Salawat is the most beautiful word a believer uses to express love for their Prophet. It is not merely an expression of respect — it is a worship in which Allah and the angels also participate. This sermon explores salawat's place in the Quran, its tenfold reward, the special virtue of Friday, and how to keep it alive in daily life.
Allah and the Angels Also Send Salah Upon the Prophet
The most magnificent Quranic verse on salawat is:
— Al-Ahzab 33:56Indeed, Allah and His angels send salah upon the Prophet. O you who believe, send salah upon him and salutations of peace.
This verse is a marvel: Allah Himself and His angels send salah upon the Prophet — and call the believers to join in. The love Allah has for the Prophet, the respect of the angels, and the salawat of the believers — together form a spiritual chain.
The word "salah" carries different meanings from different beings:
- From Allah: mercy and honor.
- From the angels: seeking forgiveness and good for him.
- From the believers: respect, love, and supplication.
The believer's sending salawat is their unique contribution to this spiritual dance. Allah and the angels are already remembering the Prophet at every moment; the believers are called to join this remembrance.
The Tenfold Reward of Salawat
The Prophet (peace be upon him) declares a magnificent promise for those who send salawat:
— An-Nasa'i, Sahw, no. 1297Whoever sends a single salawat upon me, Allah sends ten salawat upon him, erases ten of his sins, and raises him ten degrees.
Saying a single "Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad" → ten salawat from Allah, ten sins erased, ten degrees raised. This is the greatest exchange a believer can earn: the giving is small, the receiving is vast.
The reason is this: love for the Prophet is the marrow of faith. The one who sends salawat upon the Prophet nourishes their faith; and so a great return comes.
The Special Blessing of Salawat on Friday
Sending salawat on Friday holds special importance. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) declared this clearly:
— Abu Dawud, Witr, no. 1531The most virtuous of days is Friday. Send blessings upon me much on it, for your salawat are presented to me.
"Your salawat are presented to me." When a believer sends salah upon the Prophet on Friday, the word reaches the Messenger of Allah directly. This is a bridge of love — continuing until the Day of Judgment, between the believer and the Prophet.
For this reason, a Muslim waking on Friday morning, going to bed at night, and reciting salawat often through the day — this is a habit in keeping with the Sunnah. The classical Sufi tradition has developed more than 100 formulas of salawat on this matter.
The Different Forms of Salawat
The basic form of salawat is "Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala ali Muhammad." Beyond this:
1. Salat al-Ibrahimiyyah (Salli–Barik):
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahim wa 'ala ali Ibrahim; innaka Hamidun Majid. Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama barakta 'ala Ibrahim wa 'ala ali Ibrahim; innaka Hamidun Majid.
Two du'as recited in the final sitting of salah. The Prophet taught these to the Companions himself — Sahih al-Bukhari, Anbiya', no. 3370.
2. Salat al-Munjiyah: A "rescuing" salawat recited in times of trouble. "Allahumma salli 'ala Sayyidina Muhammad salatan tunjina biha min jami' al-ahwal…" — O Allah, send a salah upon Muhammad through which You rescue us from all terrors.
3. The Thousand-Salawat / Ashraf al-Salawat: "Allahumma salli 'ala Sayyidina Muhammad 'adada ma fi 'ilm Allahi salatan da'imatan bi-dawami mulk Allah" — a salah in number as Allah's knowledge contains, continuing as long as Allah's kingdom continues.
Whichever we recite — every salawat is accepted with Allah; the only condition is the heart's turning to Him.
The Danger of Not Sending Salawat
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also declared the danger of not sending salawat:
— al-Tirmidhi, Da'awat, no. 3545Whoever is mentioned in my presence and does not send salah upon me — let his nose be rubbed in dust.
"Let his nose be rubbed in dust" — that is, may they suffer a great loss. Because sending salawat when the Prophet's name is mentioned is like reciting a word that opens a door; not sending it is closing that door with one's own hand.
The practical rule for the modern believer: when someone says "Muhammad," "Rasulullah," "our Prophet" — immediately say "sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam" within. This small habit earns dozens of salawat a day.
A Salawat Practice With VAAZ
The VAAZ app's du'a archive categorizes Salat al-Ibrahimiyyah, Salat al-Munjiyah, Ashraf al-Salawat, and other salawat formulas in Arabic, transliteration, and translation. The 99 Names collection recalls Allah's mercy upon the Prophet. For Friday, the prayer times deliver Jumu'ah to the minute.
For the broader frame of Friday salawat, see A Sermon on Jumu'ah; for the general meaning of love for the Prophet, see A Sermon on Mawlid an-Nabi.
Salawat is the bridge of love between the believer and the Prophet. Not merely a word on the tongue; each word reaches the Prophet, rises to Allah, and returns with mercy. If we send just 10 salawat a day, that is 100 rewards, 100 degrees, 100 sins erased — an accounting of gains found in no other deed in this world.
References
- The Qur'an, Al-Ahzab 33:56, Diyanet translation.
- An-Nasa'i, Kitab as-Sahw, Hadith No. 1297.
- Abu Dawud, Kitab al-Witr, Hadith No. 1531.
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Anbiya', Hadith No. 3370.
- al-Tirmidhi, Kitab ad-Da'awat, Hadith No. 3545.