Friday, May 14, 2010

Salawat Ibrahimiyyah

Salāwat Ibrāhīmiyyah

What are the wordings’ of the Salāwāt on the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam)?

By Ibn Salih

 In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;
All the praise and thanks are due to Allāh, the Lord of the al-ā’lamīn. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, Sallallāhu alaihi wa sallam, is His Messenger.


Allāh commands us to send Salāwat.

Allāh Says: Allāh sends His Salat (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy, etc.) on the Prophet (Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and also His angels too (ask Allah to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send your Salat on (ask Allah to bless) him (Muhammad (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam), and (you should) greet (salute) him with Taslim (the Islamic way of greeting (salutation i.e. As-salāmu ‘alayka ayyuha’n-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh).) [See the Tafsir of Muhsin] [Al-Ahzab, 33: 56]

Al-Bukhari (rahimahullāh) said: "Abu Al-‘Aliyah said: "Allāh's Salāh [Salawat] is His praising Rasulullāh before the angels [for being among the “higher group” (al-mala’ al-‘ala, i.e, the angels, ref. al-Saffāt 37:8)], and the Salāh of the angels is their supplication [for Allah’s blessings and forgiveness].'' IbnAbbas (radiallāhu`anhu) said: "They send blessings.'' Abu ‘Isa At-Tirmidzi said: "This was narrated from Sufyan Ath-Thawri and other scholars, who said: ‘The Salāh of the Lord is mercy, and the Salāh of the angels is their seeking forgiveness.’” [Tafsir Ibn Kathir]  The believers' prayer is a supplication for him, asking Allāh to bless the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam).

The believer’s Salawāt indicates the honour, love, belief, attachment to him as our Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) which signifies to be the deep faith in Allāh.  Anas ibn Mālik (radiallāhu’anhu) narrated the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “No one of you truly believes until I am dearer to him than his father, his son, his own self and all the people.” [Narrated by al-Bukhāri, 15; Muslim, 44]. The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) also said: “Whenever someone seeks Allāh’s blessings for me, Allāh returns the soul to my body until I reply to his salutation." [Reported by Abu Dawud] 
 
And the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallām) likened those who do not salawāt upon him when his name is mentioned as a miser (mean, scrooge); humiliated.

Abu Hurairah (radhiallāhu ‘anhu) said: The Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallām) said: “May he be humiliated, the man in whose presence I am mentioned and he does not send Salāh upon me; may he be humiliated, the man who sees the month of Ramadhān come and go, and he is not forgiven; may he be humiliated, the man whose parents live to old age and they do not cause him to be granted admittance to Paradise."[Recorded Al-Tirmidzi and said that this hadith was, "Hasan gharib" (Good but only reported once)] In another narration: "The miser is the one who hears my name mentioned and does not seek blessings for me.” [Reported by At-Tirmidzi]

Allāh commanded the ummah to send both Salāwat and sending Salām on Rasūlullāh. The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) sent Salāwat on him and his family as in the tashahhud. [Abu ‘Awānah in his Sahih (2/324), Nasa'ie] There are Mutawatir Hadiths narrated from the Messenger of Allāh commanding us to send Salāwat blessings on him and he taught the Sahābah ways of reciting the Salāh (Salāwat) upon him. Scholars held that the best formula is the one mentioned in the sahih ahādith.

The various Versions of Salāwat

1: In his Tafsir of ayat, Al-Ahzab, 33: 56, Al-Bakhari recorded Ka‘ab bin ‘Ujrah (radiallāhu`anhu) reported, “It was said, “O Messenger of Allāh, we already knows how to greet you [i.e ‘As-salāmu ‘alaika ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmat-Allāhi wa barakātuh’ as in the Tashahhud], but how should we but how about Salāh [Supplicate; Ask blessings  for you]?'' He (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:

«قُولُوا: اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد»
"Say: `Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kama sallaita ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm; Innaka Hamīdum Majīd; Allāhumma bārik ‘ala Muhammad, wa ‘ala ‘āli Muhammad, kama bārakta ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm; Innaka Hamīdum Majīd.’

