Selawat
What is selawat ‘ala an-Nabi?
إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
“Indeed, Allah and His Angels send prayers upon the Prophet. O you who believe! Send prayers and abundant salutations upon him” [Surah al-Ahzab 33:56]
“Indeed, Allah and His Angels send prayers upon the Prophet. O you who believe! Send prayers and abundant salutations upon him” [Surah al-Ahzab 33:56]
Selawat ‘ala an-Nabi means "prayers of peace and blessings upon the our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ".
Sufficient is the above verse to recognise the immensity of sending prayers of peace and blessings upon Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, if only one were to ponder. Amongst the lessons; Allah the Exalted establishes the sending of prayers upon Prophet Muhammad ﷺ first Himself, then upon the Angels, and lastly commands all those who believe in Him to do the same. How great is the honour upon the one whom Allah the Exalted Himself sends prayers of peace and blessings upon! And subsequently, how great the honour upon those who obey this noble command of sending prayers of peace and blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, as evidenced by numerous hadith and scholarly works regarding this matter.
Imam ‘Abdallah Sirajuddin Al-Husayni mentions in his book “Sending prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ; It’s rulings, virtues and benefits”, that by the aforementioned verse, Allah the Exalted announces to His servants the lofty station and dignified rank of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ with Him. The use of his description as “The Prophet” (An-Nabi) instead of mentioning him by name is also contrary to the predominant way Allah the Exalted addresses the other Prophets in the Qur’an (upon all of them be peace and blessings).
Sufficient is the above verse to recognise the immensity of sending prayers of peace and blessings upon Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, if only one were to ponder. Amongst the lessons; Allah the Exalted establishes the sending of prayers upon Prophet Muhammad ﷺ first Himself, then upon the Angels, and lastly commands all those who believe in Him to do the same. How great is the honour upon the one whom Allah the Exalted Himself sends prayers of peace and blessings upon! And subsequently, how great the honour upon those who obey this noble command of sending prayers of peace and blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, as evidenced by numerous hadith and scholarly works regarding this matter.
Imam ‘Abdallah Sirajuddin Al-Husayni mentions in his book “Sending prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ; It’s rulings, virtues and benefits”, that by the aforementioned verse, Allah the Exalted announces to His servants the lofty station and dignified rank of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ with Him. The use of his description as “The Prophet” (An-Nabi) instead of mentioning him by name is also contrary to the predominant way Allah the Exalted addresses the other Prophets in the Qur’an (upon all of them be peace and blessings).
“The mention of his description is in order to indicate the added magnificence, nobility, and lofty rank and position with which Allah has uniquely granted him ﷺ to the exclusion of all others... elevating his status above that of others.”
Furthermore, linking the command to the attribute of faith (O you who believe!) indicates that sending prayers of peace and blessings upon Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is a part of faith; whoever obeys would have perfected that part of faith, and whoever neglects it would have sullied his or her faith.
A companion of the Prophet ﷺ, Ubayy bin Ka’ab (RA) said, “I once told the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ‘O Messenger of Allah, I invoke much. What portion should I offer salutations upon you?’
The Prophet 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 anxiety and all your wrongs pardoned.”
[Hadith, recorded by Imam at-Tirmidhi]
A companion of the Prophet ﷺ, Ubayy bin Ka’ab (RA) said, “I once told the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ‘O Messenger of Allah, I invoke much. What portion should I offer salutations upon you?’
The Prophet 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 anxiety and all your wrongs pardoned.”
[Hadith, recorded by Imam at-Tirmidhi]
Benefits of sending prayers of peace and blessings upon our beloved, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
The benefits of sending prayers upon Prophet Muhammad ﷺ are too many to enumerate, be it benefits felt in this life, or in the Hereafter. How could be it limited, if it is something that Allah Most High establishes for Himself? Allah the Exalted is the One who loves His Messenger ﷺ the most, and Allah the Exalted will love anyone who sincerely sends prayers upon His Beloved ﷺ.
Here, we state some of the many benefits of sending prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ.
Here, we state some of the many benefits of sending prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ.
1. Allah Most High sends ten prayers upon the person who sends one prayer upon the Prophet ﷺ
From Abu Hurayra (RA), the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever sends one prayer upon me, Allah shall send ten prayers upon him.”
