AL-MUSTAPHA INSTITUTE OF BRISBANE

Compiled by Br. Abdul-Halm Khall (04-04-14)

The Virtue (Indeed, Preference) of Sending Prayers upon the Blessed Prophet

May Allh Bless him and grant him unending Peace

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahm

The Glorious Qurn, in Surat Al-'Azb (The Chapter of the Combined Forces) 33:56, Allh, Al-Mujb,1 Reveals:

Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet (

). O ye that believe!

Send ye blessings upon him, and salute him with all respect.2
Sending prayers upon the Beautiful Prophet ( ) is not an action any of us should

consider insignificant, nor deem perfunctory (i.e. some action done purely for the purpose of mechanically completing it).3 Indeed, as Muslims, sending peace, praise, and prayers upon the Blessed Prophet ( ) is certainly one of the most venerable,4 virtuous deeds we can

perform, andtherefore, as an immensely humble and loving actionshould be performed frequently. Importantly, if ever one may contend that there exists no Revelatory daleel5 for the auspicious practice of sending peace, praise, and prayers upon our Esteemed Habib ( ), then it is essential that one peruse the aforementioned verse, from Surat Al-'Azb

(33:56) particularly the third sentence, which appears underlined. Verily, when Allh, AlHakm, pronounces: O al-ladhna man! (O Ye that believe!), our Lord is addressing the true believers (the muminn [InshaAllh Tala, all of us]). Then, Allh, Al-Alm, Al-Malik, continues, asserting: all alayhi wa-sallim taslman (Send ye blessings upon him, and salute him with all respect), our Rabb is explicitly illuminating the etiquette with which we must address and approach the Beloved Prophet (
1

). Specifically, this Sublime

The Responder to Prayer. Refer to the Glorious Quran, Surat Hd (The Chapter of the Prophet Hd

[
2

]). This transliteration of the Glorious Quran (Surah Al-'Azb) ascribes the learned words of Dr. Muhsin Khan (Islmic University, Al-Madna Al-Munawwara), Yusuf Ali, and Sahih International. Refer to Sheikh Dr. id ibn Abdullah al-Qarni, Muhammad ( (International Islamic Publishing House, 2008) 158. 4 Reverent or respectable. 5 Evidence, indication, or proof.
3

) As if you can see him

Illumination shines by virtue of an amr,6 meaning that such Divine assertion is an obligation upon this blessed Ummah (a fard al-kifayah, I propose). In reflecting upon the Inexhaustible Blessings of Allh Azza Wa-Jal, one should not necessarily attempt to reflect upon the Inestimable Magnificence of Allh, Al-Adheem, but His greatest, purest, most wonderful blessing: His Servant and Messenger, His Blessed Habib (Sall Allahu Alayhi Wa-Alihi Wa-Suhbihi Wa-salam).7 Importantly, then, cultivating sincere gratitude to Allh, Ash-Shakur (The Rewarder of Thankfulness) may be best exhibited by humbly imploring Allh to bestow His Blessings, Honour, and Peace of Rasl Allh (May Allh, Ar-Raman, Ar-Ram, As-Salm send His Blessings, Mercy and Peace upon our Beloved Habib forevermore, InshaAllh Tala) in the Hereafter. One such invocation is the Salt ala n-nabiyy (a prayer sending blessings upon the Prophet [ ]).

Salt ala n-nabiyy (The Prayer of Blessings Upon Rasl Allh

Beyond imploring Allh for the blessings and peace of the Beautiful Prophet ( whenever he ( )

) is lovingly mentioned the best manner for otherwise sending ), is that reported upon the authority of Ibn Abl

prayers upon the Blessed Habib (

Laila said: Ka'b bin 'Ujrah (radi Allhu anhu) met me and said: Shall I not give you a gift? The Blessed Messenger of Allh came out to us, and we said: We know what it means to send Salm (peace) upon you, but what does it mean to send Salt (prayers) upon you?" He (Sall Allhu alayhi wa-alihi wa-suhbihi wa-salam) said: "Say: 'Allhumma salli 'ala Muhammadin w 'ala li Muhammadin kam sallaita 'ala li Ibrhma, w ala li Ibrhma, innaka hamdun majd. Allhumma bark 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala li Muhammadin kam brakta 'ala Ibrhma, w ala li Ibrhma, innaka hamdun majd. (O Allh, please send Your Salt (Grace and Honour) upon the Beloved Prophet (Sall Allhu alayhi wa-salam), and upon the noble family of Muhammad (Sall Allhu alayhi wa-salam),
6

