Principles & Benefits of Sending Salat and Salam on the Prophet
<< Indeed Allaah and His Angels send Salat on the Prophet. O you who believe, Send Salat upon him, and send complete Salam upon him.>>
Part One
Translated & Compiled
By Abbas Abu Yahya
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِيِّۚ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيۡهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمًا
<< Indeed Allaah and His Angels send Salat on the Prophet. O you who believe, Send Salat upon him, and send complete Salam upon him.>>
A 30 part series on issues regarding sending the Salat and the Salam upon the Prophet.
Contents
Loving the Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – 9
The Meaning of The Salat Upon the Prophet 11
The Meaning of ‘Allaahumma’ 12
Meaning of Salat Upon the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam… 12
The Meaning of Sending ‘Tasleem’ Upon the Prophet 18
The Meaning of ‘Baraka’ (Blessings) 21
The Excellence of Prophet Ibraheem… 22
The Meaning of Allaah Mentioning His slave and Salat upon him… 25
The Meaning of al-Hameed & al-Majeed. 27
Introduction
In the Name of Allaah the Most Kind the Most merciful
Indeed all Praise belongs to Allaah, we praise Him, we seek His aid and we seek His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Him from the evil of ourselves and the evil of our actions. Whomsoever Allaah guides, there is none to misguide him, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray then there is none that can guide him.
I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah Azza wa Jal, Alone without any partner, and I testify that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ
<< O you who believe! Fear Allaah as He should be feared and dare not die except in a state of Islaam with complete submission to Allaah. >>[1]
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالْأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا
<<O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam) and from him He created his wife and from them both He created many men and women. And fear Allaah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights) and do not cut the relations of the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allaah is Ever an All-Watcher over you. >>[2]
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا () يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا
<<O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him and always speak the truth. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allaah and His Messenger he has indeed achieved a great achievement.>>[3]
Amma ba’d:
Indeed the best speech is the Speech of Allaah, the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad – sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– and the worst of the affairs are the innovated ones, every innovation is a Bida’ and every Bida’ is misguidance and all misguidance is in the Hellfire.
Compilers introduction
From the great blessings of Allaah Ta’ala upon the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – is that He made it easy for us to gain huge rewards by simply attaching ourselves to His Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – especially by requesting our Lord -the Most Kind and Most Merciful- to send praise upon His Messenger. This is a great form of worship of Allaah.
Allaah Ta’ala commands in His Book to send Salat and the complete Salam upon the Prophet, after informing us that He Himself and His Angels send Salat upon him.
Allaah Ta’ala said:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِيِّۚ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيۡهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمًا
<< Indeed Allaah and His Angels send Salat on the Prophet. O you who believe, Send Salat upon him, and send complete Salam upon him.>>[4]
Indeed, the high status which this noble Prophet is held in, in the hearts of the believers and sending Salat upon him generates the motivation to adhere to following him -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam.
The reward for sending Salat was mentioned from the pearls of the statements of the Prophet, where he -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – said:
من صلَّى عليَّ صلاةً واحدةً؛ صلّى الله عليه عَشْراً
‘Whoever sends Salat upon me once, then Allaah sends Salat upon him ten-fold.’[5]
This topic is of great importance to those who truly love the Messenger, and the reward for it is so immense.
Imam Nawawi said:
‘The Ahadeeth regarding the excellence of Salat upon the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – and the command to do so are more than can be enumerated.’[6]
The reader needs to take into consideration the understanding of the definition of the word Salat in its different contexts.
- Allaah sending Salat upon the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – is Allaah’s praise of His Prophet to the Angels.
- The Angels sending Salat is a Dua for forgiveness and blessings.
- Muslims sending Salat upon the Prophet is requesting Allaah to send Salat for the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam.
For me this topic is of the utmost importance due to what it shows of attachment to the best of creation Muhammad bin Abdullaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam.