(O Allāh! Send Prayers on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad, as You sent Prayers on the family of Ibrāhīm, Verily You are Most Praiseworthy, Full of Glory; O Allāh! Send Your Blessings on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent your Blessings on the family of Ibrāhīm, Verily You are Most Praiseworthy, Full of Glory.)''’

[Al-Bukhari ( Fath Al-Bari 8:392) ; Ahmad; Nasā'ie and Abu Ya’la in his Musnad (44/2) with a sahih: (reaffirmed the narration thru Ibn Abi Layla’ informed by Ka’ab) ; Muslim (804-805); Humaidi (138/1) and Ibn Mandah (68/2): Sahih: Reported by Sa‘īd bin Mansūr, ‘Abd bin Hamīd, Ibn Abi Hātim and Ibn Mardawiyah  and ‘Abd ar-Razzāq, Ibn Abi Shaybah, Ahmad ‘Abd-Hamīd, the Sihah Sittah all from Ka‘ab bin ‘Ajrah.; this narration uses ‘Kama Sallaita ‘ala [Ibrāhīm, wa ‘ala] āli Ibrāhīm’; ‘Allāhumma Bārik’ in second part and ‘Innaka Hamīdum Majīd’ in both part.]

2: Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Sa ‘id Al-Khudri, radiallāhu`anhu, said: "We said, `O Messenger of Allāh, this is the Salam upon you, but how do we send Salāh upon you' He (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:
«قُولُوا: اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِكَ وَرَسُولِكَ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيم»
Say: “Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammad abdika wa rasūlik, kama sallaita ‘ala āli Ibāhīm; Wa bārik`ala Muhammad, wa ‘ala āli Muhammd, kama bārakta āli Ibrāhīm”
(O Allāh! Send Prayers on Muhammad, Your slave and messenger, as You Sent Prayers on the family of Ibrāhīm; And Send Blessings on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You Sent Blessings on and on the family of Ibrāhīm).

[Bukhari: uses: `abdika warasūlik; `ala āli Ibāhīm ; without ‘Innaka Hamīdum Majīd’; This was also recorded by Ahmad, An-Nasa’ie, Tahawi, and Ibn Majah. and Isma‘il Al-Qādi; Abu Salih narrated that Layth reaffirming the phrases : ‘wa ‘ala āli Muhammd, Kama Bārakta ‘āli Ibrāhīm’ ; and Ibrahim bin Hamzah told that, Ibn Abi Hazim and Ad-Darawardi told, that Yazid, i.e., Ibn Al-Had reaffirmed the phrases said: Kama sallaita ‘ala āli Ibāhīm; Wa bārik`ala Muhammad, wa ‘ala āli Muhammd, Kama bārakta ‘āli Ibrāhīm]

3: Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Humaid As-Sa‘idi (radiallāhu‘anhu) that they said: "O Messenger of Allāh, how can we send Salāh upon you'' He (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said,

«قُولُوا: اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَزْوَاجِهِ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَزْوَاجِهِ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد»

"Say: ‘Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammad, wa  [‘ala] azwajihi wa dzurriyatihi kama sallaita ‘ala  Ibrāhīm; Wa bārik ‘ala Muhammad, wa [‘ala] azwajihi wa dzurriyatihi kama bārakta ‘ala[ali] Ibrāhīm, Innaka Hamidum-Majīd’

(O Allāh Send Prayers on Muhammad and [on] his wives and progeny, as You Sent Prayers on [the family of] Ibrāhīm; And Send Blessings on Muhammad, and [on] his wives and progeny, as You Sent Blessings on [the family of] Ibrāhīm; Verily You are Most Praiseworthy, Full of Glory).

