Why Should We Send Salawāt (Durūd) Upon Nabi ﷺ?

Why Should We Send Salawāt (Durūd) Upon Nabi ﷺ?

“Muhammad ﷺ isn’t the father of any of your men, but he is the Rasūl of Allāh and the seal of the Messengers…”
(Qur’ān Karīm, 33:40)

Nabi ﷺ said:

“My example and the example of the (previous) Ambiyā’ is like that of a man who built a house. He completed and beautified it, except for one brick (i.e., he left the space of one brick empty). So, people entered the house and were amazed by it, (however) they said: ‘If only the spot of the one brick was filled…’”
Rasūlullāh ﷺ said:
“I am that place where the brick (completing the building) is to be placed, and I completed the (chain of) Ambiyā’.”
(Muslim, 2287)

Nabi ﷺ beautifully illustrates his importance to the chain of Ambiyā’ ‘Alayhimus Salām. He is the seal and the best of them all. Countless virtues have been mentioned with regards to Nabi ﷺ and his Ummah.

Regarding this Ummah, Nabi ﷺ said:

“You are the completion of seventy nations, you are the best of them, and the most honorable of them to Allāh.”
(Tirmidhi, 3001)

Imām Ibn Kathīr  explains the reason for our great virtue thus:

“This Ummah has only attained such a station through the virtue of its Nabi, Muhammad ﷺ. Verily, he is the noblest of the creation of Allāh and the best of messengers in His sight. Allāh sent him with a perfect Sharī’ah. No other Nabi or Rasūl was given something similar. One who practices upon his method and path, even a little, can achieve what another person may have achieved by doing much more through any other method.”

He then quotes the Hadīth of Musnad Ahmad:

Nabi ﷺ said:
“I was granted what no other Nabi was granted.”
When questioned, he replied:
“I have been assisted with awe (in the hearts of people), I have been given the keys to the treasures of the Earth, I have been named Ahmad (the most praised), the Earth has been made pure for me, and my Ummah has been made the best Ummah.”
(Musnad Ahmad, 1361)

Allāh Ta’ālā has greatly favoured us in making us part of this Mubārak Ummah. If we have gained this virtue through the blessing of our Nabi ﷺ, doesn’t it make sense that we build our relationship with him?

One greatly emphasized way to do this is by sending abundant Salāt (Durūd) upon Nabi ﷺ.

Ibn ‘Abdis Salām  explains why we should send Durūd:

“Our Durūd upon Nabi ﷺ isn’t an intercession by us for him, for people like us can’t intercede for someone like him; rather, Allāh Ta’ālā has commanded us to try to repay anyone who has conferred a favour upon us. If we can’t repay them, then we suffice upon making Du’ā’ for them. So, Allāh Ta’ālā has guided us towards this action of sending Durūd, as He knows our incapability of actually repaying Nabi ﷺ for all his favours upon us…”
(Al-Qawl Al-Badī’)

Numerous virtues and benefits have been narrated for Salawāt upon Nabi ﷺ:

• “The closest person to me on the Day of Qiyāmah will be the one who sends the most Salawāt upon me.” (Tirmidhi, 484)
• “Whoever sends Durūd upon me once, Allāh will send ten mercies upon him.” (Muslim, 384)
• A Sahābi once asked:

“O Rasūlullāh ﷺ, should I set aside all my (time for Nawāfil ‘Ibādah to send) Durūd upon you?”
He replied:
“If so, then all your worries will be taken care of, and your sins will be pardoned…” (Tirmidhi, 2457)

The easiest is to recite “Sallallāhu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam”, though the longer the Salāt (such as Durūd Ibrāhīm) is even better. ‘Ulamā’ advise that every Muslim should endeavour to recite a minimum of 200 Durūd a day (100 in the morning and 100 in the evening).

May Allāh Ta’ālā grant us the ability to increase in our Durūd upon Nabi ﷺ, and may He favour us with closeness to Him and His beloved Nabi ﷺ. Āmīn!