Sending Blessings & Peace Upon the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

The Last Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (s.a.w) is the greatest benefactor of humanity and a source of guidance for all Muslims. Loving him is an essential part of faith.

Narrated Anas bin Malik ؓ , the Prophet (s.a.w) said “None of you will have faith till he loves me more than his father, his children and all mankind.” (Agreed Upon )

The best way to express love for the Prophet (s.a.w) is to send peace and blessings upon him. Regarding this, Allah says in the Holy Quran:

“Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace.” (Chapter 33, Surah Al-Ahzab, Ayah 56)

‘Durood’ is a Persian word which has been adapted into Urdu. The equivalent for ‘Durood’ in Arabic is ‘Salaah’, which means blessings, mercy and supplications. When attributed to Allah , the meaning of ‘Salaah’ is that He sends His Grace and Blessings on the Prophet (s.a.w). With regards to the angels and people, it means that they make supplication to Allah to confer His blessings upon the Prophet (s.a.w).

Reciting
صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم (‘sallallahu alyihi wa sallam’) whenever the name of the Prophet (s.a.w) is heard, written or read is an act of great virtue and excellence.

Virtues of Invoking Blessings and Peace Upon the Prophet (s.a.w)

Elevation of Status
Anas bin Malik ؓ relates that the Prophet (s.a.w) said, “He who sends blessings on me once Allah sends blessings on him ten times and removes from him ten sins and raises him by ten degrees.” (Sunan Nasai)

Worthy of Intercession
Abu al-Darda’ ؓ relates that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said, “Whoever sends blessings on me ten times in the morning and ten times in the evening will have my intercession on the Day of Judgment.”
(Sahih al-Jami’ as-Sagheer)

Relief from Misery and Sorrow
Ubayy bin Ka`b ؓ relates: I said, “O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w), I send much blessings on you. What proportion of my prayer should I devote to (sending blessings on) you?” He said, “As much as you like.”
I said, “A quarter?” He said, “As much as you like, and if you increased it would only be better for you.”
I said, “Then a half?” He said, “As much as you like and if you increased then it would only be better for you.”
I said, “Then two thirds?” He said, “As much as you like and if you increased it would only be better for you.”
I said, “I’ll devote all of my prayers to sending blessings on you.” The Prophet (s.a.w) said, “In that case it will suffice you from your worries and your sins will be forgiven.”
(Jami’ Tirmidhi)

Source of Blessings
‘Abdurrahman bin ‘Auf ؓ relates that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) went out once and he followed him until he entered a grove of palm trees and prostrated. His prostration was so long that ‘Abdurrahman feared that Allah had taken his soul. ‘Abdurrahman came to look at him and he raised his head and said: “What is wrong, Abdurrahman?” Abdurrahman mentioned what had happened, and the Prophet (s.a.w) said: “Gabriel ؑ came to me and said: ‘Shall I not give you glad tidings? Allah says to you, “Whoever sends blessings upon you, I confer blessings upon him. Whoever sends salutations to you, I send peace on him.”’ Therefore, I prostrated to Allah in thanks”.
(Musnad Ahmed and Al-Hakim)

Acceptance of Supplications
Abdullah bin Mas’ud ؓ narrates: I was once praying, and the Prophet (s.a.w), Abu Bakrؓ and Umar ؓ (were all present). When I sat down (in the final tashahhud), I praised Allah, then sent salaams on the Prophet (s.a.w), then started praying for myself. At this, the Prophet (s.a.w) said:
‘Ask (in this manner) and you shall be given! Ask, and you shall be given it!’
(Jami’ Tirmidhi)

Increase in Reward
Abu Huraira ؓ relates that the Prophet (s.a.w) said, “Whoever sends blessings on me once, Allah writes ten good deeds in his book of deeds.” (Fadal as-Salaah ala an-Nabi)

Disadvantages of Not Sending Peace & Blessings

(Durood o Salaam) Upon the Prophet (s.a.w)
• Ali ؓ reported: The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said, “The one in whose presence I am mentioned and does not send blessings on me is a miser.” (Jami’ Tirmidhi)
• Abdullah bin Abbas ؓ narrates that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: “Whosoever forgot to send peace and blessings on me strayed from the path of Jannah.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)
• Anas bin Malik ؓ stated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: “No supplication is responded to until blessings are sent upon me.” (Sahih al- Jami’ as- Sagheer)

