Sending Peace & Blessings Upon The Prophet (saw) Sheikh Shabir Usmani

Sending Peace & Blessings Upon the Prophet

All words of praise and glory are due to Allah jalla jalaluhu. May Allah's peace and blessings in abundance be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

My dear brothers and sisters, in today's short sermon we are to learn about a very important subject — a right of Allah's Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam upon his Ummah, which is Salat and Salam upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, in the light of the Quran and his Sunnah.

The Quranic Command

Allah jalla jalaluhu says in Surah Al-Ahzab: Indeed Allah jalla jalaluhu and his angels do Salat upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam:

Therefore, all you who believe, do Salat upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and Tasliman.

What Does Salat Mean?

Imam Al-Bukhari rahimahullah quoted in Sahih Al-Bukhari as Mu'allaq from Abu Al-Aliya that the chapter is: "Indeed Allah and his angels do Salat upon the Prophet." Abu Al-Aliya said: Allah's Salat is made upon him by the angels, and the angels' Salat is Du'a. That is, the Salat of Allah upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam means that Allah jalla jalaluhu praises the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam in front of the angels. And what the Salat of the angels upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam means is the Du'a of the angels to Allah jalla jalaluhu to praise the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

Allah jalla jalaluhu and His angels do Salat and Salam upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. And on the lower level — the Dunya — the believers, the Muslims, Allah jalla jalaluhu commanded them:

So this is an obligation upon Muslims and believers — to ask blessings upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

The Rewards of Sending Salat

Abu Huraira radiallahu ta'ala reports that Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: a person who sends Salat upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam just one time — Allah jalla jalaluhu sends ten Salat upon that person.

Abu Talha reported: one day Allah's Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam came and the joy and happiness were seen in his face. The companions questioned him: "O Messenger of Allah, we see that you are very pleased and very happy." Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said — as reported by Imam Ibn Hibban in his Sahih — an angel came to me and said: "There is no one from your Ummah except that, for anyone sending Salat upon you once, Allah says: I did Salat on that person ten times. A person who sends one Salam to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam — Allah says: I do ten times Salam on that person."

(Sahih Ibn Hibban, Hadith 914)

Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "An angel came to me from my Lord and said: 'O Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, a person who does one Salat upon you from your Ummah — what does that person get? Allah writes down for that person, for just one Salat, ten good deeds. And because of one Salat upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, his ten bad deeds and ten mistakes are deleted, his ten degrees are elevated, and Allah returns the same Salat to that person.'"

The Sajdah of Gratitude

He reported: "I came to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and he was in Sajdah and he prolonged his Sajdah." Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "Jibrail alayhi wa sallam came to me. The mission was: anybody who does Salat upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam —"

My brothers and sisters, this is so important — a good deed from the Shari'ah, which is the right of Allah's Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam upon his Ummah. For one Salat upon the Prophet and one Salam, Allah says: "I say Salat and Salam on that person."

Here is Jibrail alayhi wa sallam — the chief of the angels, Ruhul Qudus — saying to Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam: "The person who does Salat upon you — I, Jibrail, do Salat upon that individual. And O Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, whoever says Salam to you — Jibrail says Salam to that person." So the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam performed a thanksgiving Sajdah to Allah.

There is such great reward in asking blessings upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and sending Salam upon him. Allah's Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "There is no servant who does Salat on me except that the angels do Salat on him." So as long as a person is sending Salat upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, for the same duration of time, the angels are busy sending Salat and praying for that person. And Allah's Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said it is upon each individual to increase or decrease Salat upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

The Three Ameen's on the Minbar

A very comprehensive narration which we mostly hear: Allah's Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was stepping up on his minbar and three times he said "Ameen, Ameen, Ameen." The companions questioned him — it was very unusual that he went on the minbar and said Ameen three times. He sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "Jibrail alayhi wa sallam came to me and said:

'The nose of a person be smeared in the dust — the one in whose presence the name of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is mentioned but he does not send Salat upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.' I said Ameen.

'A person who in his life found his parents but did not serve them — because of failing to serve them he could not register himself as entering into paradise.' And Jibrail alayhi wa sallam said: 'May the nose of that person be smeared in the dust.' I said: 'Yes, of course — Ameen, this should happen.'

And third: a person who finds Ramadan in his life — the month which is arriving very soon — he did not bother about the blessings of Ramadan, could not secure forgiveness for himself, did not prostrate to Allah, did not benefit from these blessed days and nights. 'May the nose of that person be smeared in the dust.' Jibrail alayhi wa sallam said that, and I said: 'Of course — Ameen, this should happen.'"

If there is a blessing in abundance of Allah around a person and he does not secure forgiveness from Allah — he is very unlucky and very unblessed.

Salat Reaches the Prophet Wherever You Are

Sayyidina Ali radiallahu anhu reported: Allah's Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "Do not turn my grave into the place of festival and gathering and celebrations. And do not turn your houses into graveyards. Do Salat upon me and send Salam to me wherever you are in the world — your Salat and Salam will reach me." Allah's Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "There are angels of Allah jalla jalaluhu on the earth — whoever says Salat and Salam upon me, they convey this message to me from my Ummah."

