of you prays, let him begin by praising Allah, then let him send blessings upon the Prophet, then let him ask for whatever he wants.” [Tirmidhi]
This fact is compounded by ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb ﵁ who said, “Du’a is suspended between heaven and earth and none of it is taken up to the heavens until you send blessings upon your Prophet ﷺ.” [Tirmidhi]
The virtue of sending blessings upon the Prophet is not intended to only benefit the Prophet ﷺ. It benefits the one who sends blessings on him. The virtue is clearly stated in countless hadiths, some which have been quoted here in this blog.
Obligatory Times to Send Ṣalawāt - Tirmidhi
Nothing in Islam is done without due scrutiny and due diligence to authenticity of source and purpose, Scholars deduce that:
1) It is obligatory (farḍ) upon every Muslim to send ṣalawāt upon the Prophet ﷺ at least once in person’s lifetime.
2) It is mandatory (wājib) to send ṣalawāt upon the Prophet ﷺ whenever a person hears his blessed name. The Prophet ﷺ said: “May that person be humiliated who when my name is mentioned in his presence does not send blessings upon me.” [Tirmidhi]
3) If the Prophet’s ﷺ name is mentioned repeatedly in a sitting or gathering, then sending ṣalawāt only once will fulfill a person’s obligation, but it is still recommended to say it each time the Prophet’s name is mentioned. Image
Source: muslimmatters.org
Best Ways to Send Ṣalawāt
When the name of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is mentioned, one should send both blessings (Salah) and salutations (Salaam) upon him and not opt for one without the other.
Either of these two phrases suffices:
- ṣallā -llāhu ʿalayhī wa-sallama - May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
- ʿalayhi ṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu - May peace and blessings be upon him.
The Messenger ﷺ taught us the best and most complete way of how to send ṣalawāt upon him ﷺ. According to the most authentic narrations, he instructed the Companions ﵃ to say:
ٱللَّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
ٱللَّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Allahumma Salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin, kama sallaita ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala aali Ibrahima innaka Hamidum-Majeed.
Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala aali Ibrahima innaka Hameedum-Majeed.
O Allah, send your grace, honor and mercy upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your grace, honor and mercy upon Ibrahim, You are indeed Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.
O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your blessings upon Ibrahim, You are indeed Praiseworthy, Most Glorious”
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى أَزْوَاجِهِ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى أَزْوَاجِهِ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
`Allahumma salli `ala Muhammadin wa `ala azwajihi wa dhurriyyatihi, kama sallayta `ala aali Ibrahima wa barik `ala Muhammadin wa `ala azwajihi wa dhurriyyatihi, kama barakta `ala aali Ibrahima, innaka Hamidum Majid
O Allah, exalt the mention of Muhammad and his wives and offspring as You exalted the mention of the family of Ibrahim, and bless Muhammad and the wives and the offspring of Muhammad as you blessed the family of Ibrahim. You are the Praised, the Glorious.
Commendable Times to Send Ṣalawāt
The Beloved Messenger of Allah ﷺ stated:
“Verily, the best of your days is Friday. Adam was created on it, on it he died, on it the trumpet will be blown, and on it the shout will be made. Thus, send blessings upon me often, for your blessings are presented to me.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, how are our blessings presented to you after you have decayed?” The Prophet said, “Verily, Allah Almighty has forbidden the earth from consuming the bodies of the prophets.” [Abu Dawud]
There are other occasions apart from Friday when sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ is encouraged. Renowned Hanafi scholar Alama ibn Abidin ﵏ compiled a detailed list. He says:
“It is recommended to send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ at every possible moment that one is able.” Scholars conclude that there are certain times when it is specially recommended:
- Daily in the morning and the evening.
- Upon entering the mosque and exiting it.
- When delivering the Friday sermon and any other sermon.
- After the reply of the adhan.
- When the iqama is given.
- At the beginning, middle and end of a supplication (du’a).
- After the qunut supplication in the witr prayer.
- Upon finishing the talbiya.
- Both day and night on Friday, and also on Saturday, Sunday and Thursday (according to different narrations)
- When visiting the Holy Prophet’s noble grave (PBUH) in Medinah. At the mounts of Ṣafa and Marwa.
- When meeting and parting.
- During ablution.
- When having forgotten something.
- When giving admonition and spreading knowledge.
- When commencing to read a Prophetic narration and at its completion.
- When writing a question or fatwa.
- For every writer, student, teacher, preacher, person seeking marriage, person getting married and person marrying others off.
- In letters and messages.
- And on the occasion of any important matter.”
He further comments that it is disliked to send ṣalawāt during sexual relations and while relieving oneself.
Conclusion
The Beloved Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“The miser is the one in whose presence I am mentioned and he does not supplicate on my behalf.” [Ahmad]
It can be understood that a miser is a person who often refuses to grant another his due rights. There is no strenuous effort integrated in sending ṣalawāt. Hence, any person who chooses to forgo it is not fulfilling the Quranic injunction. In fact, he is actually depriving himself of great reward.
Where we may accidentally forget to send our ṣalawāt, there are many resources which can help us stay focused on this simple yet beneficial blessing. Mecca Books has a wealth of resources to help you. Click here to choose for yourself and those you love. As faithful Muslims, we should be eager to offer our blessings and salutations, and to encourage others to do the same. Making ṣalawāt helps us obtain the rewards in both worlds, by supplicating for the Prophet at all appropriate times. We offer our gratitude to Allah Most High for the blessing of sending the Prophet ﷺ to us. For that we will bestow upon His Messenger ﷺ our blessing and praise. Always.