Written by the one in need of his Creator’s forgiveness – Abbas Abu Yahya[7]
Loving the Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam –
From Abu Rashid al-Hubraani who said: Abu Umama al-Bahili took me by the hand and said: the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – took me by my hand and said to me:
يا أبا أمامة! إن من المؤمنين من يلين لي قلبه
‘O Abu Umama! Indeed from the believers are those who soften (with love) their hearts towards me.’[8]
Shaykh Albaani said:
And the meaning of ‘soften their hearts towards me’ is that they are gentle and incline towards me with love and affection and Allaah knows best. And this cannot be achieved except with Ikhlaas (sincerity) and following the Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – more than any other human being, because Allaah Ta’ala singled that out as an evidence to prove that a person really loves Allaah –Azza wa Jal.
Allaah said:
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ
<<Say (O Muhammad): ‘If you (really) love Allaah then follow me, Allaah will love you and forgive you of your sins.>>[9]
Is it not about time that those who claim to love the Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – in their speech and their an-Nasheed (songs), that they return to adhere to the true love which will lead to the love of Allaah Ta’ala, so that they will not be from those whom, the poet said:
تعصي الإله َ وأنتَ تـُظهرُ حـُـبـَّه ُ *** هذا لـَعـَمْرُكَ في القياس ِ بديع ُ
لو كانَ حـُبـُّكَ صادقا ً لأطعتـــَـــه ُ *** إنَّ المـُحـِبَّ لمنْ يُحـِبُّ مـُطيع ُ
You disobey Allaah and claim to love Him *** I swear that this action is innovative
If your love was truthful you would have obeyed Him *** Indeed the one who loves is obedient to the one whom he loves[10]
The Meaning of The Salat Upon the Prophet
Contents for this Section
The Meaning of ‘Allaahumma’
Meaning of Salat Upon the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam
Meaning of ‘Tasleem’ Upon the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam
The Meaning of ‘Baraka’
The Excellence of Prophet Ibraheem -SallAllaahu alayhi as-Salaam
The Meaning of al-Hameed & al-Majeed
The Meaning of ‘Allaahumma’
Shamsuddeen Muhammad bin Abee Bakr Ibn Qayyim aj-Jawzeeyah (d.751 A.H.) -Rahimullaah- said:
‘There is no difference of opinion that the wording: ‘Allaahumma’ means ‘O Allaah’, that is why it is not used except for ‘requesting and wanting’, so it is not said: ‘Allaahumma Ghafoor Raheem’ (O Allaah You are the Most Forgiving Most Merciful) rather what is said is: ‘Allaahumma Ighfirlee, warhamnee’ (O Allaah Forgive me and have mercy on me).’[11]
Meaning of Salat Upon the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam
- a) Shaykh AbdulMuhsin Abbad al-Badr said:
‘The meaning of Salat upon the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam.
The Salat of Allaah upon His Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– is explained as being Allaah’s Praise of the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– to the Angels. The Salat of the Angels upon the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– is explained as being their Dua’ for him –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam–. This is how it was explained by Abul-‘Aaleeyah (d. 90 A.H.) as Bukhari mentioned it in his ‘Saheeh’[12] in the beginning of the chapter:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِيِّۚ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيۡهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمًا
<< Indeed Allaah and His Angels send Salat on the Prophet. O you who believe, Send Salat upon him, and send complete Salam upon him.>>[13]
Bukhari mentions regarding the explanation of ‘Salat’ of the Angels upon the Messenger –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– after the Tafseer of Abul-‘Aaleeyah, that Ibn Abbas said: ‘Send Salat’ which means to request that blessings are sent upon him, i.e. that they make Dua’ for him to be blessed.
The Salat of Allaah upon the Messenger –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– is also explained as forgiveness for him and with mercy for him –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– as was related by al-Hafidh ibn Hajr in ‘al-Fath’ from a group of narrators as a research of its Tafseer, then he said:
‘The best of the previous statements was what was narrated from Abul-‘Aaleeyah that the meaning of Salat of Allaah upon His Prophet is Allaah’s praise for him, and regarding him as great. The Salat of the Angels and other than the Angels upon the Messenger –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– is requesting from Allaah Ta’ala praise etc, for the Messenger –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam–. The objective here is requesting extra praise etc, and not the initial Salat.’
al-Hafidh also said: ‘And al-Haleemi said in ‘as-Shu’ab’:
The meaning of Salat upon the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– is regarding him as great, so the meaning of us saying: ‘O Allaah send Salat upon Muhammad’ is regarding Muhammad as being great. The intent here is regarding him as being great in the Dunya by raising his –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– remembrance, making his Deen apparent, affirming his Sharia’, making his reward abundant in the Hereafter, and for the Messenger’s –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– intercession for his Ummah.
