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 Three
The Explanation of the Noble Ayaah
Translated & Compiled
By
Abbas Abu Yahya
The Explanation of the Noble Ayaah
A 30 part series on issues regarding sending the Salat and the Salam upon the Prophet.
- a) Ibn Jareer at-Tabari (d.310 A.H.) said about the Ayaah:
‘Allaah Ta’ala says about His Ayaah: Indeed Allaah and His Angels send blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad.
From Ibn Abbas 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.>>[1]
‘They send blessings upon the Prophet.’
Ibn Jareer continues: ‘One can say that the meaning is that Allaah has mercy upon the Prophet and His Angels make Dua’ for the Prophet and seek forgiveness for him.
This is because when Arabs say ‘as-Salat’ for other than Allaah, it means Dua’ (supplicating).’[2]
- b) Ibn Katheer (d.774 A.H.) said about the meaning of Allaah Ta’ala’s statement:
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.>>[3]
‘The meaning of this Ayaah is: that Allaah -Subhana wa Ta’ala- informed His worshippers of the status of His slave and His Prophet with Him in the high gathering (of Angels), in that Allaah Subhana wa Ta’ala praises the Prophet in the high gathering of the Angels that are close to Him.
Also, that the Angels pray for the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa Salam–, then Allaah Ta’ala ordered the people of the lower world to send as-Salat and Salam upon the Prophet, so that the praise of those of the high world and lower world are combined.’[4]
- c) AbdurRahman Sa’adi (d.1376 A.H.) said about the Ayaah:
‘This Ayaah draws attention to the point of the completeness of the Messenger of Allaah and his high grade and lofty status according to Allaah and with Allaah’s creation and his high remembrance.
That the believers should humbly make Dua’ for him:
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيۡهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمًا
O you who believe, Send Salat upon him, and send complete Salam upon him.>> following the example of Allaah and His Angels, the believers should ask for reward for the Messenger for some of his rights over them, to perfect their Eemaan, and as a sign of high regard for the Messenger, in love and respect, as a way of increasing their good actions and as an expiation for their bad deeds.’[5]
[1] Soorah Ahzab: 56
[2] Tafseer at-Tabari (10/329)
[3] Soorah Ahzab: 56
[4] ‘Tafseer al-Qur’aan al-Atheem’ by al-Hafidh Ibn Katheer 3/p.663
[5] Tafseer Sa’adi (6/170)