Warnings Against Neglecting Salat Upon the Prophet

Allah's Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam warned us in the strongest terms: "The most miserly of people is the one whose name is remembered — my name is mentioned — but he did not make the effort to say Salat upon me."

(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 3546)

He sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "The person who forgets to say Salat upon me — that person has lost the door of Jannah, missing the route to paradise." And he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "A person in whose presence I am mentioned and he does not say Salat upon me — he has lost the road to Jannah." These are the warnings from the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

Salat Upon the Prophet and Intercession

Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "The person who does Salat upon me and asks Allah for a means of intercession for me — then my intercession for that person on the Day of Judgement becomes necessary and it is written."

Gatherings Without Salat Upon the Prophet

Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "When people sit together, make their meetings, make their discussions and talk a lot — but in that meeting and gathering, in that sitting and chit-chat, if they do not say Salat upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam — this gathering will be a regret. They will regret it on the Day of Judgement." And he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: even though these people may enter Jannah, they will regret the reward and the enjoyment of Salat and Salam upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam that they lost.

Where Salat is Obligatory

My brothers and sisters, there are specific places and times when Salat upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is compulsory. In Salat — after the Tashahud — it is obligatory and compulsory. The Salat is not accepted of the person who does not do Salat upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, who does not read what we call Durood Ibrahimi. His Salat is not valid.

Abdullah ibn Umar radiallahu anhuma reported this — and it is found in a Marfu' Hadith — he said: "There is no Salat without the recitation of Tashahud and without the Salat upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam."

And Salat upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam in the funeral prayer. And Salat upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam after the Adhan.

Salat After the Adhan — Following the Sunnah

Imam Muslim reported, and Abdullah ibn Umar radiallahu anhuma said: he heard Allah's Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam saying — when you hear the muezzin calling the Adhan, repeat after him what he says. When he finishes the Adhan, then do Salat upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

(Sahih Muslim, Book 4, Hadith 747)

But unfortunately we changed the order. We abandoned Salat upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam after the Adhan and added it before the Adhan. And some brothers will say: "What's wrong with it? It is the Salat upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam — what is wrong with doing it before the Adhan?" But the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: after the Adhan, after the completion of the Adhan — Salat upon the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. There is wrong with it, my brother.

The Lesson of Ibn Umar and the Sneezing Man

Imam At-Tirmidhi reported that a man sneezed sitting next to Abdullah ibn Umar radiallahu anhuma. After sneezing he said: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ. After sneezing we say Alhamdulillah — but that man said "Alhamdulillah wa salatu wa salamu ala Rasulillah." Abdullah ibn Umar radiallahu anhuma said: "Yes, I say Alhamdulillah wa salatu wa salamu ala Rasulillah — but this is not right. Allah's Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did not teach us this." Adding words from oneself and introducing innovations into the du'as and words taught by the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam — there is something wrong with adding into the Shari'ah.

(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2738)

Salat on Fridays

My brothers and sisters, it is very important that we engage in this type of worship. After Friday prayer, Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "Do maximum Salat upon me on Friday — this is the day your Salat is presented to me." But unfortunately we are so extreme in gaining information and knowledge — yet in practice, you will see the Friday prayer finish and more than 50% of brothers will not even do the Sunnah of Jumu'ah. He says: "Two raka'hs done — finished — I've done my Friday." But where are the Sunnahs? Where do we stand for the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam? He said: "Do maximum Salat upon me on Friday," and yet we do not even properly complete our Friday prayer. Very soon, within ten minutes of the prayer ending, all the streets and car parks are packed, footpaths are packed and blocked — there is no mention of Salat after the Friday prayer.

The Story of Ubay ibn Ka'b

Sayyidina Ubay ibn Ka'b radiallahu anhu said to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam: "How much time should I spend offering Salat upon you?" The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "As much as possible." He said: "I will spend a quarter of my time offering Salat upon you." The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "Do more — it is for your own good." He said: "I will spend all my free time offering Salat upon you." The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "If this is the case — if this is the love for Salat — then all your problems will be solved, your sins will be forgiven, your sorrow will be removed, your difficulties will be removed, and the issues of this world will be solved."

Conclusion

My brothers and sisters, Allah mentioned in Surah Al-Ahzab: Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe, send blessings upon him and send him peace.

This is the last Prophet of Allah — Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam — the Messenger of Allah, the Seal of the Prophets. This is a right upon us. It is a right upon the Ummah. It is an expression of our love. When the mention of the Prophet comes, we should offer Salat upon him. This is a commandment of Allah — that we should offer Salat and peace upon the Messenger of Allah.

The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam has used the word shuh for those who are stingy in offering Salat upon him — those who have reached the last level of stinginess and have forgotten all his rights. And the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam says: whoever forgets to offer Salat upon him, or hears his name and does not offer Salat — it is as if he has lost the doors of Heaven and the route to reach them.

And the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam says: "Whoever offers Salat upon me and prays to Allah for a means of intercession — my intercession becomes necessary for him." And the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam says: "People, offer Salat upon me — by offering Salat, your deeds will be purified, your Zakat is for you, your sorrow will be removed, your difficulties will be removed, and the issues of the world will be solved."

And the last of our prayers — all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.