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Q: 291 ? Title: 1) I am still confused. I don't know what to be thinking when I say durud sharif. I look up the words peace, salutations, and blessings, which are used in translations of darud sharif,...2) Will you please explain the benefits/virtues of sending salah and salam on prophet Muhammad (S)? Are there any worldly benefits associated with it? Also how, how often, and

Question

I wanted to know about sending salat and salam on the prophet (Saas).

One salawat is "sallallahu alayhi wa salam" (Allah bless him and give him peace), another is "Allah-hum-ma sal-li aa-laa say-yi-di-naa Muhammad wa aa-laa aa-le say-yi-di-naa-Muhammad wa baa-rik wa sal-lim" (O Allah, send salutations upon our leader Muhammad and upon the family of our leader Muhammad).

1) I am still confused. I don't know what to be thinking when I say durud sharif. I look up the words peace, salutations, and blessings, which are used in translations of darud sharif, in the dictionary but I am still confused as to what is meant with respect to prophet Muhammad (saas). Prophet Muhammad (saas) has passed away. Nothing in the dunya can harm him. He already is the best of creation and it is confirmed that he (sallallahu alayhi wa salam) will be getting the best abode in Jannah. When we send salawat on the prophet what are we praying/making dua for? Perhaps this misunderstanding is due to a mistranslation; maybe the Arabic words mean more than what they were translated into English as. InshaAllah please help remove this confusion that I have and give me a detailed explanation/commentary on the meaning of sending salat and salam on prophet Muhammad (s).

2) Will you please explain the benefits/virtues of sending salah and salam on prophet Muhammad (S)? Are there any worldly benefits associated with it? Also how, how often, and when should we send salat and salam on Rasulullah (s)? If possible, will you please include relevant Quranic ayahs and ahadith/hadiths?

Answer

In the name of All?h, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assal?mu ?alaykum wa Rahmatull?hi Wabarak?tuh

Firstly, one should understand that our D?n is based on submission. There are many wisdoms behind every single command of All?h jalla jal?luhu . Some we know and many we do not know. Likewise, All?h jalla jal?luhu himself sends sal?tus sal?m to his Nabi sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam. In this way we are following the way of All?h jalla jal?luhu and His Honorable Angles. Further, All?h jalla jal?luhu commands us to do the same. It is sufficient for us that our Creator is commanding us to send salutations on Nabi sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam .

?Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Nabi (Prophet).? O You who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation?
? (33:56)^[1]

We send dur?d shar?f on Nabi sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam to acknowledge the great blessing that All?h has given us by sending Nabi kar?m sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam? to us. Just as prayer is a sign of our love, gratitude and obedience to All?h jalla jal?luhu , sending?dur?d shar?f?on Nabi sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam? shows our love for him, our respect for him, and our obedience to him and surely we will be rewarded for that.

When a person gives a gift to a king, it does not mean that the king is in need of that gift. Similarly, when we send dur?ds to Nabi sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam it does not mean the he is in need of that dur?d. In fact, that strengthens the connection between us and Nabi kar?m sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam .

When we send sal?tus sal?m to Nabi sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam this means that we ask Allah to send blessings on Nabi sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam and ask All?h guide us to do so in the best manner. Whereas, when All?h jalla jal?luhu sends sal?tus sal?m that means ?Mercy from him?. Verily, Nabi kar?m sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam is not in need of our praises but by praising Nabi sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam? and glorifying him we actually purify our soles and shows our love for Nabi sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam .

Some Benefits and Virtues of Dur?d Shar?f

Amplification of reward, removal of sins and receiving the blessings of Allah.

Anas Bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with them) reports: Nabi? ?sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam said,: ?Whomsoever sends one durood upon me then Allah jalla jal?luhu will send 10 durood upon him, forgive 10 of his sins, and elevate his rank 10 times.? [Nas?,?]^[2]

Intercession of Nabi sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam .

Abu Dardaa (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam? said, ?whoever sends blessings on me ten times in the morning and ten times in the evening will receive my intercession.? [Majmauz Zaw?id]^[3]

Answering of one?s duaa.

Umar radi Allahu anhu said, ??Duaa is suspended between heaven and earth and none of it is taken up until you send blessings upon your Prophet sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam .? [At-Tirmidhi]^[4]

You will be among the closest to the Prophet sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam? on the day of Resurrrection.

Ibn Mas?ood (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam? said: ?The people who will be nearest to me on the Day of Resurrection will be those who supplicate Allah more often for me.? [At-Tirmidhi]^[5]

Imam Nawawi rahimahullah states, ?Nearest to me? signifies ?those who are most entitled to my intercession?.

When do we send Dur?d Shar?f

1. During? the tashahhud in prayer.

1. After the Athan.

Abdullah bin ?Amr bin Al-?As (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam? saying, ?When you hear the Ath?n, repeat what the Mu?adhdhin says. Then ask Allah to exalt my mention because everyone who does so will receive in return ten rewards from Allah. Then beseech Allah to grant me Al-Wasilah, which is a high rank in Jannah, fitting for only one of Allah?s slaves; and I hope that I will be that man. If any one asks Al-Wasilah for me, it becomes incumbent upon me to intercede for him.? [Muslim]^[6]

1. When?entering and?leaving the Masjid.

1. Especially on? Fridays.

Aus bin Aus (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam? said, ?Among the best of your days is Friday; so supplicate Allah more often for me in it , for your supplications will be displayed to me.? He was asked: ?O Messenger of Allah! How will our blessings be displayed to you when your decayed body will have mixed with the earth?? He sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam , ?Allah has prohibited the earth from consuming the bodies of the Prophets.? [Abu Dawood]^[7]

1. Daily Adhkar?(remembrances) of the morning and evening.

Abu Dardaa (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam? said, ?whoever sends blessings on me ten times in the morning and ten times in the evening will receive my intercession.? [Majmauz Zaw?id]^[8]

1. When his? name is mentioned in a gathering/written form etc.

The Prophet sallall?hu ?alayhi wasallam? said, ?The miser is the one in whose presence I am mentioned but he does not supplicate for me. [Al-Tabarani]^[9]

And All?h Ta??la Knows Best
Wassal?mu ?alaykum