[Ahmad, It was also recorded by the rest of the Jama’ah, apart Muslim (807), Abu Dawud; at-Tirmidzi and Nasa'ie from Abu Humaid As-Sa`idi; but this narration uses : kama sallaita ‘ala  Ibrāhīm; only once ‘ Innaka Hamidum-Majīd’; No.3 almost similar to No.3.1 recorded by Imam Ahmad and Tahawi]

3.1: Imam Ahmad and Tahawi with a sahih sanad recorded another narration:

“Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala ahli bait, wa ‘ala azwajihi wa dzurriyyatihi, kama sallaita ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm; Innaka Hamīdum Majīd; Wa bārik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala ahli bait, wa ‘ala azwajihi wa dzurriyyatihi kama bārakta ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm; Innaka Hamīdum-Majīd”

(O Allāh! Send prayers on Muhammad, and on his household, and on his wives and progeny, as you sent prayers on the family of Ibrāhīm; Verily You are Most Praiseworthy, Full of Glory; And send blessings on Muhammad, and his household, and his wives and progeny, as you sent blessings on the family of Ibrāhīm; Verily You are Most Praiseworthy, Full of Glory).

This narration of the salawat reportedly used by the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) himself after the Tashahhud. [Ahmad and Tahawi with a sahih sanad]

[Recorded by Ahmad and Tahawi: sahih; uses phrase: wa `ala ahli bait, wa`ala azwajihi wa dzurriyyatihi, `ala āli Ibrāhīm, Innaka Hamīdum Majīd twice; Similar to No.3 narrated by Bukhari, Muslim (807), Abu Dawud and Nasa'ie from Abu Humaid As-Sa`idi when Sahabi enquired Rasulullah as how to send Salawat to him; but this narration is without ‘wa `ala ahli bait’, and uses ‘Innaka Hamidum-Majīd’ once at the end]

Commentary:

1. The narration no 3.1 is almost similar to No.3 .It is the salawat reportedly used by the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) himself after the Tashahhud. [Ahmad and Tahawi with a sahih sanad]

2."Azwaj’’ is the plural of "Zauj'' that is a pair. This is the reason that in Arabic it applies to both, masculine as well as feminine. Man is the Zauj of woman and woman is the Zauj of a man. In any case, here it means the Prophet's wives who are eleven in number. Two of them had died during the lifetime of the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and nine survived after him. Islam does not permit more than four wives to a Muslim but the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wassallam) was given the exclusive permission for numerous considerations which have been discussed by religious scholars at length.

3. Barakah: growth, increase. Hence this supplication secures for Muhammad the good which Allāh granted to the family of Ibrāhīm, continual, established good, as well as its multiplying and increase.

4. This Hadith also refutes the opinion of those who do not include his pious wives in the category of his "Al''. His "Al'' includes his wives and progeny - his male and female children and their descendants. But after his death none except Fatimah (radiallāhu` anha) and her children remained alive. Some scholars are of the opinion that it is general and applies to all his followers. [Riyad-us-Saliheen]

5. The Phrase “wa `ala ahli bait, wa`ala azwajihi wa dzurriyyatihi” has the same meaning to “ala āli”

6. The phrase of `ala āli Ibrāhīm (the family of Ibrāhīm) includes Ibrāhīm himself.

4:  “Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin [Nabiyilummi] wa‘ala āli Muhammad, kama sallaitaala [āli] Ibrāhīm; Wa bārikala Muhammadin [Nabiyilummi], wa ‘ala ‘āli Muhammad, kama bāraktaala [āli] Ibrāhīm fil ‘ālamīn; Innaka Hamīdum Majīd.”

(O Allāh! Send prayers on Muhammad [the Unlettered Prophet], and on the family of Muhammad, as you sent prayers on [the family of] Ibrāhīm; And send blessings on Muhammad [the Unlettered Prophet] and the family of Muhammad, as you sent blessings on [the family of] Ibrāhīm, among all the nations; Verily You are Most Praiseworthy, Full of Glory)

[Recorded by Muslim?, Abu ‘Awānah, Ibn Abi Shaibah (2/132/1) and Abu Dawud?; Hakim: sahih; uses Nabiyilummi twice; ala āli Ibrāhīm; ‘fil`ālamīn’; ‘Innaka Hamīdum Majīd.’]

5:Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammad, wa ‘ala āli Muhammad, Wa bārik ‘ala Muhammad, wa’ala āli Muhammd; Kama sallaita ‘ala Ibrāhīm, wa bāraktaala āli Ibrāhīm, Innaka Hamīdum Majīd.

(O Allāh Send Prayers on Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, and Send Blessings on Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad; As you Sent Prayers and Sent Blessings on Ibrāhīm and the family of Ibrāhīm; Verily You are Most Praiseworthy, Full of Glory)

[Recorded by Nasa’ie, Tahawi, Abu Sa`id bin al-`Arabi in al-Mu`jam (79/2) with a sahih sanad. Ibn al-Qayyim gave its source as Muhammad bin Ishaq as-Siraj in Jalā' al-Afhām (pp. 14-15) and then declared it sahih. This wording includes both 'Ibrāhīm' and 'the family of Ibrāhīm’; ‘Innaka Hamīdum Majīd’ something overlooked by both Ibn al-Qayyim and his teacher Ibn Taymiyyah, as explained above: sahih; a bit distinct from others]

6: Muslim recorded in his Sahih under ‘The Book on Blessings on the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) after Tashahhud’ that ‘Abdullāh bin Zaid, one who was shown the adzān (the call for prayer) in a dream, narrated it on the authority of Abu Mas ‘ud Al-Ansari (radiallāhu‘anhu) said: "We came to the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and we were with Sa‘ad bin ‘Ubadah. Bashir bin Sa‘ad said to him, ‘Allāh has commanded us to send Salāh upon you, O Messenger of Allāh. How can we send Salāh upon you’. The Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) remained quiet for so long that we wished that he had not asked him, then the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam)  said [ For blessing me]:
«قُولُوا: اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي الْعَالَمِينَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ ,وَالسَّلَامُ كَمَا قَدْ عَلِمْتُم»
“Say: “Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kamā sallaita ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm; Wa bārik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kama bārakta ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm fil-‘ālamīn; Innaka Hamīdun Majīd”

(O Allāh! Send Prayers upon Muhammad and the members of his household as You Sent Prayers upon the members of Ibrahim's household; And Send Blessings to Muhammad and the members of his household as You  granted Blessings upon the members of the household of Ibrahim, among all the nations’ Verily You are Most Praiseworthy, Full of Glory)”,

“And the Salutation [i.e ‘As-salāmu ‘alaika ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmat-Allāhi wa barakātuh’] as you about knows it.”
[Muslim (803): Book on Blessings on the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) after Tashahhud; this narration uses the phrase: ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm, fil-‘ālamīn; Innaka Hamīdun Majīd”]); this narration is Linguistically sound; more comprehensive] This was also recorded by Abu Dawud, An-Nasā'ie, At-Tirmidzi and Ibn Jarir. At-Tirmidzi said, "It is Hasan Sahih.''

Commentary:

1. In this Hadith, the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) has showed the ummah that the manner of offering Salāwat was the same as the one mentioned in the Hadith.
 1. In this Hadith, the Salām means the supplication which is recited in At-Tashahhud [i.e As-salāmu ‘alaika ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmat-Allāhi wa barakātuh]. The Companions of the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) used to recite it in At-Tashahhud in the manner taught by him. When Almighty Allāh ordained Muslims to supplicate for the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam), it raised the question in their minds as to the wordings of the benediction (as they already knew how to greet him). They asked the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and he taught it. Invoking Allāh’s blessings upon the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) should be done in the manner which he (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) has taught the ummah, because in doing so we get the reward of following the guidance of the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alaihi wa sallam). [Riyad-us-Saliheen]
 2. Imam Shāfi’e said: "The tashahhud in the first and second instance is the same thing; by 'tashahhud', I mean the bearing of witness and the sending of prayers on the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam): neither will suffice without the other." [Al-Umm]
3. The Salāwat Ibrāhīmiyyah is uttered in the last part of the Tashahhud in every Solāt. The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) taught his Sahabah when the verse enjoining Muslims to pray for the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was revealed. The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) explained the way of doing salāh on him, so it is compulsory to accept that from him, and Allāh’s says: “So take what the Messenger gives you [Hashr, 59:7]
3. Only version nos.4 and 6 that has the phrase “Fil-‘ālamīn”
4. Version of nos. 1 and 6 are linguistically correct and most comprehensive.  