The erudite Shaykh Burhan al-Din b. Abi Sharif (may Allah have mercy upon him) said:
Whoever ponders and meditates deeply, the emissaries of delight come upon him with the gifts bestowed upon him by his Master SWT - gifts of goodness and happiness. O what splendid tidings that penetrate the paths! How can the prayer of the servant be in any way compared to the prayer of the King and Owner? How can there be any comparison when the servant sends one prayer upon the Prophet ﷺ and Allah, the Exalted, sends ten prayers! O what manifold rewards and immense recompense his Master bestows upon him!
(Sharh al-Adhkar)
2. The Messenger of Allah, our Master Muhammad ﷺ, sends prayers upon the one who sends prayers upon him
It is related from Anas (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: He who sends prayers upon me, his prayers will reach me and I will send prayers upon him, and besides that there shall be written for him ten good deeds.”
This was reported by al-Tabarani in al-Mu’jam al-Awsat with a fair chain (Al-Targhib).
This was reported by al-Tabarani in al-Mu’jam al-Awsat with a fair chain (Al-Targhib).
3. The Angels of Allah Most High send prayers upon the one who sends prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ
It is related from Anas (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Send abundant prayers upon me on Friday, for Jibril (AS) came to me just now from his Lord (SWT) who said: “There is no Muslim upon earth who sends one prayer upon you except that I and my Angels will send ten prayers upon him.” Al-Hafiz al-Mundhiri said: “This was narrated by al-Tabarani”.
4. The one who sends prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ will have his levels raised, his good deeds increased, and his bad deeds effaced
Al-Nasa’i and al-Tabarani reported from Abu Burda b. Nayyar (RA): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever of my Ummah sends a prayer upon me sincerely from his heart, Allah (SWT) shall send ten prayers upon him on account of it, and He will raise him ten degrees, write for him ten good deeds, and efface him for ten bad deeds.” This is found in al-Targhib of al-Mundhiri.
5. Sending prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ is cause for being relieved of the stresses of the wordly life and the Hereafter
6. Sending prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ is a tremendous cause for the Descent of Mercy
Al-Bazzar reported from Anas (RA) who related that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed to Allah belong caravans of Angels who seek out circles of remembrance. When they approach one, they surround them and then stand with their hands outstretched towards the heavens, entreating the Lord of Might, saying: ‘O Lord! We have happened upon servants from among Your servants who are magnifying Your bounties, reciting Your Book, sending prayers upon Your Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and asking You with regards to their Hereafter and worldly life.’ Allah the Blessed and Exalted, says: ‘Envelop them in My mercy, for they are an assembly in which no one will be wretched.’ “
7. Whoever persists in sending prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ will be closest of people to him
Al-Tirmidhi reported from Anas (RA), in a narration he declared authentic, that the Prophet ﷺ said: “The closest people to me on the Day of Resurrection shall be those who send the most prayers upon me.
Some Selawats
Selawat Ibrahimiyyah
اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى سيدنا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ سيدنا مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى سيدنا إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَى آلِ سيدنا إِبْرَاهِيْمَ. وبَارِكْ عَلَى سيدنا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ سيدنا مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى سيدنا إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَى آلِ سيدنا إِبْرَاهِيْمَ
في العالمين إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدُ مَجِيْدٌ
O Allah, bestow prayers and upon our Master Muhammad ﷺ, and upon the family of our Master Muhammad as You sent blessings upon our Master Ibrahim and upon the family of our Master Ibrahim. And bless our Master Muhammad ﷺ and the family of Muhammad as You blessed our Master Ibrahim and the family of our Master Ibrahim; indeed, in the worlds, You are praiseworthy and glorious.
Selawat Fatih
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّم عَلىَ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ الْفَاتِحِ لِمَا أَغْلِقَ وَالْخَاتِمِ لِمَا سَبَقَ, نَاصِرِ الْحَقِّ بِالْحَقِّ وَالْهَادِى إِلَى صِرَاطِكَ الْمَسْتَقِيْمِ وَعَلىَ آلِهِ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ وَمِقْدَارِهِ الْعَظِيْم
O Allah, bestow prayers and peace upon our Master Muhammad ﷺ, the one who opened what had been closed, and who is the Seal of what had gone before, he who makes the Truth victorious by the Truth, and the guide to Your straight path, and upon his household as is the due of his immense position and grandeur.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّم عَلىَ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ الْفَاتِحِ لِمَا أَغْلِقَ وَالْخَاتِمِ لِمَا سَبَقَ, نَاصِرِ الْحَقِّ بِالْحَقِّ وَالْهَادِى إِلَى صِرَاطِكَ الْمَسْتَقِيْمِ وَعَلىَ آلِهِ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ وَمِقْدَارِهِ الْعَظِيْم
O Allah, bestow prayers and peace upon our Master Muhammad ﷺ, the one who opened what had been closed, and who is the Seal of what had gone before, he who makes the Truth victorious by the Truth, and the guide to Your straight path, and upon his household as is the due of his immense position and grandeur.
