بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
THE ESSENCE OF AS-SALAAT ALAN-NABI
When we Muslims discuss the greatness of our beloved Rasool sallallahu alaihi wasallam, we focus on various aspects of his life; his handsome features, his sublime conduct, his noble teachings, his remarkable achievements, his miracles and his excellence over the rest of the Ambiyaa alaihimus salaam. With regards to the last aspect, it could be asked that ‘if Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam excelled the rest of the Ambiyaa alaihimus salaam, why did Allah command the angels to prostrate to Aadam alaihis salaam instead of Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam? Does this not imply that Aadam alaihis salaam enjoyed a greater status than Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam?’
The answer to this question is in the aayah
ان الله و ملائكته يصلون على النبي يايها الذين آمنوا صلوا عليه و سلموا تسليما
“Surely Allah and His angels send salawaat to the Nabi. O those who have Imaan, you also send salaat and salaam to him.”
In this aayah Allah informs us that He also sends salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam. On the contrary, it is quite obvious that Allah did not prostrate to Aadam alaihis salaam when He had commanded the malaaikah (angels) to do so.
Usage of the past tense in all the aayaat that refer to the prostration of the angels to Aadam alaihis salaam indicates that this happened only once. However, usage of the present tense in this aayah implies that Allah and His angels continuously send salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam.
While the command to prostrate to Aadam alaihis salaam applied to the inhabitants of the skies only, the sending of salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam applies to the inhabitants of the skies and the earth. Thus Allah says:
يايها الذين آمنوا صلوا عليه و سلموا تسليما
“O those who have Imaan, you also send
salaat and salaam to him.”
The Status of Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam
The fact that Allah and His angels send salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam is sufficient proof of his lofty status in the court of Allah. This is enhanced further by the fact that there is no evidence whatsoever – neither in the Qur’aan and the Sunnah nor in any of the previous scriptures – that Allah sends salawaat to any other Nabi.
Motivation
Besides highlighting the status of Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam, this aayah also draws attention to the reason why we should send salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam; if Allah and His angels send salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam, should we not be doing the same? When ordaining fasting on the Muslims, Allah said: “…fasting has been ordained for you just as it was ordained for those who were before you. The meaning of this being that: ‘if the previous nations were able to fast, you could also do so’. Similarly, when ordaining salawaat in favour of Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam, Allah commenced the aayah saying that He and His angels send salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam. The reason for this is to emphasize the importance of salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam. ‘If Allah and the angels do so, you too should do so!’
Benefit
Ibn-ul-Qayyim rahimahullah mentioned thirty nine benefits of sending salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam. The first benefit that he mentioned is obedience to the command of Allah. The second and third benefits are conformity with Allah and the angels; those who send frequent salwaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam are following the example of Allah the His angels.
Another Benefit
As a rule, man’s reward and punishment is always according to his actions. Haafidh Ibn Katheer rahimahullah says in this regard that الجزاء من جنس العمل (reward and punishment are in accordance with the nature of one’s action). Thus:
Allah says in the Qur’aan:
فاذكرونى أذكركم
“Remember me and I will remember you.”
Those who drink wine in the worldly life will be deprived of the wine of Jannah.
Those who wear silk in the worldly life will be prevented from wearing it in Jannah.
Those who listen to music in the worldly life will never hear the voices of the qurraa of Jannah.
Likewise, the reward for those who send salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam is that Allah and His angels send salawaat to them.
The Meaning of Salawaat
There is a consensus among the Mufassireen that the salawaat of the angels is du’aa that Allah show mercy to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam. However, there is a difference of opinion regarding the salawaat of Allah. Some claim that it means mercy. Thus the meaning of Allah sending salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam is that Allah shows special mercy to him. Others are of the opinion that it means praise. Hence the meaning of Allah sending salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam is that Allah praises him among the angels. Accordingly, those who send frequent salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam earn the mercy of Allah and His praises.
A Question
Irrespective of the meaning of the salawaat of Allah, does Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam really need our du’aas? After all, if Allah is continuously showering His mercy upon Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam, why do we sinners have to make du’aa to Allah to shower His mercy on him?
The Answer
The answer to this question is that definitely Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam does not require our du’aas. However, there are three reasons why we send salawaat to him. They are:
1. By sending salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam we follow the example of Allah and thereby gain closeness to him. We also earn His mercy, forgiveness for our sins and a higher rank in Jannah. In short, we send salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam for our own benefit.
2. By sending salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam we acknowledge his exalted status.
3. It is also a means of expressing our gratitude to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam.
Three More benefits
Among the other benefits of sending salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam are:
1. The names of those who send salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam are presented to him. This is understood from the following two ahaadith:
a. “Surely your salaat is presented to me.”
b. “Allah has deputed a group of angels to convey to me the salaam sent to me by my Ummah.”
2. Frequent recitation of salawaat increases one’s love for Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam.
من أحب شيئا أكثر من ذكره
“The person who loves something speaks much of it.”
3. Consequently, those who recite frequent salawaat eventually become the beloved of Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam.
Another Question
In all the various wordings of the salawaat that we send to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam, we say “اللهم صل على …” or “صلى الله على …” In both phrases we are actually asking Allah to send salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam. The question arises that, considering Allah’s command that we send salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam, why do we ask Allah to do so? Should we not be saying “أصلى على …” (I send salawaat …)?
The Answer
One answer to this question is that due to our sins and spiritual weaknesses, our salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam cannot be as significant as that of Allah’s. We therefore ask Allah to send salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam on our behalf.
Another answer is that when commanding us to send salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam, Allah did not indicate the required amount. This could be a reminder to us that no matter how much salawaat we send to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam, it will never be enough. Hence, we ask Allah to send salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam on our behalf because He knows best how much salawaat should be sent to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam. Putting it differently, asking Allah to send salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam on our behalf is an acknowledgment that ‘O Allah, we wish to send salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam but we are unable to do so in a manner that befits the lofty status of Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam. We therefore request you to do it on our behalf. This is similar to the du’aa لا أحصي ثناء عليك (‘O Allah, I am unable to praise you!’).
An Interesting Observation
Just as the Ummah have been commanded to send salawaat to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam, he has also been commanded to send salawaat to them.
وَصَلّ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ صَلَواتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَّهُمْ
“And send salawaat to them. Undoubtedly, your salawaat is tranquility for them.”
The reason for this, as observed by Fakhrud-Deen Ar-Raazi, is so that Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam may repay the Ummah and not be obliged to them.
و صلى الله على النبي محمد و على آله و أصحابه أجمعين
Abu Hudhaifa Muhammed Karolia
24 جمادى الأخرى 1431
08 June 2010
Al-Jaami’ah Al-Mahmoodiah
Springs