Benefits of Salawat upon the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam)

Abī Talhah al-Ansārī (radiallāhu’anhu) said: The Messenger of Allāh (sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) arose one morning in a very pleasant mood with signs of good tidings apparent on his face. They said, "O Prophet of Allāh, you are in a very pleasant mood with signs of good tidings showing on your face." He (sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Lo, the angel (Jibrīl) came to me, and said, 'Are you not pleased, O Muhammad that your Lord says: ‘No one of your nation invokes blessings on you except that I will bless him tenfold and no one from your nation asks Allāh to grant you peace except that I will grant him peace tenfold. ‘The Prophet (sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) responded, 'Yes, indeed.'" [Narrated by Ibn Abi Shaybah, Ahmad, 'Abd bin Hamīd and at-Tirmidzi. Cited with slightly different wording in Imām Abu Sulayman al-Jazuli's Dala'il al-Khayrat (The Index of Good Things)]

Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ūd (radiallahu’anhu) said that the Messenger of Allāh (sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: The closest to me on the Day of Judgment are those who pray (i.e made salawat) upon me more.[Ahmad, Tirmidzī and Ibn Hibbān said hasan (good)]

Abū Hurayrah (radiallahu’anhu) reported the Prophet (sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: “He who sends prayers upon me on Friday eighty times, Allāh will forgive eighty years of sin”. [Ibn Nu’mān: hasan (good)] Abū Hurayrah (radiallahu’anhu) related that the Rasulullāh (sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: “Increase invoking blessings on me on Friday, for surely it is presented to me”. [Bukhārī and At-Tabarānī recorded it and also ash-Shāfīe in his Musnad.] Another version from Anās Ibn Malik (radiallahu’anhu) that the Prophet (sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: “Increase invoking blessings upon me on Friday and the night of Friday. Whoever invokes a single blessing on me, Allāh will bless him ten times”. [Reported by al-Hāfidh as-Suyūtī in his al-Saghīr].Abū ad-Dardā (radiallahu’anhu) related that the Prophet (sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: “Increase invoking blessings upon me on Friday, it is witnessed by the Angels” [Ibn Mājah in which al-Haythamī in his Zawā'id said Sahih.]

Anas ibn Malik (radiallāhu’anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allāh (sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: “There are three under the shade of Allāh on a day when there is no shade except His; the one who relieved a distress from someone from my nation; the one who gave life to my Sunnah and the one who invoked blessings on me the most “. [Recorded in the Mustadrak and the Musnad of al-Firdaus; Al-Hāfiz as-Suyūtī also recorded it in his Burūj al-Hilāl.]

Allāh will suffice you in the matter of your worldly life and your hereafter

Ubayy ibn Ka'ab (radiallāhu’anhu) said: "After one third of the night the Prophet (sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to get up. One such time he (sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: O People! Remember Allāh! The rājifa [first blow of the Trumpet] is upon us! The rādifa [second blow of the Trumpet] follows it. Death has come." Ubayy said: Ya Rasulallāh innī ukthiru al-salāta ‘alayka fa kam aj`al laka min salātī "O Messenger of Allāh, I make much salawāt upon you as a habit. How much of my prayer should I devote to you?" The Prophet (sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: "As much as you like." Ubayy said: "A quarter?" The Prophet (sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: "As you like, but if you add to that it will be better for you." Ubayy then mentioned a third, then a half, then two thirds, and always the Prophet (sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) answered: "As you like, but if you add to that it will be better for you." Finally Ubayy said: yā rasulallāh innī urīdu an aj`ala salātī kullahā lak - "O Messenger of Allāh, I want to devote my entire prayer (i.e. du`a) to you." Whereupon the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: "Then you will be freed from care and your sins will be forgiven." (Another version has: "Then Allāh will suffice you in the matter of your worldly life and your hereafter.") [At-Tirmidzī and al-Hākim: graded it sound.]