Occasions for Invoking Blessings

There is no restriction of time and place, nor are there any special requirements for sending peace and blessings on the Prophet (s.a.w).
• No matter when or where a believer supplicates for blessings and peace on the Prophet (s.a.w), it is delivered to him ( Musnad Ahmed)
• The Prophet (s.a.w) has taught us to send peace and blessings upon him in the last part (tashahhud) of the salaah (Jami’ Tirmidhi)
• It is prescribed (masnoon) to send peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) after the second takbeer of the funeral prayers (Musnad Shaf’i)
• Sending peace and blessings upon the Prophet (s.a.w) after hearing the call to prayer (adhaan) and before making supplications is a means of receiving ten blessings from Allah (Sahih Muslim)
• The supplication for peace and blessings made at the grave of the blessed Prophet (s.a.w) is conveyed to him by the angels appointed for this purpose. (Sahih al-Jami’ as-Sagheer)
• Supplications for the Prophet (s.a.w) made on Fridays are presented to him. (Sahih al-Jami’ as-Sagheer)
• The etiquette of making supplications, which have a greater likelihood of acceptance, is to first praise Allah , then send peace and blessings upon the Prophet (s.a.w) and then supplicate (Jami’ Tirmidhi)
• It is recommended (masnoon) to send blessings upon the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w) in every gathering because gatherings where this is not done may become a means of chastisement from Allah (Jami’ Tirmidhi)
• Sending blessings on the Prophet (s.a.w) ten times in the morning and ten times in the evening will be a source of intercession on the Day of Judgment (Sahih al-Jami’ as-Sagheer)
• It is recommended to send blessings on the Prophet (s.a.w) at the beginning of sermons and preaching, at gathering of learning (especially when ahadith of the Prophet (s.a.w) are being taught), at the time of engagement or marriage, when writing and at the beginning of every righteous deed. It will be a cause for attaining Allah’s pleasure and mercy and facilitate the task at hand.

Inauthentic Practices

In matters of religion, one should avoid inauthentic and innovative practices, and not waste one’s time and energies on them in order to avoid loss on the Day of Judgment.

• The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) stated “If somebody innovates something which is not in harmony with the principles of our religion, that thing is rejected.” (Agreed Upon)
• Hafidh bin Hajar says that it is preferable to use the words taught by the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) himself.
• Imam Nawawi states that the prescribed (masnoon) way of sending blessings (durood) upon the Prophet (s.a.w) is مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَى صَلِّ اللَّهُمَّ . Thus we should only use those words which have been taught to us by the Prophet (s.a.w) in authentic traditions (sahih ahadith).
• Supplication for blessings upon the Prophet (s.a.w) that are not proven by the authentic traditions should be avoided, like Durood Taj, Durood Muqaddas, Durood Akbar, Durood Lakhi, Durood Mahi, Durood Tanjeena and so on.
• Sending blessings on the Prophet (s.a.w) before the call to prayer (adhaan), and aloud in congregation after obligatory prayers is not proved from any authentic tradition.

Prescribed Method of Salutation

• Narrated Abdullah bin Mas’ud ؓ: We used to say in the prayer: ‘As-Salam be on Allah, As-Salam be on so-and so.’ So one day the Prophet (s.a.w) said to us, “Allah Himself is As-Salam; when anyone of you sits during his prayer, he should say:
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
“‘All the compliments are for Allah and all the prayers and all the good things (are for Allah). Peace be on you, O Prophet (s.a.w), and Allah’s mercy and blessings (are on you). And peace be on us and on the good (pious) worshipers of Allah. I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad (s.a.w) is His slave and Messenger’. So, when you have said this, then you have surely sent the greetings to every good (pious) worshipper of Allah, whether he be in the Heaven or on the Earth.”
(Sahih Bukhari)

