Have you ever considered how one simple act of worship can bring you multiple rewards, erase your sins and raise your status before Allah?
Sometimes, we spend hours thinking about our problems, worrying about our future and searching for ways to improve our lives, yet we overlook one of the beautiful acts of worship that requires only a little of our time: sending blessings upon Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Salawat (الصَّلَاةُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ) is an act of remembrance through which we ask Allah to bless and honour His beloved Messenger ﷺ. It is not merely a statement of love; it is an act of worship with immense rewards.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
"Whoever sends blessings upon me once, Allah will send blessings upon him tenfold, erase ten sins from him and raise him ten degrees in status." (Sunan an-Nasa'i, Hadith 1297).
Think about this beautiful reward. You send salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ once, and Allah grants you ten blessings, erases ten of your sins and raises you ten degrees in status. What a tremendous opportunity for a believer seeking Allah's mercy and reward!
Imagine having a few quiet moments during your day: while walking to work, waiting for a bus, sitting at home or taking a break from your daily responsibilities. Instead of allowing those moments to pass without remembrance of Allah, you can use them to send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ.
You do not need a special occasion to begin. Make it part of your morning routine, include it in your daily adhkār and remember it whenever you have an opportunity.
Allah Himself commands the believers to send blessings upon His Messenger ﷺ:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
"Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who have believed, ask Allah to send blessings upon him and ask Him to grant him peace." (Qur'an 33:56).
One particularly beautiful opportunity to increase our salawat is the day and night of Jumu‘ah. The Prophet ﷺ encouraged Muslims to send abundant blessings upon him on Friday.
He said:
"Among the best of your days is Friday, so send abundant blessings upon me on that day, for your blessings will be presented to me." (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 1047).
Therefore, do not allow Friday to pass without remembering this important Sunnah. Whether you are preparing for Jumu‘ah, travelling to the mosque, returning home or spending time with your family, make an effort to increase your salawat.
Among the beautiful forms of ṣalawāt taught by the Prophet ﷺ is the following:
Arabic:
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلَىٰ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَىٰ اٰلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ.
اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلَىٰ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَىٰ اٰلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ.
Transliteration:
Allahumma salli ‘ala Muḥammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammad, kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid.
Allāhumma barik ‘ala Muḥammadin wa ‘ala āli Muḥammad, kama barakta ‘alā Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid.
English Translation:
O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.
O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. (Sahih al-Bukhari 3370; Sahih Muslim 406).
This is the well-known Ibrahimiyyah form of salawat, which Muslims also recite during the final sitting of their prayers.
Beyond its tremendous reward, sending salawat helps us maintain our connection with the Prophet ﷺ, remember his teachings and nurture love for his Sunnah. It also encourages us to make du‘a’ and seek Allah's forgiveness with a heart full of hope.
So, why deprive yourself of such an opportunity?
You do not have to wait until Friday to begin. Start today. Send salawat in the morning, increase it throughout the day and make it part of your daily remembrance. When Jumu‘ah arrives, make an even greater effort.
A little consistency can become a source of immense reward by Allah's permission.
May Allah make us among those who frequently send blessings and peace upon Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, follow his Sunnah sincerely and receive the blessings and rewards promised to those who remember him. Amin.