Al-Haytami (rahimahullāh) said:

 It is understood from the wording of these narrations that the meaning of the word salāt in the expression: "I shall devote my salāt to you" is du`a' -- invocation... Then the meaning is: "There is a time in which I make du`a on behalf of myself: how much of that should I devote to you?" If this is established firmly, then consider what the Shaykh al-Islam al-hāfiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullāh) said as reported from him by his student al-hāfiz al-Sakhawi (rahimahullāh) who particularly commended this saying of his: "This hadith constitutes a tremendous principle of the Religion for whoever makes du‘ā after his recitation and says: O Allāh, grant our Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) the reward of this worship."

Imam Sakhawi (rahimahullāh) said:

“Salāt in this hadith means invocation (du‘ā) and habitual devotion (wirid) in the following sense: "There is a time in which I make du‘ā on behalf of myself: how much of that should I devote to you?" The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) did not consider that he should place a limit for him in this respect in order not to close the gate of superabundance for him. Accordingly he persisted in giving Ubayy the choice at the same time as he stressed for him surplus in invocation until Ubayy said: "I shall devote my entire prayer to you." That is: I shall invoke blessings upon you instead of asking anything for myself. Whereupon the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: "Then you will be freed from care," that is: do not worry either for your Religion or for your worldly need, because invoking blessings on me includes both remembrance of Allāh and rendering honor to the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam); and the sense of this is an indication to Ubayy that he is actually invoking for himself, as confirmed by the Prophet's (sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) report on behalf of his Lord: "Whoever is occupied from beseeching Me because of remembering Me, I shall grant him the best of what I grant those who beseech." Know then that if you make most of your worship consist in invoking blessings upon your Prophet (sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam), Allāh will suffice you in the matter of your worldly life and your hereafter”.

Imam An-Nawawi (rahimahullāh) said, “One should seek both peace and blessings for the Prophet, but not just one of them, and that it is preferable to start any supplication by praising and glorifying Allāh , then seeking blessings and peace for the Prophet. It should be followed by asking Allāh what one wants, and then one ends the supplication by seeking blessings and peace for the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam)”. [Al-Adhkār]

As-Sābūnī (rahimahullāh) said in his abridgment of Ibn Kathīr's commentary on the opinion of al-Imām an-Nawawī (rahimahullāh):

“If one invokes blessings on the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam), let him combine it with prayers and peace and not fall short on either of them. So, do not say, “Sallallāhu 'alaihi” and not” 'alaihis-salām”, only. This is what he said taken from the verse, "O ye, who believe, invoke blessings on him and peace unceasingly." For it is more proper to be said, “Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam”, unceasingly”  

Salawāt on other Allah's Messengers and Prophets

A hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (radhiallāhu ‘anhu) that Muhammad (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallām) said: “Send the Salāt on Allah's Messengers and Prophets for Allah sent them as He sent me.” [Recorded by Imam Ahmad Bayhaqi; the scholar of hadith, Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albāni, said this hadith is hasan (good) in his book Sahīh al-Jama'at'. (See hadith number 3782).]
The phrase used after mentioning other Messengers Prophets is:'alaihis sallām, (Peace be upon him).

By sending salāwat [and Salam] to the Prophet (Sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam); we actually gain enormous benefit. Therefore, it is virtuous for us to make a practice of reciting salāwat to Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) in abundance, apart from the stipulated occasions and especially on Friday. 

And Allāh knows best.

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