Written by: Abu Saeed, Hafizahullah
Sending salutations (Durood) upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is an unparalleled and unique expression of love for the Messenger of Islam, and it fills the Muslim’s heart with immense benefits and rewards. Let's read some of the significant merits outlined by Shaykh al-Islam Thani, Alim Rabbani, Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (may Allah have mercy on him):
Just as the comfort of the eyes lies in the sight of the beloved, the solace of the heart lies in remembering them and their virtues. When this trait takes root in the heart, the tongue spontaneously engages in praise and glorification, continuously expressing admiration for the beloved, and the variation in the intensity of this trait corresponds to the variation in the original love. Both sensory perception and observation bear witness to this.
Reciting Durood is a cause for guidance and the spiritual life of the heart. The more one recites Durood and has the blessed remembrance on their tongue, the more the love overwhelms the heart, to the point where nothing remains that conflicts with the commands of the Prophet (peace be upon him) or causes doubt about his teachings. Instead, the Prophet’s guidance and teachings become vividly inscribed in the heart, and as one contemplates the Prophet's states, they continue to read this inscription on the tablet of the heart, continually drawing guidance, success, and diverse knowledge from it. As one’s insight grows and their knowledge increases, they are prompted to recite Durood even more frequently.
This is why the Durood of the scholars and those well-versed in the Sunnah, the guidance of the Prophet, and adherence to his commands is different from the Durood of the general masses, who may disregard the Sunnah and merely make noise. The more these scholars understand the teachings of the Prophet, the greater their love will grow, and the more they will grasp the true essence of Durood that Allah desires and will recognize this essence.
The same is true for the remembrance of Allah, for the greater the knowledge and capacity for obedience and love, the more distinct their remembrance will be from the heedless. This is a matter that can be understood through observation, not just information. Consider the difference between one who, out of love, mentions the beloved's attributes and praises them—whose heart is overtaken by love—and one who merely mentions words they do not fully comprehend or whose heart does not align with their speech. The distinction between the two is clear, akin to the difference between a hired mourner and a grieving mother.
In summary, mentioning the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), recalling his teachings, and praising Allah for the blessing of being made our leader and extending his mercy to all creation through his prophethood is the essence of life and the heart’s vitality.
Reciting Durood is such a blessing that the one who recites it is mentioned in the presence of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and what greater blessing can there be for the believers than to be named in such an exalted court?
Reciting Durood is part of the Prophet's rights upon us. Although in comparison to the rights of the Prophet (peace be upon him), it is indeed minimal, it is an act of gratitude for the blessing we received through his prophethood. The rights and entitlements of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are so vast that no one can fully encompass them with knowledge, ability, or intent. Yet, by Allah’s grace, He has expressed satisfaction with this limited display of gratitude and fulfillment of duty from His servants.
Reciting Durood guarantees the remembrance of Allah, gratitude to the Lord, and recognition of the blessing and favor bestowed upon the servants through the Prophet’s prophethood. In Durood, there is mention of both Allah and His Messenger, and the plea that Allah grants a reward to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) befitting his status, as the Prophet guided us to know Allah and His names and attributes, and informed us of Allah’s preferred paths and pleasures, cautioning us about what will happen when we are present before Allah. Thus, Durood encompasses the entirety of faith, and within it lies acknowledgment of the existence of the Lord, whom the reciter of Durood is calling upon. It also affirms His knowledge, hearing, power, will, and other attributes, the truth of His words, the sending of the Messenger, and reciting Durood upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ensures acknowledgment of all these aspects and reflects love for the Prophet.
Sending salutations (Durood) upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is an unparalleled and unique expression of love for the Messenger of Islam, and it fills the Muslim’s heart with immense benefits and rewards. Let's read some of the significant merits outlined by Shaykh al-Islam Thani, Alim Rabbani, Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (may Allah have mercy on him):
- It results in attaining the obedience and compliance of Allah Almighty.
- It aligns one with Allah's act of sending salutations, though there is a difference in meanings; our Durood means supplication and request, while Allah’s Durood refers to praise and honor.
- Reciting Durood brings one in harmony with the actions of the angels.
- Reciting Durood once earns ten mercies from Allah Almighty.
- Each time Durood is recited, ten ranks are elevated.
- Reciting Durood once results in ten good deeds being recorded in one’s book of deeds.
- Reciting Durood once leads to the erasure of ten sins.
- Beginning supplications with Durood makes them more likely to be accepted.
- Reciting Durood will grant the blessing of the Prophet’s intercession on the Day of Judgment.