• Fatima ؓ says that whenever the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w) entered the mosque he recited:
‏ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي وَافْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
“I enter the mosque in the name of Allah; Peace be upon the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w). O Allah! Forgive my sins and open the gates of mercy for me. “
And when he left the mosque, he recited these words:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي وَافْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ فَضْلِكَ
“I exit (from the mosque) in the name of Allah; Peace be upon the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w). O Allah! Forgive my sins and open Your gates of bounties for me.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)

• It is narrated by Aisha ؓ that the Prophet (s.a.w) after finishing his prayers would recite these words three times:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ وَسَلاَمٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
“Exalted is your Lord, the Lord of might, above what they describe; and peace upon the messengers. And praise to Allah , Lord of the worlds.” (Jami’ Tirmidhi)

• Whenever Abdullah bin Umar ؓ returned from a journey, he would visit the grave of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) and make the following supplication:
السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا رَسُولِ اللَّهِ
“Peace be upon you O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w)!” (Fadal as-Salaah ala an-Nabi)

Conveying of Salutations & Response

• It was narrated by Abdullah bin Mas’ud ؓ that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: “Some angels appointed by Allah go around on earth, and convey to me the salutations (salaam) sent by my ummah.” (Sunan Nasai)

• Narrated Abu Huraira ؓ: The Prophet (s.a.w) said: “If any one of you greets me, Allah returns my soul to me and I respond to the greeting” (Sunan Abu Dawud)

In the life of barzakh (stage of afterlife before Day of Judgment), the salutations (salaam) are conveyed to the Prophet (s.a.w) through appointed angels. How is that possible? Regarding this we have not been given any knowledge. We should be firm in our belief that Allah has Supreme Power and nothing is impossible for Him; and that we should accept without questions matters which have not been revealed to us.

Prescribed Words of Blessings for the Prophet (s.a.w)

1. اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
“O Allah! Send Your mercy on Muhammad (s.a.w) and on the family of Muhammad (s.a.w), as You sent Your mercy on Abraham and on the family of Abraham, for You are the Most Praise-worthy, the Most Glorious. O Allah! Send Your blessings on Muhammad (s.a.w) and the family of Muhammad (s.a.w), as You sent your blessings on Abraham and on the family of Abraham, for You are the Most Praise-worthy, the Most Glorious.”
(Sahih Bukhari)
2. اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَزْوَاجِهِ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَزْوَاجِهِ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
“O Allah! Send Your mercy on Muhammad (s.a.w) and on his wives and on his off spring, as You sent Your mercy on the family of Abraham; and send Your blessings on Muhammad (s.a.w) and on his wives and on his offspring, as You sent Your blessings on the family of Abraham, for You are the Most Praise-worthy, the Most Glorious.”
(Sahih Bukhari)
3. اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ النَّبِیِّ الْاُمِّيِّ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ النَّبِیِّ الْاُمِّيِّ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
“O Allah! Send Your mercy on Muhammad (s.a.w) the unlettered Messenger and on the family of Muhammad (s.a.w), as You sent Your mercy on Abraham and on the family of Abraham. And send Your blessings on Muhammad (s.a.w) the unlettered Messenger and the family of Muhammad (s.a.w), as You sent your Blessings on Abraham and on the family of Abraham. Verily You are the Most Praise-worthy, the Most Glorious.”
(Al Mustadrak ala as-Sahihain lil-Hakim)
4. اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِكَ وَرَسُولِكَ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ
“O Allah! Send Your mercy on your servant and messenger, Muhammad (s.a.w), as You sent Your mercy on the family of Abraham; and send Your blessings on Muhammad (s.a.w) and on the family of Muhammad (s.a.w), as You sent Your blessings on Abraham.”
(Sahih Bukhari)
5.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ النَّبِيِّ الاُمِّيِّ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
“O Allah! Bestow Your mercy upon Muhammad (s.a.w) the unlettered Messenger and the family of Muhammad (s.a.w)”
(Sunan Abu Dawud)
6.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
“O Allah! Send Your mercy on Muhammad (s.a.w) and on the family of Muhammad (s.a.w)” (Sunan Nasai)