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:

As- Salaam Alaykum Bro. Bruham,

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. I beseech His infinte mercies on the noble Prophet Muhammed (SAW), the Apostles and the entire Muslims in general. Also, may the peace and blessings of Almighty Allah continue to be with you for the wonderful work you have subjected yourself into towards the upliftment of Islam generally. May you never tired (Insha - Allah) and May He crown your efforts with the Garden of Paradise on the day of Accountability as He promised the Best among mankind and His followers (Amen).

Please, I wish to inquired on some teachings and practise of we Muslims in Nigeria, if at all it's according to the practise or sunnah of the Prophet (SAW).

My Questions goes like this :

1. Firstly, I will like to know which of the Darud (I mean Prayer) recommended to be seeking on the Prophet (SAW) either Salatu Ibraheem or Salatu Fathi, when his name is being mentioned in our presence? Because it has being the practise of some people here doing the (Darud) in congregration and putting white clothes in there middle, that when the angels or the prophet come down the place is reserved for them. Please I will love if you should expanciate better on this issue because they aim following certain Imam or Ulamah such as Sheik Ibraheem Niya etc.

I pray that Almighty Allah guide you through and wishes you long life and prosperities in all your endeavours. Amen, while awaiting your answers and do furnish me always on every questions and answers you are being asked.

Yours in Islam

(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:

Nigeria Durood Practice and Belief

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.

May Allah Subhanah honor you with the best in the life of this world and the Hereafter for your kind words of encouragement and your supplications for us to the Merciful. May the All Mighty Lord bless and honor you for taking the time to read our articles, and May He reward you with even more honor than you have supplicated for your brothers and sisters in Islam.

Q-1: Your question on Darud.

If someone announces the blessed name of the Messenger of Allah (saws) in the presence of the believers, it is a duty unto every believer, who sincerely fears Allah and the Last Day, to supplicate for the noble Prophet (saws) and say ‘sallalaaho alayhe wa sallam’ or ‘alayhim salaatu was-salaam’.

If one intends to recite the Darud or when one recites the Darud in the prayers, he must always recite the Darud Ibrahimi as taught by the Messenger of Allah (saws) to 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.

When the above aayah of the Quran was revealed the companions asked the Prophet (saws) how should the believers send salutations to him (saws).

Abu Mas'ud Al-Ansari reported the following account from Bashir ibn Sa'd: "I asked Prophet (saws) 'O Messenger of Allah, Allah has commanded us to invoke blessings upon you. How should we do it?' The Messenger of Allah (saws) remained silent until we wished we had not asked him. Then he told us to say,

'Allahumma salli 'ala muhammadin wa 'ala ali muhammadin kama sallayta 'ala ali ibrahima, wa barik 'ala muhammadin wa 'ala ali muhammadin kama barakta 'ala ibrahima wa 'ala ali ibrahima; fil 'alamin, innaka hammidum majeed. {Narrated by Muslim.}

(O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed 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 are worthy of Praise and Glorious)

In every rite of worship and the deen, the believers are commanded to follow the example and obey the Messenger of Allah (saws). It does not behove a believer, who sincerely fears Allah and the Last Day, to invent his own forms of worship, and recite the Darud in any other way than taught by the Messenger of Allah (saws).

To spread a white cloth and believe that the Prophets of Allah or the angels descend on this cloth when the Darud is recited is not found in any practice or tradition of the Messenger of Allah (saws); thus it has to be a innovation or belief created by man himself! And as with every innovation in the deen of Islam, it should be immediately rejected by the believers.

It has been reported in an authentic narration that the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “Whoever introduces a ‘bida’ (innovation) in this deen brought by me (saws), it will be rejected.”

It has been reported by Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (r.a.) that the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “If anyone introduces an innovation (in religion), he will be responsible for it. If anyone introduces an innovation or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (in religion), he is cursed by Allah, by His angels, and by all the people.”

It has been reported by Jabir ibn Abdullah (r.a.) in another authentic narration that the Prophet of Allah (saws) said in a sermon: “The best speech is that which is embodied in the Book of Allah, the Al Quran; and the best guidance is the guidance given by me, Mohamed (saws). The most evil affairs are the innovations, and every innovation is an error.”

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