Ṣalāwāt

Ṣalāwāt

“Allāhumma ṣalli ‘alā Muhammad wa āli Muhammad.” “O Allah! Send blessings on Muhammad and his progeny.”

After bearing witness to tawḥīd and the risālah, we invoke blessings for Muhammad and his progeny (‘a).

Ṣalāwāt is the symbol of love [muḥabbah], friendship [muwaddah] and devotion to the family of the Holy Prophet of Islam (ṣ), which the Qur’an regards as the reward for the apostleship of the Prophet (ṣ).[1]

Ṣalāwāt is the polish for man’s rusty soul[2] and it wipes away hypocrisy [nifāq].[3] Ṣalāwāt is a factor in wiping away sins,[4] a means for opening the gates of heaven,[5] the reason behind the angels’ supplication for man and asking for the forgiveness of his sins,[6] and a means of proximity to the Prophet (ṣ) on the Day of Resurrection and the obtainment of his intercession [shafā‘ah].[7]

The one who has blissful fate is he whose last statement in the world is ṣalāwāt.[8]

God initially sends blessings [ṣalāwāt] to the Prophet (ṣ) and then orders us to send ṣalāwāt:

النَّبِيِّ عَلَى يُصَلُّونَ وَمَلائِكَتَهُ اللهَ إِنَّ ﴿

﴾ تَسْلِيمًا وَسَلِّمُوا عَلَيْهِ صَلُّوا ءَامَنُوا الَّذِينَ يأَيُّها

“Indeed Allah and His angels bless the Prophet. O you who have faith! Invoke blessings on him and invoke Peace upon him in a worthy manner.”[9]

From this verse and the following traditions, we have obtained these points below regarding ṣalāwāt:

1. Ṣalāwāt is a verbal gesture of respect, but what is more important is the practical obedience required as is indicated by the phrase, “sallimu taslīmā”.

2. The ṣalāwāt of God and the angels is permanent—“yuṣallūn” in the present perfect tense.

3. The ṣalāwāt of God is nobility [kirāmah]; the ṣalāwāt of the angels is mercy [raḥmah]; and the ṣalāwāt of the people is supplication [du‘ā’].

4. It is recorded in the traditions: “In addressing Ḥaḍrat Mūsā (‘a), God said, ‘Send ṣalāwāt upon Muḥammad and his progeny as I and the angels do send ṣalāwāt upon him’.”[10]

5. The Messenger of Allah (ṣ) said: “To remember God is a form of worship and to remember me is also a form of worship, and the same is true with respect to my successor ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib.”[11]

6. It is recorded in the traditions: “For the acceptance of your supplication, send ṣalāwāt first before supplicating.”[12] Not only the sending of ṣalāwāt upon hearing the name of the Prophet (ṣ) but also writing it after his name has reward. The Prophet (ṣ) said: “The angels are praying for the forgiveness of anyone who would send ṣalāwāt to me in his book so long as my name exists in that book.”