Eng
Norv
The Holy Quran contains many commandments, such as the commandment of daily prayers, pilgrimage, fasting, etc. It also contains many stories about prophets in which they are honored, such as the story of when Allah created Prophet Adam and commanded the angels to prostrate themselves before him, may Allah be pleased with him.
The Holy Quran contains many commandments, such as the commandment of daily prayers, pilgrimage, fasting, etc. It also contains many stories about prophets in which they are honored, such as the story of when Allah created Prophet Adam and commanded the angels to prostrate themselves before him, may Allah be pleased with him.
But never has Allah, either by command or by honor, said that He Himself participates in the action, and commands the believers to also join in. This is an honor reserved only for the best of creation, the most beloved and the last prophet, Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.
Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe, invoke blessings upon him and peace. [33:56]
Invoking blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad and his progeny is called reciting or sending darood. Muslims all over the world have always added a darood whenever they mention the Prophet or even hear his name. The most common and shortest form of darood is “Peace and blessings be upon him” (sal’allahu alaihi wa sallam).
Allah rewards us for actions that He has enjoined upon us. Imam al-Sakhawi narrates some rewards we are promised for invoking blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.
-
one attains God’s favor
-
one obtains protection from His anger
-
one will be embraced by the shadow of His throne on the day of judgment
-
purification of the heart from hypocrisy
-
Meeting the Prophet Muhammad in one’s dream – peace and blessings be upon him.
-
– one will be included in the intercession of the Prophet – peace and blessings be upon him.
Dala`il al- Khayrat is the most widely used manual of darood or blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad – peace and blessings be upon him. The book was authored by the great scholar, friend of God and joy of Morocco; Imam Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Jazuli who was also a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad – peace and blessings be upon him. The book is divided into chapters, and traditionally a chapter was recited every day.
Imam Jazuli was born and raised among the Gazulah Berbers of the Sus region in southern Morocco. He studied the Quran and other Islamic disciplines before traveling to Fez, where he memorized the four-volume Mudawwana of Imam Malik. Here he also met other great scholars such as Ahmed Zarruq. It was also in Fez that Imam Jazuli met his spiritual master Muhammad ibn`Abdullah Amghar.
Sheikh Amghar placed Imam Jazuli in khalwa or a spiritual retreat that lasted for 14 years, and which elevated Imam Jazuli to incredible spiritual heights. After his journey to the East, and his return from the pilgrimage, Imam Jazuli was given permission to lead others on the spiritual path to Allah. Today, there are Sufi tariqas based on the teachings of Imam Jazuli, and many other Sufi orders also use Dala`il al-Khayrat to hasten their spiritual progress.
Ahmad al-Sawi relates that one day Imam Jazuli went to perform wudu or ritual ablution at a nearby well. But he found no way to draw water. A young girl who was watching the whole event shouted out to him, “You are the one whom people praise so highly, but you cannot even draw a little water from a well!”
She came down to the well and spat in it. As she spat, so much water filled the well that it overflowed. Imam Jazuli performed his wudu, turned to her and asked how she had reached this rank with God. She replied that it was thanks to her diligent recitation of darood upon Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. It was after this incident that Imam Jazuli decided to write a book of blessings upon Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.
Dala`il al-Khayrat was a huge success, and its fame spread throughout the Muslim world from North Africa to Indonesia. It seemed that everyone read the book, princes competed to produce the finest and most exquisite edition, and pilgrims carried it with them for protection. Due to the great demand, an entire industry of printers eventually developed, producing the book in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
Imam Jazuli died in the year 870 AH (1465 AD). Millions of Muslims from East to West have since read the book and found joy, happiness and piety in it. It is full of love for the Prophet – peace and blessings be upon him – and all that he represented, and it is written in a wonderfully fine and beautiful way while being very easy to read. The book is full of baraka (blessing) and generations of Muslim scholars and spiritual scholars testify to this.
Invoking blessings upon the Prophet
According to Imam Haskafi, it is obligatory to recite darood at least once in one’s life [Durr al-Mukhtar]. Furthermore, according to Imam Tahawi, it is obligatory to recite darood every time the name of the Prophet is mentioned.
Ibn `Abidin adds a number of places where it is recommended to send darood.
-
On Fridays
-
When entering and leaving mosques
-
When the iqamah is recited (second call to prayer)
-
At the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of one’s prayer to Allah
-
When one reads hadith
-
Before every important matter and occasion
Reward for sending darood
– Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates, and the following is only a rough translation:
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever invokes blessings upon me once, Allah will bless him ten times more.” [Muslim, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi]
– Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates, and the following is only a rough translation:
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever invokes blessings upon me once, Allah will bless him ten times more, remove ten sins from him, and increase his rank by ten.”
– Abu Kahil, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates, and the following is only a rough translation:
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “O Abu Kahil, whoever invokes blessings upon me three times a day every day, and three times a night out of love and longing for me, it is his right before Allah that He forgive him his sins for that day and night.”
– Abu al-Darda, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates, and the following is only a rough translation:
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever invokes blessings upon me ten times in the morning and ten times in the evening, I will include him in my intercession on the Day of Judgment.” [Tabarani]
– Ubayy ibn Ka`b, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates, and the following is only a rough translation:
I said: “Messenger of God, I often invoke blessings upon you. How much of my supplication should I reserve for you? He replied: “As much as you wish.” I asked: “A quarter?” He replied: “As much as you wish, and if you increase the portion it will only benefit you.” I asked: “Half?” He replied: “As much as you wish, and if you increase the portion it will only benefit you.” I said: “Two-thirds?” He replied: “As much as you wish, and if you increase the portion it will only benefit you.” I said: “I will reserve all my supplications for invoking blessings upon you.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “In that case, it will be sufficient to protect you from your worries, and your sins will be forgiven.” [Tirmidhi]