The declaration of the Messenger’s –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– excellence of having the highest status on the Day of judgement, and this is the aim of the statement of Allaah Ta’ala: << send Salat upon him>> << صلوا عليه >>[14] meaning: make Dua’ to your Lord with Salat upon him –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam.’
The learned scholar Ibn al-Qayyim said in his book ‘Jeela al-Affhaam fee Salat wa Salam ‘ala Khair al-Anaam’ when he presented the research about the Salat of Allaah and His Angels upon His Messenger –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– and Allaah commanded His slaves, the believers that they should send Salat upon him –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam. After mentioning that the meaning of Salat is mercy[15] and seeking forgiveness he said: ‘Rather the Salat which has been ordered within the Ayah – of Soorah al-Ahzab-[16] is a command from Allaah with which He -Subhanahu wa Ta’ala- informed about regarding Him -Subhanahu wa Ta’ala- Himself sending Salat upon the Messenger –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam–, and the Salat of His Angels and that is praise upon the Messenger –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam–, and to make apparent his excellence and his nobility, with the aim of being generous to him and to bring him –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– close, so this Ayaah includes information and an order. This is termed as ‘requesting’ and making Dua’ by us, for Salat upon him –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– in two ways:
1- that this incorporates the praise of the one upon whom Salat is sent –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam. Commendation with remembrance of his nobility, excellence, a want and love for that from Allaah, so this incorporates information and an order.
2- It is called ‘Salat’ from us due to the fact that we are asking Allaah to send Salat upon him –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam, and Allaah’s Salat upon him is Allaah’s praise of him to raise his –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– remembrance and to bring him closer. Our Salat upon him –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– is our asking Allaah Ta’ala to do those things to him [i.e. to raise his –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– remembrance and to bring him closer] the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam.’[17]
- b) Ibn Qayyim aj-Jawzeeyah -Rahimullaah- said:
‘The meaning is that if Allaah and His Angels send Salat upon His Messenger then you should also send Salat and Salam due to what you acquire from the blessings of the Prophet’s Messenger ship and that Allaah’s scribes (Angels) say Ameen to that Salat, also that you acquire honourable goodness in the Dunyaa and the Hereafter.’[18]
The Meaning of Sending ‘Tasleem’ Upon the Prophet
–sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam-
Shaykh AbdulMuhsin Abbad al-Badr said:
‘As for the meaning of sending ‘Tasleem’ (Salam) upon the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam–, then al-Majd al-Fayrouz Abadi said in his book: ‘as-Salat wal-Bushr fee Salat ‘ala Khair al-Bashr’:
‘And the meaning and understanding of ‘as-Salam’ upon you – which is also a Name from the Names of Allaah Ta’ala[19] – is that you are not to be void of goodness and blessings, and you are saved from all calamities and harms.
This is because the Name of Allaah Ta’ala is mentioned upon matters which you anticipate will occur, so that the meanings of goodness and blessings could be gathered in those matters and that the obstacles of deficiency and evil are away from these matters.
It is possible that the word ‘as-Salam’ means ‘as-Salama’ i.e. that what Allaah Ta’ala has decreed for you is ‘as-Salama’ which is that you have been protected from blame, failing and defect.
So if you said: ‘O Allaah Sallim upon Muhammad’ then what you mean by it is: ‘O Allaah write safety for Muhammad from every deficiency in his Dawa’, his Ummah and his remembrance. Thereby his Dawa’ increases higher as the days pass, and his Ummah increases and the remembrance of him is elevated.’[20]
The Meaning of ‘Baraka’ (Blessings)
Shaykh Muhammad Nasir uddeen al-Albaani (d. 1420 A.H.) said:
‘[al-Baraka]: means growth, increase.
[at-Tabreek] which is to say or make Dua’ using the word ‘Baraka’, by saying:
‘May Allaah bless him’ – Baarakahu Allaah
‘Give him blessings’ – Baaraka feehi
‘Bless it upon him’ – Barak alayhi
‘Bless it for him’ – Barak lahu
This Dua’ comprises of what the Messenger –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– was given of goodness, the like of what was given to the family of Ibraheem, a continuity of blessings and how goodness was established for him, and multiplied for him and its increase and this is the reality of al-Baraka (blessings).’[21]
The Excellence of Prophet Ibraheem
–sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam-
Ibn al-Qayyim aj-Jawzeeyah -Rahimullaah- said:
‘The Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- used to advise his Companions that in the morning and evening they should say:
أَصْبَحْنَا على فطْرَة الْإِسْلَام وَكلمَة الْإِخْلَاص وَدين نَبينَا مُحَمَّد وملة أَبينَا إِبْرَاهِيم حَنِيفا مُسلما وَمَا كَانَ من الْمُشْركين
‘We begin the morning upon the natural characteristics of Islaam[22] and the statement of Ikhlaas[23] and the Deen of our Prophet Muhammad and the Sharia of our father Ibraheem who was upon Tawheed[24], a Muslim and he was not one of the Mushrikeen.’[25]
Reflect upon these words and how the natural disposition is for Islaam, since indeed it is Allaah’s Fitrah (i.e. Allaah’s Tawheed), with which He has created mankind.
The statement of Ikhlaas which is the testification of La ilah illa Allaah and the Sharia is for Ibraheem since he is the representative of the Sharia, which is Tawheed and the worship of Allaah Alone without any partners, having love for Allaah above all other forms of love.
The Deen of the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- which is his complete Deen and his perfect and comprehensive Sharia which gathers all of this together.
Allaah -Subhanahu- named Prophet Ibraheem an Imam, an Ummah (Nation), an obedient one and worshipping Allaah Alone. Allaah Ta’ala said:
وَإِذ ابْتَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَاماً قَالَ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ
<< And (remember) when the Lord of Ibraheem [i.e. Allaah] tried him with (certain) Commands, which he fulfilled. Allaah said to him, ‘Verily, I am going to make you a leader (Prophet) of mankind.’ Ibraheem said, ‘And (make leaders) of my offspring.’ Allaah said, ‘My Covenant (Prophet hood, etc.) does not include Zalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers).’>>[26]
So Allaah -Subhanau- informs us that He made him an Imam for the people and that an oppressive person from among them will not achieve the rank of being an Imam and leadership. The Mushrik is an oppressor and Allaah Subhanau informed us that His covenant cannot be acquired by the one who commits Shirk with Him, Allaah Ta’ala says:
إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتاً لِلَّهِ حَنِيفاً وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ شَاكِراً لأَنْعُمِهِ اجْتَبَاهُ وَهَدَاهُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ وَآتَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَإِنَّهُ فِي الآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحين
<< Verily, Ibraheem was an Ummah (a leader having all the good righteous qualities), or a nation, obedient to Allaah, Hanifa (i.e. to worship none but Allaah), and he was not one of those who were Al-Mushrikûn(polytheists, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allaah, and those who joined partners with Allaah).
(He was) thankful for Allaah’s Graces. Allaah chose him (as an intimate friend) and guided him to a Straight Path (Islamic Monotheism, neither Judaism nor Christianity). And We gave him good in this world, and in the Hereafter he shall be of the righteous.>>[27]
So, al-Ummah [Ibraheem alayhi as-Salam] is the example to be followed, the teacher of good, obedient, dutiful to Allaah, adhering to His obedience and worshipping only Allaah, turning to Allaah and turning away from everything except Allaah.’[28]
The Meaning of Allaah Mentioning His slave and Salat upon him
Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (d.795) -Rahimullaah- said:
‘Allaah making the mention of His slave is the Praise of Allaah for His slave in the exalted assembly amongst His Angels and being proud of His slave, and praise of him by mentioning him.
Rabia’ ibn Anas said:
‘Indeed Allaah remembers the one who remembers Him, He gives extra to the one who is grateful to Him and He punishes the one who disbelieves in Him.’
Allaah Ta’ala said:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا () وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا () هُوَ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَلَائِكَتُهُ لِيُخْرِجَكُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ
<< O you who believe! Remember Allaah with much remembrance. And glorify His Praises morning and afternoon [the early morning (Fajr) and ‘Asr prayers]. He it is Who sends Salat (His blessings) on you, and His angels too (ask Allaah to bless and forgive you), that He may bring you out from darkness (of disbelief and polytheism) into light (of Belief and Islamic Monotheism). >>[29]
The Sallat of Allaah upon His slave is Allaah’s praise upon him between His Angels. .. . . . .[30]
The Meaning of al-Hameed & al-Majeed
Ibn Qayyim aj-Jawzeeyah -Rahimullaah- said:
‘Since the Salat upon the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- is Allaah’s praise upon him, His honouring him, a purpose for him, raising his -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- remembrance, increase in love for him, and bringing him closer to Allaah, then this is why the Salat includes al-Hamd (praise) and al-Majd (majesty).
It is, therefore, as if the person sending Salat is requesting from Allaah Ta’ala to increase the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- in his hamd and his majd, since the Salat is a type of hamd (praise) for the Prophet and regarded as majestic, and this is the reality of the Salat.
What is mentioned in this request [i.e. the Salat] is two appropriate Names of Allaah, they are the Names al-Hameed (The Praiseworthy) and al-Majeed (The Majestic).’
Ibn Qayyim aj-Jawzeeyah -Rahimullaah- continues:
‘It is legislated for a person who supplicates that he seals his supplication (Dua’) with a name from the Beautiful Names of Allaah, which would suit the request in the supplication, or beginning the Dua’ (supplication) with a Name of Allaah.
This is taken from the saying of Allaah:
وَلِلَّهِ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا
<< And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, so call on Him by them.>>[31]
Sulayman –alayhi as-Salaam- said in his Dua’ to his Lord:
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَهَبْ لِي مُلْكًا لَا يَنْبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ مِنْ بَعْدِي إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ
<< ‘My Lord! Forgive me, and bestow upon me a kingdom such as shall not belong to any other after me: Verily, You are the Bestower.’>>[32]
al-Khaleel (Ibraheem) and his son Isma’eel –Alayhima as-Salat wa Salam- said in their supplication:
رَبَّنَا وَاجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُسْلِمَةً لَكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
<<‘Our Lord! And make us submissive unto You and of our offspring a nation submissive unto You, and show us our Manasik (all the ceremonies of pilgrimage – Hajj and ‘Umrah, etc.), and accept our repentance. Truly, You are the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful. >>[33]
The Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- used to say:
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، وَتُبْ عَلَيَّ، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الْغَفُورُ
‘O my Lord forgive me and turn to me; indeed You are the Acceptor of repentance and the Forgiver.’[34] hundred times in a sitting.
The Messenger –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– said to ‘Aeysha –Radi Allaahu anha– after she had asked him: ‘If I come across laylat-ul-Qadr what should I make Dua’ with?’
He -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عُفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
‘Say: O Allaah indeed You are forgiving and love to pardon, so pardon me.’[35]
And the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said to Abu Bakr Siddique –Radi Allaahu anhu– after he had asked him to teach him a Dua’ which he could supplicate with in his prayer;
‘Say:
اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْماً كَثِيرَاً ، وَلا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إلاَّ أَنْتَ ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَغْفِرَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ وَارْحَمْنِي , إنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ .
O Allaah I have oppressed my self with a lot of oppression, and none can forgive sins except You, so forgive me from Yourself and have mercy upon me, indeed You are the Forgiver and the All-Merciful.’[36]
Ibn Qayyim aj-Jawzeeyah -Rahimullaah- continues:
‘Since what was requested for the Messenger –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– was Hamd and Majd by Allaah in sending Salat upon him, therefore, this request was sealed with the two Names of Allaah ‘al-Hameed and al-Majeed’.
Furthermore, since what was requested for the Messenger –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– was hamd and majd, and that he will receive that Salat, then it is foremost that this was sealed with information about the affirmation of the two Characteristics of Allaah – Azza wa Jal. Every perfect characteristic in the slave of Allaah which does not necessitate a deficiency in him, then Allaah – Azza wa Jal- has more of a right to it.’[37]
[1] [al-Imraan: 102]
[2] [an-Nisaa: 1]
[3] [Ahzab: 70-71]
[4] Soorah Ahzab: 56
[5] [Collected by Muslim, Abu Dawood, Nisa’ee, Tirmidhi & Ibn Hibban. Albaani graded it Saheeh in ‘Saheeh Targheeb wa Tarheeb’ 2/288/1656]
[6] From Adhkaar by Nawawi p.149
[7] May Allaah reward with goodness all those who participated in preparing this work.
[8] [Collected by Ahmad researched in Saheehah No. 1095]
[9] [Aal’Imraan:31]
[10] Taken from ‘Silsilah Ahadeeth As-Saheehah’ No. 1095
[11] [Taken from: ‘Jala al-Afhaam fee Fadl Salat wa Salam ‘ala Muhamamd Khair al-Anaam’ p.236]
[12] From Abu al-‘Aaleeyah (d. 90 A.H.) who said regarding the saying of Allaah Ta’ala:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِيِّۚ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيۡهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمًا
<< Indeed Allaah and His Angels send Salat on the Prophet. O you who believe, Send Salat upon him, and send complete Salam upon him.>>
that it is Salat of Allaah upon the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– which is Allaah’s praise upon him and also the Salat of the Angels upon the Messenger –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– is Dua’.’ [As is quoted in ‘Fadl as-Salat ala Nabi –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam’p.80 (95)]
[13] Soorah Ahzab: 56
[14] al-‘Ahzab: 56
[15] The Salat from Allaah Azza Wa Jal is not the same as Mercy Indeed there are differences between them
Shaykh Muhammad bin Hadi al-Madkhali said:
‘Firstly: Allaah Ta’ala showed differences between them in His Book, that Allaah showed differences between the Salat and Mercy in His Book where He said:
أُولَـئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ وَأُولَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ
<<They are those on whom are the Salawât (i.e. blessings, etc.) (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided-ones.>>[15]
Secondly: every Muslim is allowed by the Sharia to ask for Mercy, as for the Salat then this is specific to the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- his right and for his family.
Thirdly: that Mercy is general and it extends over everything as Allaah Jala wa Ala said:
وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ
<< and My Mercy embraces all things. That (Mercy) I shall ordain for those who are the pious>>[15]
So mercy is general and extends over everything, as for the Salat then this is specific for the special from His worshippers and they are the Prophets -Alayhim as-Salat wa Salam- so it becomes clear with this that Salat is different to Mercy and this is what is correct which was mentioned by Ibn al-Qayyim -Rahimullaah.’
[http://miraath.net/articles.php?cat=11&id=1079]
[16] << Indeed Allaah and His Angels send Salat on the Prophet. O you who believe, Send Salat upon him, and send complete Salam upon him.>> [Soorah al-Ahzab: 56]
[17] Taken from: ‘Kutub wa Rasail AbdulMuhsin Abbad’ 6/p.62-63
[18] [Jala p.168-169 Muajama Fiqhi print]
[19] The Beautiful Name of Allaah Ta’ala ‘As-Salaam’
A- Meaning of as-Salam
1- Salam means free from, innocent from, secure, safe from. 2- Dar as-Salam – Paradise
3- Free from mistakes and sinning. 4- Saying: ‘as-Salaamu Alaykum’ – peace from any harm and evil
B- Regarding Allaah -Ta’ala- it means
Ibn Katheer said: ‘as-Salam means: Free from all faults and deficiencies due to His Perfection in His Dhaat (Own-Self), His Sifaat (Attributes) and His Actions. [Tafseer Ibn Katheer- see ‘al-Nahaj al-Asma’ 1/116]
C- The Effects of Eemaan due to this Beautiful Name of Allaah Ta’ala:
1- The meaning of as-Salam is similar to al-Qudoos which is an indication to be free from all deficiencies in the past and future.
2- Allaah – Subhanahu – sends Salam (peace upon) His slaves in Paradise.
<<to dwell therein forever (i.e.in Paradise), with the permission of their Lord. Their greeting therein will be: Salaam (peace!)>> [Ibraheem: 23]
3- The Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam- used to when he finished prayer he would seek forgiveness three times then say:
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلامُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلامُ، تَبَارَكْتَ يَا ذَا الْجَلالِ وَالإِكْرَامِ
‘O Allaah You are as-Salam, and from You is as-Salam, You are Blessed, O Possessor of al-Jalal (Magnificence) and al-Ikraam (Generosity).’