`A command; an order; a bidding; an injunction; a decree; an ordinance; a prescript'. The plural term of amr is awmir, and the antonym is nahy (prohibition, or negative command): see Edward William Lane, Arabi-English Lexicon (Williams & Norgate, 1863). 7 See Sheikh Hamza Yusuf and Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allh, The Attributes of God in Islm [Alhambra Productions, Nawawi Foundation (2004).

just as You have sent Your Grace and Honour upon the Prophet IbrhIm (Alayhis salam), and his family and his followers, and (indeed) You are the Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious.

O Allh, please send Your Blessings upon the Beautiful Prophet (Sall Allhu alayhi wa-alihi wa-suhbihi wa-salam), and the noble family of Muhammad (Sall Allhu alayhi wa-salam), just as You have sent Your Blessings upon the Prophet IbrhIm (Alayhis salam), and (indeed) You are the Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious).8 In conclusion, Allh (Subnahu Wa Ta'la) is Al-Jameel (The Beautiful; The Graceful), and He Loves beauty9 for He is Al-Musawwir (The Shaper of Beauty). Thus, as the Beloved Prophet ( ) was, and is, the most beautiful creation of Al-Khalq (The

Creator), one may reasonably deduce (without the assistance of any comprehensive theological discourse) that Allh, Al-Wadd, Loves Rasl Allh ( ) the most.

Sahh Muslim (translated by Nasiruddin Al-Khattab, Darussalam, 1st ed, 2007 [Vol. 1, ahadth narrations from number 1-1160]) Chapter 17 (Sending Salt Upon The Prophet After The Tashahhud), hadth number [908] 66 - (406) (see, generally, pages 516-519). Also, refer to ahadth narrations [907] 65 - (405), [910] 68, [911] 69 - (407), and [912] 70 - (408). 9 Ibid [265] 147 - (91).
8

Should we not dearly love to reflect his etiquette, To earnestly praise his pure heart (which never slept),10 To yearn for his love and, as Ubay ibn Kab passionately said:
)11

To you I pledge my every dua, O Sweet Prophet (

So that Allh may Love us and render our sins forgiven?12

Br. Abdul Halim Khalil 2014

10

Indeed, it is understood that the heart, the soul (or rh, in Arabic), of the Blessed Messenger

( ) the source of his consciousness of, and connection with, his Lord never slept, even when his eyes were surrendered to slumber. Indeed, (from an excerpt of a narration of Ibn Abbas [May Allh be pleased with him], reported on the authority of Kuraib [May Allh be pleased with him], in Sahh Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 4, Hadth Number 140 [cf. Volume 1, Book 12, Hadth Number 818] and Volume 2, Book 21, Hadth Number 248) Sufyan said to 'Amr that some people said, "The eyes of the Apostle of Allh sleep but his heart does not sleep." 'Amr replied, "I heard 'Ubaid bin 'Umar saying that the dreams of Prophets were Divine Inspiration, and then he recited the verse: 'I (Abraham) see in a dream, (O my son) that I offer you in sacrifice (to Allh)." (37.102) (See Hadth No. 183). 11 Related in the text of Tirmidhi (2,457), who stated: This hadith is hasan sahh. It is related the Beautiful Prophet ( ) said: Verily, Allah has angels that travel throughout the earth and convey to me greetings of peace from the people of my Nation. (Reported in the text of Ahmad [3,657, 4,198]), Nasi [1,282], Ad-Drimi [2,774], and Al-Hakim [3,576], related on the authority of Abdullah ibn Masood [radi Allhu anhu]). At this, Ubay ibn Kab (radi Allhu anhu) exclaimed: I shall make my entire prayer (viz., du or supplication) for you (Tirmidhi [2,457]).
12

When shown such adoration and love, Rasl Allh ( ) replied: Then your sin(s) shall be forgiven, and your worries shall be taken care of (Tirmidhi [2,457]).