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:

Dear Mr. Burhan,

I would like to know the meaning of the wordings in Salawaat. Also could you send me the original wordings of Salawaat as described in the Quran as there are many versions of it.

Regards

(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:

Meaning of Salawaat

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.

The term ‘salawaat’ is the plural form of the Arabic word ‘salaat’ which means to supplicate or pray. But when the term ‘salawaat’ is used in Islamic terminology today, it means to sends ‘durood’ or supplications to the Last Messenger of Allah, Mohamed ar-Rasool Allah (saws) as commanded by Allah Subhanah in His Glorious Quran.

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.

Al-Muwatta Hadith 9.70

Yahya related to from Malik from Nuaym ibn Abdullah al-Mujmirthat, Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Zayd told him that Abu Masud al Ansari said, "The Messenger of Allah (saws) came to us at the gathering of Sad ibn Ubada. Bashir ibn Sad said to him, 'Allah has ordered us to ask for blessings on you, O Messenger of Allah (saws). How should we do it?' The Messenger of Allah (saws), remained silent until we wished we had not asked him. Then he (saws) told us to say, 'O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; and give baraka to Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You gave baraka to Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. In all the worlds, You (Allah) are worthy of Praise and Glorious,'"

Allahumma salli ala Muhammad wa alaa ale Muhammad kama sallaita ala Ibrahim wa alaa ale Ibrahim, wa barak ala Muhammad wa alaa ale Muhammad kama barakta ala Ibrahim wa alaa ale Ibrahim. Fi'l alamina, innaka Hamidu'm - Majid.

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