Thread by @ShaykhAzhar

Thread:

What is the significance of sending “salawaat” upon the Holy Prophet (saw)?

God, in the Holy Quran, orders all believers to join Him and the angles in sending Salaam and Salawaat to the Holy Prophet (saw).

“Verily, God and His angels send Salawaat on the Prophet. O you who believe, send your Salawaat on him, and submit (to him in all that he has brought for you) a thorough submission” Quran 33:56

Meanings of Salawaat:

Salawaat is the plural form of Salat which literally means ‘to call’ (Du’a) – a call to someone to try to get their attention. In Arabic language, this type of calling, if done by someone with a higher status is called ‘Rahma’ (mercy and blessing)

and if done by someone from a lower status called ‘Du’a’ (pray).

It is narrated from Imam Sadiq (a.s) in explaining the meaning of Salawaat:

“Salat from God means a ‘mercy’, and from the angels ‘exoneration’, and from people a ‘prayer’.” (Sadooq, Ma’anel-Akhbar, p. 368)

Salawaat of God and that of the believers:

In Islamic mysticism the noor (light/essence) of the Holy Prophet is the first creation. That means, his holiness is on the peak of the cone of creation. Existence began from him and reaches the rest through him.

Thus, the Salawaat of the God upon the Prophet means sending His constant ‘mercy of existence’ to him. This divine mercy reaches the rest of the creation through the Holy Prophet and hence he is ‘a mercy for the worlds’ (Rahmatan Lel-Aalameen).

Likewise, people’s invocation does not reach God unless through His Messenger (saw). Thus, when believers send their Salawaat to the Holy Prophet (saw)they are in fact calling for the divine mercy through His Messenger (saw).

Salawaat of the Angels:

As stated in the above mentioned narration, the Salawaat of the angels is ‘tazkiya’ which means ‘to exonerate’. The spiritual status of the Holy Prophet (saw) is higher than all the angels.

Therefore, the Salawaat of the angels means that they constantly exonerate Holy Prophet in that he is completely free from their own deficiencies and beyond.Thus, it was for this reason the angels were commanded to prostrate before Adam in whose lineage the prophet would be born

How to perform the Salawaat:

While the Holy Qur’an commands the believers to send Salawaat to the Holy Prophet there is no instruction on how to perform this ritual. Similar to most of other Islamic rules the Holy Prophet has taught Muslims the method of performing Salawaat

The Shi’a and the Sunni scholars have narrated from Ka’b Ibn Ojra who asked the Holy Prophet (SAW):

O God’s Messenger! We know how to say Salam to you, but how is Salat on you? He said: Say: ‘O God! Send your Salat onto Mohammad and the Family of Mohammad, as You sent your Salat onto Ibrahim and the Family of Ibrahim,

surely You are worthy of all praise, the Glorious, and bless Mohammad and the Family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the Family of Ibrahim, surely You are worthy of all praise, the Glorious.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. 6 p. 217)

In addition to the above prophetic instruction, the Holy Prophet (saw) has warned the believers against excluding his holy household when sending Salawaat to him.

The famous Sunni scholar; Ibn Hajar al-Haytami narrated:

“God’s Messenger (saw) said: Do not send an incomplete Salat on me. The Companions asked: What is the incomplete Salat? He explained: to say: “O God send Salat onto Mohammad”, and then you stop. Rather you should say:

O God send Salat onto Mohammad and the Family of Mohammad.”

(al-Sawa’equl-Mohreqah, p. 87)