Selawat of Habib ‘Ali Al-Habshi
اللَّهُمَ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ مِفْتَاحِ بَابِ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ، عَدَدَ مَا فِي عِلْمِ اللَّهِ، صَلاةً وسَلامًا دَائِمَيْنِ بِدَوَامِ مُلْكِ اللَّهِ، وعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ
O Allah, bestow prayers and peace upon our Master Muhammad ﷺ, the key to the door of the mercy of Allah, to the extent of the knowledge of Allah, which continue eternally as the dominion of Allah continues eternally, and upon his Family and Companions.
Selawat Naariyah
أللّهُمَّ صَلِّ صَلَاةً كَامِلَةً، وَسَلِّمْ سَلَامًا تَامًّا، عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ الَّذِي تَنْحَلُّ بِهِ الْعُقَدُ، وَتَنْفَرِجُ بِهِ الْكُرَبُ، وَتُقْضَى بِهِ الْحَوَائِجُ، وَتُنَالُ بِهِ الرَّغَائِبُ، وَحُسْنُ الْخَوَاتِمِ، وَيُسْتَسْقَى الْغَمَامُ بِوَجْهِهِ الْكَرِيْمِ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ فِيْ كُلِّ لَمْحَةٍ وَنَفَسٍ بِعَدَدِ كُلِّ مَعْلُوْمٍ لَكَ
O Allah, bestow perfect blessings and complete peace upon our Master Muhammad ﷺ, through whom knots (of hardship) are untied, calamities are averted, needs are fulfilled, aspirations are attained, the best outcomes are achieved, and the clouds deliver their rain by virtue of his noble countenance. And (bestow such salutations and peace) upon his family and his companions at every moment that lasts the duration of the flickering of an eye and the drawing of a breath, and do so to the number of everything that is known to you.
أللّهُمَّ صَلِّ صَلَاةً كَامِلَةً، وَسَلِّمْ سَلَامًا تَامًّا، عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ الَّذِي تَنْحَلُّ بِهِ الْعُقَدُ، وَتَنْفَرِجُ بِهِ الْكُرَبُ، وَتُقْضَى بِهِ الْحَوَائِجُ، وَتُنَالُ بِهِ الرَّغَائِبُ، وَحُسْنُ الْخَوَاتِمِ، وَيُسْتَسْقَى الْغَمَامُ بِوَجْهِهِ الْكَرِيْمِ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ فِيْ كُلِّ لَمْحَةٍ وَنَفَسٍ بِعَدَدِ كُلِّ مَعْلُوْمٍ لَكَ
O Allah, bestow perfect blessings and complete peace upon our Master Muhammad ﷺ, through whom knots (of hardship) are untied, calamities are averted, needs are fulfilled, aspirations are attained, the best outcomes are achieved, and the clouds deliver their rain by virtue of his noble countenance. And (bestow such salutations and peace) upon his family and his companions at every moment that lasts the duration of the flickering of an eye and the drawing of a breath, and do so to the number of everything that is known to you.
