Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Aslamu-alaikum Burhan,

Brother I have a question, for which I have received different answers, hence so leaves me in a state of confusion.

I would like to know the meaning/translation of the following:

ASALATU-WASALAMALAIKA YAA SAYEDI YAA RASOOLILAH, ASALATU-WASALAMALAIKA YAA SAYEDI YAA HABIBULAH and: YAA HAIYUM YAA KAIYUM

Also are there any references of this in the Holy Quran, if not then where does this derive from?

I look forward to your reply InshAllah.

ur brother,

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Translation of Arabic terms

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Q-1: I would like to know the meaning/translation of the following:

ASALATU-WASALAMALAIKA YAA SAYEDI YAA RASOOLILAH, ASALATU-WASALAMALAIKA YAA

SAYEDI YAA HABIBULAH

The Blessings and Peace (of Allah) on you O my Leader, O Messenger of Allah; the Blessings and Peace (of Allah) on you O my Leader, O you who is loved by Allah.

The above statement is neither from the Quran, nor the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws); but a statement of praise and salutation used by some believers in praise and honor of the Noble Prophet (saws).

But the best way to send salutation to the Prophet (saws) would be the way he (saws) taught the believers:

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 56: Allah and His Angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.589 Narrated by Abdur Rahman bin Abi Laila

We asked Allah's Messenger (saws) saying, 'O Allah's Messenger (saws)! How should one (ask Allah to) send blessings on you, for Allah has commanded us to salute you?' The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, 'Say: O Allah! Send Your Mercy on Muhammad and on the ‘Aal’ of Muhammad (wives, family, followers, etc), as You sent Your Mercy on Ibraheem and on the ‘Aal’ of Ibraheem (wives, family, followers, etc) , for You are the Most Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious. O Allah! Send Your Blessings on Muhammad and the ‘Aal” of Muhammad, as You sent your Blessings on Ibraheem and on the family of Ibraheem, for You are the Most Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious.' "

The ‘durood’ or salutation commanded by Allah Subhanah, and the one taught to the believers by the Messenger of Allah (saws) is the one quoted in the authentic narration above. This is the ‘durood’ the Messenger of Allah (saws) prayed in his prayers, and this is the ‘durood’ the Messenger of Allah (saws) taught the believers to pray.

Q-2: YAA HAIYUM YAA KAIYUM

The translation of the above phrase would be: O Ever-Living, O Self-Subsisting Eternal (Allah)

Al-Hayy (The Ever Living) and Al-Qayyum (The Self-Subsisting Eternal) are two of the Noble and Exclusive Names and Attributes of Allah Subhanah related together in several places in the Quran.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 255: Allah! There is no Allah but He The Living, The Self-Subsisting Eternal. No slumber can seize him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to his creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of his knowledge except as He willeth. His throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. For He is the Most High the Supreme (in glory).

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 20 Surah Ta Ha verse 111: (All) faces shall be humbled before (Him), The Living, The Self-Subsisting Eternal: hopeless indeed will be the man that carries iniquity (on his back).

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imraan verse 2: Allah! There is no god but He, The Living, The Self-Subsisting Eternal.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan