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 Sixteen
Actions for which Allaah and the Angels Send Salat [Dua’] on Those Who Carry Them Out
Translated & Compiled
By
Abbas Abu Yahya
Actions for which Allaah and the Angels Send Salat [Dua’] on Those Who Carry Them Out
Table of Contents
Angels send Salat [Dua’] upon the Believers. 3
Angels Send Salat upon the Soul of the Deceased. 3
Awaiting the Prayer in the Masjid. 4
Connecting the Rows in the Congregational Prayer. 5
Praying the Congregational Prayer in the First Rows. 6
Those who Partake in a Sahoor Meal 7
Remaining in One’s Place of Prayer. 9
Those Who Supplicate for their Brother in his Absence. 11
Sending Salat upon the Prophet 15
Angels send Salat [Dua’] upon the Believers
Allaah Ta’ala says:
هُوَ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَلائِكَتُهُ لِيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ وَكَانَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيمًا
<< He it is Who sends Salat (His blessings) on you, and His Angels too (ask Allah to bless and forgive you), that He may bring you out from darkness (of disbelief and polytheism) into light (of Belief and Islamic Monotheism). And He is Ever Most Merciful to the believers.>> [Ahzab: 43]
Angels Send Salat upon the Soul of the Deceased
From Abu Hurairah from the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam:
«إِذَا خَرَجَتْ رُوحُ الْمُؤْمِنِ تَلَقَّاهَا مَلَكَانِ يُصْعِدَانِهَا»
‘When the soul of the believing slave of Allaah leave his body it is met by two Angels who take it up.’ -Hamad (one of the narrators) said: ‘and he mentioned about its fine fragrance and mentioned that it was Musk.’ – The Prophet continued:
” وَيَقُولُ أَهْلُ السَّمَاءِ: رُوحٌ طَيِّبَةٌ جَاءَتْ مِنْ قِبَلِ الْأَرْضِ، صَلَّى الله عَلَيْكِ وَعَلَى جَسَدٍ كُنْتِ تَعْمُرِينَهُ، فَيُنْطَلَقُ بِهِ إِلَى رَبِّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، ثُمَّ يَقُولُ: انْطَلِقُوا بِهِ إِلَى آخِرِ الْأَجَلِ “، قَالَ: ” وَإِنَّ الْكَافِرَ إِذَا خَرَجَتْ رُوحُهُ
‘The inhabitants of the heavens say: ‘A fine soul has come from towards the earth, May Allaah send Salat upon you and upon the body which you lived in. Then he will be taken to his Lord Azza wa Jal. Then it will be said take him to the last point.’ Then he said: ‘Indeed when the soul of the unbeliever exits – Hamad (one of the narrators) said: ‘and he mentioned about its terrible smell and mentioned that it was cursed.’ –
وَيَقُولُ أَهْلُ السَّمَاءِ رُوحٌ: خَبِيثَةٌ جَاءَتْ مِنْ قِبَلِ الْأَرْضِ. قَالَ فَيُقَالُ: انْطَلِقُوا بِهِ إِلَى آخِرِ الْأَجَلِ
The inhabitants of the heavens say: ‘A filthy soul has come from the direction of the earth. It is said ‘take him to the last point.’ Abu Hurairah said: the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– demonstrated the bad smell by covering his nose with his garment.’[1]
Awaiting the Prayer in the Masjid
From Abu Huraira –RadhiAllahu anhu- who said: The Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said:
«صَلَاةُ الرَّجُلِ فِي الْجَمَاعَةِ تُضَعَّفُ عَلَى صَلَاتِهِ فِي بَيْتِهِ وَفِي سُوقِهِ خَمْسًا وَعِشْرِينَ ضِعْفًا وَذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ إِذَا تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ الْوُضُوءَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ لَا يُخْرِجُهُ إِلَّا الصَّلَاةُ لَمْ يَخْطُ خُطْوَةً إِلَّا رُفِعَتْ لَهُ بِهَا دَرَجَةٌ وَحُطَّ عَنْهُ بِهَا خَطِيئَةٌ فَإِذَا صَلَّى لَمْ تَزَلِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ تُصَلِّي عَلَيْهِ مَا دَامَ فِي مُصَلَّاهُ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَيْهِ الله ارْحَمْهُ وَلَا يَزَالُ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي صَلَاةٍ مَا انْتَظَرَ الصَّلَاةَ»
‘The prayer of a man in congregation is multiplied more than his prayer in his home and in the market place by twenty-five times. That is when he makes Wudu and makes it correctly then goes out to the Masjid, and he does not go to the Masjid except for the prayer. He does not take a step except that he is raised a grade due to that and a sin is taken away due to it. When he prays, the Angels continue to send Salat upon him as long as he is in his place of prayer. ‘O Allaah send prayers upon him, O Allaah have mercy upon him.’ One is continuously in prayer as long as he is waiting for the prayer.’[2]
Connecting the Rows in the Congregational Prayer
From Aeysha who said that the Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said:
((إن الله وملائكته يصلون على الذين يصلون الصفوف، ومن سدّ فرجة رفعه الله بها درجة))
‘Indeed Allaah and His Angels send Salat upon those who connect up the rows in standing for prayer. Whoever fills a gap in the row, Allaah raises him a grade due to that.’[3]
From al-Bara bin Aazib –RadhiAllahu anhu- who said that the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– used to say:
“إنَّ الله وملائكته يُصلُّون على الذينَ يَصِلون الصفوفَ الأُوَلَ، وما من خُطوةٍ أحبَّ إلى الله من خُطوةٍ يَمشيها العبد يَصِلُ بها صفاً”.
‘Indeed Allaah -Azza wa Jall- and His Angels send Salat upon the first few rows. There is no footstep which is more beloved to Allaah than the footstep that the slave of Allaah takes to connect up the row in prayer.’[4]
Praying the Congregational Prayer in the First Rows
From al-Bara bin ‘Aazib who said the Messenger of Allaah used to enter a row from end to end and touch our chests and shoulders and say:
لا تختلفوا فتختلفَ قلوبكم
‘Do not differ otherwise your hearts will differ.’
And he would say:
إن الله عز وجل وملائكته يُصَلون على الصفوف الأُوَلِ
‘Indeed Allaah -Azza wa Jall- and His Angels send Salat upon the first few rows.’[5]
From Abu Umamah –RadhiAllahu anhu- who said that the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– said:
“إن اللهَ وملائكتَه يصلون على الصف الأوَّلِ”.
‘Indeed Allaah and His Angels send Salat upon the first row of prayer.’
The Companions said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah, and the second row?’
He answered: ‘Indeed Allaah and His Angels send Salat upon the first row of prayer.’
The Companions said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah, and the second row?’
He said:
“وعلى الثاني”.
‘And the second.’[6]
Those who Partake in a Sahoor Meal
From Ibn Umar –RadhiAllahu anhumma- who said: ‘The Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said:
إن الله وملائكته يصلون على المتسحرين
‘Indeed Allaah and His Angels send Salat upon the person who eats at Sahoor[7] time.’[8]
From Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri –RadhiAllahu anhu- that the Prophet sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said:
السحورُ كلُّه بركة، فلا تَدَعوه، ولو أنْ يجرعَ أحدكم خرعةً من ماء، فإنَّ الله عز وجل وملائكتَه يصلون على المتسحرين
‘Eating and drinking at the last part of the night by those who wish to fast is all blessed so do not leave it, even if one of you has to swallow a gulp of water, because indeed Allaah -Azza wa Jall- and His Angels send salat upon those who eat and drink in the last part of the night because they wish to fast.’[9]
Teaching goodness
From Abu Umama that the Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said:
إن الله وملائكته وأهل السموات والأرض حتى النملة في جحرها، وحتى الحوت، ليصلون على معلم الناس الخير
‘Indeed Allaah, His Angels, the people of the heavens and the earth, even the ants in their colony, even the fish in the sea, praise (send Salat) upon the one who teaches the people goodness.’
This narration has strong supporting Hadeeth from Abee Umama from the Prophet. It was authenticated by Tirmidhi.[10]
Remaining in One’s Place of Prayer
It is mentioned in the hadeeth of Bukhari and Muslim from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– said:
((إن الملائكة تصلي على أحدكم ما دام في مجلسه، تقول: اللهمّ اغفر له، اللهم ارحمه. ما لم يحدث))
‘The Angels send Salat upon one of you as long as he is in the place where he prays. The Angels say: ‘O Allaah send Salat upon him. O Allaah have mercy upon him. O Allaah forgive him.’ As long as he does not break his Wudu or leave the Masjid.’[11]
Ibn Battaal said:
‘Whosoever has a lot of sins and wants Allaah to erase them from him without going through hardship should take the opportunity of remaining in his place of prayer after having prayed, so that he can have a huge increase of the Dua of the Angels and them seeking forgiveness for him, since it is hoped that the Dua is answered for him, because Allaah says:
ولا يشفعون إلا لمن ارتضى
<<and they cannot intercede except for him with whom He is pleased.>>[12]
Indeed the Messenger -alayhi as-Salaam- informed us that whoever said Aaameen [after the recitation of Soorah Fatiha] and it coincides with the Angels saying ‘Aaameen’, that person’s previous sins are forgiven.[13]
The Angels saying ‘Aaameen’ is indeed said once when the Imaam says ‘Aaameen’. The Angels continuously make Dua’ for the one who sits in his place of prayer as long as he remains there, so he is more deserving of his Dua’ being answered.
The Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- compared waiting for a prayer after a prayer with keeping guard on the border of the country. He affirmed this by repeating it twice, saying:
« فذلكم الرباط »
‘and that is guarding on the border of the country’.
Therefore, it is incumbent upon every intelligent believer who has heard these noble virtues to have concern about taking a good portion of them and not to pass by them ignoring them.’[14]
Those Who Supplicate for their Brother in his Absence
From Safwaan bin Abdullaah bin Safwaan – who was married to Umm Darda[15]– who said:
‘I came from Shaam and I found Umm Darda at home, but I did not find Abu Darda.
She asked: Do you want to do Hajj this year?
I answered: Yes.
She said: Make Dua’ to Allaah for us for goodness; since indeed the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- used to say:
“إِنَّ دَعْوَةَ الْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ مُسْتَجَابَةٌ لِأَخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ، عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ مَلَكٌ مُوَكَّلٌ، كُلَّمَا دَعَا لِأَخِيهِ بِخَيْرٍ، قَالَ: آمِينَ، وَلَكَ بِمِثْلٍ”.
‘The supplication of a Muslim person for his brother in his absence is answered. At his head is an Angel who has been assigned that every time he makes Dua for his brother with goodness, the Angel who has been assigned to him says ‘Aaameen and the same for you.’
Safwaan said: I met Abu Darda in the market and he said the same, narrating it from the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam.[16]
Visiting a Sick Person
From Ali –Radi Allaahu anhu– who said that I heard the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– say:
“ما مِنْ مسلم يعودُ مسلِماً غَدوةً؛ إلا صلّى عليه سَبْعون ألفَ ملَكٍ حتى يُمْسِيَ، وإنْ عادَ عَشِيَّةً؛ إلا صَلّى عليهِ سَبْعون ألْفَ ملَكٍ حتى يُصْبِحَ، وكانَ له خَريفٌ في الجَنَّةِ”.
‘There is no Muslim who visits another Muslim in the morning except seventy-thousand Angels send Salat[17] upon him until the evening and if he visits him in the evening, seventy-thousand Angels send Salat upon him until the morning and he will have fruits in Paradise.’[18]
Then it was narrated with a chain with the same meaning.
[Saheeh but from the narrator] and the wording of this narration is:
ما مِنْ رجلٍ يعودُ مريضاً مُمْسياً إلا خرَج معه سَبْعون ألفَ ملَكٍ يَسْتَغفِرونَ له حتى يُصْبِحَ، وكان له خريفٌ في الجنَّةِ، ومَنْ أتاه مُصْبِحاً خَرج معه سَبْعُون ألفَ مَلَكٍ يسْتَغْفِرونَ لَه حتى يُمْسِيَ، وكانَ له خريفٌ في الجَنَّةِ.
‘There is no man who visits a sick person in the evening except that seventy-thousand Angels exit with him seeking forgiveness for him until the morning arrives and he will have fruits in Paradise. Whoever visits him (sick person) in the morning seventy-thousand Angels exit with him seeking forgiveness for him until the evening arrives and he will have fruits in Paradise.’
[Saheeh] Ahmad and Ibn Majah narrated it similarly from the Prophet, with extra wording in the beginning:
“إذا عادَ المسْلِمُ أخاه مَشى في خرافَةِ الجَنَّةِ حتى يجلِسَ، فإذا جلَس غَمرتْهُ الرحْمَةُ”
‘When a Muslim visits his (sick) brother, he walks among the fruits of Paradise until he sits down. When he sits, he is saturated with mercy.’
But they do not mention that ‘he will have fruits in Paradise.’
[Saheeh] It has been narrated by Ibn Hibban in his book ‘Saheeh’ also from the Prophet and the wording is:
“ما مِنْ [امرئ] مسْلِمٍ يعوُد مسْلِماً؛ إلا ابتَعَثَ الله إليه سَبْعين ألفَ مَلَكٍ يُصَلُّونَ عليه، في أيِّ ساعاتِ النَّهارِ حتى يُمْسِيَ، وفي أيِّ ساعاتِ اللَّيْلِ حتى يُصْبِحَ”.
There is no Muslim man who visits a sick Muslim except that Allaah dispatches to him seventy-thousand Angels who send Salat upon him at any hour of the day until the evening and in any hour of the night until the morning.’[19]
Dua’ for the Host
From Abdullaah bin az-Zubayr who said: The Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam– broke his fast at Sa’ad’s house and said:
أَفْطَرَ عِنْدُكُمُ الصَّائِمُونَ وصَلَّتْ عَلَيْكُمُ المَلائِكَةُ وأَكَلَ طَعَامَكُم الأَبْرَارُ
‘May the fasting person open his fast in your home, may the Angels send salat upon you and may the righteous eat your food.’
[Collected by Ibn Hibban and Albaani declared it to be Hasan Saheeh no.5272]
Sending Salat upon the Prophet
From ‘Aamir bin Rabee’a – Radi Allaahu anhu – who said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah giving a Khutbah and he said:
مَنْ صَلَّى عليَّ صلاةً؛ لم تَزَل الملائكةُ تُصَلِّي عليه ما صلى عليَّ، فليقلّ عبدٌ من ذلك، أو ليكثر
‘Whoever sends a Salat upon me, the Angels continue to send Salat upon him as long as he sends Salat upon me. So the slave of Allaah may send it a little or a lot.’[20]
[1] [Collected by Muslim]
[2] Collected by Bukhari and Muslim, Bukhari in ‘Excellence of congregational’ prayer and by Muslim in ‘al-Masajid’
[3] [Silsilah 2234]
[4] [Collected by Abu Dawood and Albaani said it was Saheeh Lighayrihi in Saheeh Targheeb no. 507]
[5] Collected in Sunan Abu Dawood & Shaykh Albaani said its Isnaad is Saheeh in Saheeh Sunan Abu Dawood 3/240
[6] [Collected by Ahmad and Tabarani and Albaani said it was Hasan Lighayrihi in Saheeh Targheeb no.491]
[7] Sahoor is a meal which is had at the latter part of the night by the person who intends to fast.
[8] Collected in Saheeh Ibn Hibban, Mua’jam al-Awasat by Tabaraani with an Isnaad which is Hasan and Albaani in Silsilah Saheehah 1654.
[9] [Collected by Ahmad and Albaani declared it Hasan lighayrihi in Saheeh Targheeb wa Tarheeb 1/258]
[10] [See Targheeb 1/60] – Shamsuddeen Muhammad bin Abee Bakr Ibn Qayyim aj-Jawzeeyah (d.751 A.H.) -Rahimullaah- said:
‘Tirmidhi narrates from Abu Umama al-Bahily who said: ‘It was mentioned to the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– about two men, one of them was a scholar, and the other is a worshipper, then the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– said:
‘The excellence of the scholar over the worshipper is like my excellence over the least of you.’
Then the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– said:
((إن الله وملائكته وأهل السموات والأرض حتى النملة في جحرها، وحتى الحوت، ليصلون على معلم الناس الخير))
‘Indeed Allaah and His Angels and the people of the heavens and the earth, even the ants in their hole, and even the fish in the sea praise (send Salat) upon the one who teaches the people goodness.’
Al-Fudayl bin ‘Aayaad said:
‘A scholar who practices the Deen and is a teacher is regarded as distinguished in the dominions of the heavens.’
This is narrated from the Companions.
Ibn Abbas said: The scholars of this Ummah are of two types:
A person whom Allaah gives knowledge to and he would sacrifice it for the people and he would not take wealth for it, and he would not sell his religion for an amount of wealth. So, for these type of person, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, the animals on the earth and the Angels who write down deeds all send Salat upon them.
And as for the person whom Allaah gives knowledge and is miserly with his knowledge keeping it away from Allaah’s slaves, taking wealth for it and selling his religion for it, he will be brought on the day of Judgment reined with reins made from fire.’
As for the words of the Messenger: ‘Indeed Allaah and His angels, and the people of the Heavens and the earth send Salat (praise) upon the person who teaches the people goodness.’
Since him teaching the people goodness was a reason for their salvation, their happiness, and purification for their souls, then Allaah rewards him in relation to his action, whereby Allaah makes His Salat, the Salat of His Angels and the people of the earth which are the reasons for his salvation, happiness and success.
Furthermore, when the one who teaches the people goodness makes the Deen and the rulings of his Lord evident and familiarises people with Allaah’s Names and Attributes, Allaah makes from His Salat and the Salat of the people of His heavens upon those people as a praise for him, and as an honour for him, and manifests praise upon him among the people of the heavens and the earth.’
[From Miftah Dar as-Sa’ada 1/p.252 no.46]
[11] [Collected by Bukhari & Muslim]
[12] [Anbiyya :28]
[13] See ‘Saying Aameen Aloud After Reciting Faatiha An Explanation’ by Muhammad bin Umar Bazmool of the book ‘Sifat as-Salaat’
[14] [Sharh al-Bukhari by Ibn Battaal 3/114]
[15] Probably after Abu-Darda passed away.
[16] Collected by Muslim, Ahmad and Ibn Majah
[17] Shaykh Albaani said in the footnote: ‘They make Dua for him and ask for Allaah to bless him.’ Saheeh Targheeb 3/358
[18] [Collected by Tirmidhi and he said ‘Hadeeth Hasan Ghareeb, and it was narrated from Ali Mawqoofan’. It was narrated by Abu Dawood Mawqoofan from Ali, then he said ‘This narration is given a chain from Ali from more than one chain authentic from the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam.]
[19] [This research is from ‘Saheeh Targheeb wa Tarheeb’ 3/359]
[20] [Collected by Ahmad, Ibn Abi Shayba & Ibn Majah – Albaani graded it Hasan lighayrihi in ‘Saheeh Targheeb wa Tarheeb’ 2/294/1669]