- Durood is a cause for the forgiveness of sins.
- Durood acts as a remedy for one's sorrows and grief.
- The one who recites Durood will be closer to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on the Day of Judgment.
- For the needy, Durood serves as a form of charity.
- Durood is an excellent means of fulfilling human needs.
- Those who recite Durood receive the mercy of Allah and the prayers of the angels.
- Durood purifies the soul.
- It is a means of receiving glad tidings of Paradise before death.
- It grants safety from the terrors of the Day of Judgment.
- A gathering that includes Durood becomes pure, and on the Day of Judgment, such a gathering will not be a source of regret.
- Durood eradicates poverty and destitution.
- Reciting Durood saves one from miserliness.
- Reciting Durood protects a person from the curses of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
- Durood makes one worthy of the path to Paradise.
- Speech that begins with the praise of Allah and salutations upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is more likely to reach completion.
- Durood brings blessings to the individual who recites it, as well as to their deeds, life, and other aspects, because the person’s supplication is that Allah bless the Prophet and his family, and this supplication is always accepted, leading to appropriate recompense.
- Durood is a means of attaining Allah’s mercy, as the meaning of Salat (Durood) is either mercy or one of its requisites, and it results in divine mercy descending upon the reciter.
Just as the comfort of the eyes lies in the sight of the beloved, the solace of the heart lies in remembering them and their virtues. When this trait takes root in the heart, the tongue spontaneously engages in praise and glorification, continuously expressing admiration for the beloved, and the variation in the intensity of this trait corresponds to the variation in the original love. Both sensory perception and observation bear witness to this.
Reciting Durood is a cause for guidance and the spiritual life of the heart. The more one recites Durood and has the blessed remembrance on their tongue, the more the love overwhelms the heart, to the point where nothing remains that conflicts with the commands of the Prophet (peace be upon him) or causes doubt about his teachings. Instead, the Prophet’s guidance and teachings become vividly inscribed in the heart, and as one contemplates the Prophet's states, they continue to read this inscription on the tablet of the heart, continually drawing guidance, success, and diverse knowledge from it. As one’s insight grows and their knowledge increases, they are prompted to recite Durood even more frequently.
This is why the Durood of the scholars and those well-versed in the Sunnah, the guidance of the Prophet, and adherence to his commands is different from the Durood of the general masses, who may disregard the Sunnah and merely make noise. The more these scholars understand the teachings of the Prophet, the greater their love will grow, and the more they will grasp the true essence of Durood that Allah desires and will recognize this essence.
The same is true for the remembrance of Allah, for the greater the knowledge and capacity for obedience and love, the more distinct their remembrance will be from the heedless. This is a matter that can be understood through observation, not just information. Consider the difference between one who, out of love, mentions the beloved's attributes and praises them—whose heart is overtaken by love—and one who merely mentions words they do not fully comprehend or whose heart does not align with their speech. The distinction between the two is clear, akin to the difference between a hired mourner and a grieving mother.
In summary, mentioning the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), recalling his teachings, and praising Allah for the blessing of being made our leader and extending his mercy to all creation through his prophethood is the essence of life and the heart’s vitality.
Reciting Durood is such a blessing that the one who recites it is mentioned in the presence of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and what greater blessing can there be for the believers than to be named in such an exalted court?
Reciting Durood is part of the Prophet's rights upon us. Although in comparison to the rights of the Prophet (peace be upon him), it is indeed minimal, it is an act of gratitude for the blessing we received through his prophethood. The rights and entitlements of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are so vast that no one can fully encompass them with knowledge, ability, or intent. Yet, by Allah’s grace, He has expressed satisfaction with this limited display of gratitude and fulfillment of duty from His servants.
Reciting Durood guarantees the remembrance of Allah, gratitude to the Lord, and recognition of the blessing and favor bestowed upon the servants through the Prophet’s prophethood. In Durood, there is mention of both Allah and His Messenger, and the plea that Allah grants a reward to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) befitting his status, as the Prophet guided us to know Allah and His names and attributes, and informed us of Allah’s preferred paths and pleasures, cautioning us about what will happen when we are present before Allah. Thus, Durood encompasses the entirety of faith, and within it lies acknowledgment of the existence of the Lord, whom the reciter of Durood is calling upon. It also affirms His knowledge, hearing, power, will, and other attributes, the truth of His words, the sending of the Messenger, and reciting Durood upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ensures acknowledgment of all these aspects and reflects love for the Prophet.