The Quranic Command and Its Unique Feature
“Indeed, Allah and His angels send salah upon the Prophet. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] salah upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace.” (33:56)
The verse begins with Allah and the angels before commanding the believers — establishing a divine precedent that the believers are invited to participate in. This is the only place in the Quran where Allah describes Himself and the angels doing something and then invites the believers to join.
The reason scholars give for this structure: to motivate the believers through the recognition that the act of honoring the Prophet is not merely a human practice but an eternal divine-angelic reality.
The Rewards
Ten-fold blessing: “Whoever sends salah upon me once, Allah sends salah upon him ten times and erases ten sins and raises him ten degrees.” (Nasa’i, verified by Albani) — A return of divine blessing ten times for each human salawat.
Closeness on the Day of Judgment: “The people closest to me on the Day of Judgment are those who sent the most salah upon me.” (Tirmidhi) — Salawat builds proximity to the Prophet (SAW) that will manifest on the most critical day.
Du’a answered: The Prophet (SAW) said: “When you hear the mu’adhdhin, say what he says, then send salah upon me, for whoever sends one salah upon me, Allah sends ten salah upon him. Then ask Allah for the Wasila for me — it is a station in Paradise that belongs to only one of the servants of Allah, and I hope it will be me. Whoever asks Allah for the Wasila for me, intercession will be permitted for him.” (Muslim) — Salawat before du’a makes the du’a more likely to be answered.
“Du’a is suspended between heaven and earth and nothing of it rises until you send salah upon your Prophet.” (Tirmidhi) — Salawat is the mechanism that lifts du’a to Allah.
The Formulas
Al-Salawat al-Ibrahimiyya (The Ibrahimic Salawat)
The Prophet (SAW) was asked: “How do we send salah upon you?” and he taught:
“Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin, kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim. Innaka Hamidun Majid. Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin, kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim. Innaka Hamidun Majid.”
(O Allah, send salah upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent salah upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious.)
This is the salawat recited in every prayer during the tashahhud — it is embedded in the structure of salah itself, making salawat an inseparable part of every prayer a Muslim performs.
The Shorter Forms
- “Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammad”
- “Salla-llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam” — the standard abbreviation (SAW)
- “Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa alihi wa sallam” — including the family (aalihi), as is common in the Bohra and broader Shia and Sufi traditions
When Salawat Is Obligatory
Scholars differ on when salawat is obligatory (wajib) vs. strongly recommended (mustahabb):
Obligatory by consensus: In the tashahhud of prayer (embedded in the Ibrahimiyya salawat)
Obligatory at first mention (Shafi’i position): Each time the Prophet’s name is mentioned, salawat is obligatory once; subsequent mentions in the same gathering are recommended
Every gathering: The Prophet (SAW) said: “When a people sit in a gathering in which they do not mention Allah or send salah upon the Prophet, it will be a source of regret for them.” (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi) — Not mentioning Allah or sending salawat in a gathering leaves it deficient.
The Specific Occasions for Salawat
The Sunnah specifies salawat at particular moments:
- After the adhan: “When you hear the mu’adhdhin, say what he says, then send salah upon me.” (Muslim)
- In du’a: Before and after making du’a
- When the Prophet’s name is mentioned: “Wretched is the one in whose presence I am mentioned and who does not send salah upon me.” (Tirmidhi)
- On Friday: “The best of your days is Friday; on it send salah upon me frequently, for your salawat is presented to me.” (Abu Dawud, Nasa’i)
- When entering and leaving the masjid: Part of the masjid entry/exit du’as
The Bohra Salawat Tradition
The Dawoodi Bohra community has a distinctive salawat tradition that includes the Prophet’s family (al): “Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ali Muhammad” — emphasizing the Ahl al-Bayt’s inclusion in the salawat, consistent with the Ismaili theological understanding of the Prophet’s family as continuing the line of guidance.
The communal practice of reciting salawat together — audible, harmonized recitation in congregational settings — is a feature of Bohra religious gatherings, transforming an individual act of devotion into a collective experience of reverence.
See also: Prophet Muhammad, Understanding Dua, Understanding Namaz, Post Namaz Routine, Seerah Mecca, Misaak Ceremony, Tawhid Divine Unity