Selawat Munjiyat
اللَهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَي سَيِّدِنَا مُحمَدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ سيدنا مُحَمَّدٍ، صَلاَةً تُنْجيْنَا بِهَا مِن جَمِيْعِ الأهْوَالِ وَالْآفَاتِ، وَتَقْضِي لَنَا بها جَمِيعَ الحَاجَاتِ، وَتُطَهِّرُنَا بِهَا مِنْ جَمِيْعِ السَيّئاتِ، وَتَرْفَعُنَا بِهَا عِنْدَكَ أَعْلَى الدَرَجَاتِ، وَتُبَلّغُنَا بِهَا أَقْصَى الْغَايَاتِ مِنْ جَمِيْعِ الخَيرَاتِ فِي الحَيَاةِ وَبَعْدَ المَمَاتِ
O Allah, bestow prayers upon our Master Muhammad ﷺ and upon the family of our Master Muhammad, a prayer by means of which we will be saved from every awe-inspiring harmful thing, and that will take care of all of our needs, and purify us by means of it from all of our ugly qualities and characteristics, and raise us up by means of it in Your Presence to the highest of degrees, and cause us to reach by means of it the extremes of all goodness in our life and after our death
اللَهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَي سَيِّدِنَا مُحمَدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ سيدنا مُحَمَّدٍ، صَلاَةً تُنْجيْنَا بِهَا مِن جَمِيْعِ الأهْوَالِ وَالْآفَاتِ، وَتَقْضِي لَنَا بها جَمِيعَ الحَاجَاتِ، وَتُطَهِّرُنَا بِهَا مِنْ جَمِيْعِ السَيّئاتِ، وَتَرْفَعُنَا بِهَا عِنْدَكَ أَعْلَى الدَرَجَاتِ، وَتُبَلّغُنَا بِهَا أَقْصَى الْغَايَاتِ مِنْ جَمِيْعِ الخَيرَاتِ فِي الحَيَاةِ وَبَعْدَ المَمَاتِ
O Allah, bestow prayers upon our Master Muhammad ﷺ and upon the family of our Master Muhammad, a prayer by means of which we will be saved from every awe-inspiring harmful thing, and that will take care of all of our needs, and purify us by means of it from all of our ugly qualities and characteristics, and raise us up by means of it in Your Presence to the highest of degrees, and cause us to reach by means of it the extremes of all goodness in our life and after our death
Selawat Nuril Anwar
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلَى نُورِ الأَنْوَارِ، وَسِرِّ الأَسِرَارِ، وَتِرْيَاقِ الأَغْيَارِ، وَمِفْتَاحِ بَابِ الْيَسَارِ، سَيِّدِنَا وَمَوْلانَا مُحَمَّدٍ الْمُخْتَارِ، وَآلِهِ الأَطْهَارِ، وَأَصْحَابِهِ الأَخْيَارِ، عَدَد نِعَمِ الله وَأِفْضَالِهِ
O Allah, bestow prayers and peace upon the Light of all lights, and the secret of all secrets, who reduces grief and confusion, who holds the key to the door of ease; that is our Leader and Master Muhammad ﷺ, the Chosen One. And [prayers and peace be upon] his pure family, and chosen companions, as much as the bounties and grace of Allah SWT.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلَى نُورِ الأَنْوَارِ، وَسِرِّ الأَسِرَارِ، وَتِرْيَاقِ الأَغْيَارِ، وَمِفْتَاحِ بَابِ الْيَسَارِ، سَيِّدِنَا وَمَوْلانَا مُحَمَّدٍ الْمُخْتَارِ، وَآلِهِ الأَطْهَارِ، وَأَصْحَابِهِ الأَخْيَارِ، عَدَد نِعَمِ الله وَأِفْضَالِهِ
O Allah, bestow prayers and peace upon the Light of all lights, and the secret of all secrets, who reduces grief and confusion, who holds the key to the door of ease; that is our Leader and Master Muhammad ﷺ, the Chosen One. And [prayers and peace be upon] his pure family, and chosen companions, as much as the bounties and grace of Allah SWT.
Selawat Shifa
أَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، طِبِّ الْقُلُوْبِ وَدَوَائِهَا، وَعَافِيَةِ الأَبْدَانِ وَشِفَائِهَا، وَنُوْرِ الأَبْصَارِ وَضِيَائِهَا، وَعَلَى آَلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَبَارِكْ وَسَلِّمْ
O Allah, bestow your prayers upon our Master Muhammad ﷺ, the cure and medicine for all hearts, and the healing and health of all bodies, and the purification and light for all sights, and bestow your prayers, peace and blessings upon his family and companions.
أَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، طِبِّ الْقُلُوْبِ وَدَوَائِهَا، وَعَافِيَةِ الأَبْدَانِ وَشِفَائِهَا، وَنُوْرِ الأَبْصَارِ وَضِيَائِهَا، وَعَلَى آَلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَبَارِكْ وَسَلِّمْ
O Allah, bestow your prayers upon our Master Muhammad ﷺ, the cure and medicine for all hearts, and the healing and health of all bodies, and the purification and light for all sights, and bestow your prayers, peace and blessings upon his family and companions.