Allaahumma Anta as-Salam wa minka as-Salam, Tabarak Ya Thal Jalali wal Ikraam
[Collected by Muslim]
4- The command of spreading this Name and it being a reason to enter Paradise:
The hadeeth of Abu Huriarah -Radi Allaahu anhu- said, that the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– said:
«لَا تَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّى تُؤْمِنُوا، وَلَا تُؤْمِنُوا حَتَّى تَحَابُّوا، أَوَلَا أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى شَيْءٍ إِذَا فَعَلْتُمُوهُ تَحَابَبْتُمْ؟ أَفْشُوا السَّلَامَ بَيْنَكُمْ»
‘You will not enter Paradise until you believe and you will not believe until you love one another, shall I not show you something that if you do it, it will cause you to love one another? Spread Salaams amongst your selves.’
[Collected by Muslim]
From Abdullaah from the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– who said:
السلام اسم من أسماء الله وضعه في الأرض، فأفشوه بينكم، فإن الرجل المسلم إذا مر بقوم فسلم عليهم فردوا عليه كان له عليهم (فضل درجة) ، فإن لم يردوا رد عليه من هو خير منهم وأطيب
‘as-Salam is a Name from the Names of Allaah and it has been placed upon the earth, so spread it amongst yourselves. If a Muslim passes by a people and gives them Salam and they reply to him, then he has a grade of excellence above them, if they do not reply to him then someone replies to him who is better and finer than them.
[Collected by Bazzar & Albaani declared it to be Hasan in Silsilah Saheehah No. 1894]
D- Why as-Salam is not given to Allaah?
Shaykh Sulayman bin Abdullaah Alaa-Shaykh said:
‘When the reality of the word al-Islaam means free from, secure from and pure from, successful from evil and deficiency, so when the Muslim says: ‘as-Salamu alaykum’ which is a dua’ that a Muslim does for another, and is a request for him to be free from all evil.
Allaah is the One from whom request is sought, and request is not sought for Him, He is the One Whom is supplicated and not supplicated for. Allaah – Ta’ala – is the One who is not in need of anything in the heavens and in the earth. It is impossible to send Salaams upon Allaah – Subhanahu wa Ta’ala – rather Allaah is the One who gives salaams upon His slaves.’
[Taken from ‘Tayseer al-Azeez al-Hameed’ p.488]
[20] Taken from: ‘Kutub wa Rasail AbdulMuhsin Abbad’ 6/p.62-63
[21] ‘Original Sifat Salah’ vol. 3 p.917 footnote No.2
[22] TN: Islaam is submission to Allaah with Tawheed
[23] TN: The testification of Islaam
[24] Verily, I have turned my face towards Him Who has created the heavens and the earth Hanifa (Islamic Monotheism, i.e. worshipping none but Allaah Alone) and I am not of Al-Mushrikoon (see V.2:105)”. [Soorah Al-An’am: 79]
[25] [Saheehah 2989]
[26] Soorah al-Baqarah 2:124
[27] [Soorah Nahl : 120-122]
[28] [Taken from: ‘Jala al-Afhaam fee Fadl Salat wa Salam ‘ala Muhamamd Khair al-Anaam’ p.390-391]
[29] [Ahzaab: 41-43]
[30] [From Jamia’ al-uloom 2/p.243]
[31] [al-Ara’aaf: 180]
[32] [Saad: 35]
[33] [al-Baqarah: 128]
[34] Collected by Ahmad from the hadeeth of Ibn Umar & al-Albaani said the Isnaad is Saheeh, in ‘Saheehah’ No. 556. Transliteration: Allaahumma faghfirlee wa tub ‘alayee innaka anta at-Tawaba al-Ghafoor.
[35] Transliteration: Allaahumma innaka Anta ‘Afooan tuhibul ‘Afwaa fa’fooanee.
[36] Collected by al-Bukhari & Muslim from the Hadeeth of Abu Bakr -Radhi Allaahu anhu. Transliteration: Allaahumma innee thalamtu nafsee thulman katheera wa la yaghfir ad-Dha-noob ila Anta, faghfirlee Maghfiratun min indak, warhamnee, innaka anta al-Ghafoor ar-Raheem.
[37] Taken from ‘Jeela al-Afhaam’ by Ibn Qayyim p.450