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Recitation of Durood

We pray for the holy prophet as a token of our loyalty and gratefulness

The importance of Durood Sharif in the life of a Muslim cannot be overemphasised. Regular recitation of Durood Sharif inculcates the love of Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), which is the pillar of Iman (faith), a sure means of Allah’s choicest blessings and favours of great magnitude. The reciter of Durood receives all the benefits in this world and utmost gain in the hereafter.

When Almighty Allah sends Durood and Salaams on the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), He is actually blessing him. When the Malaa’ikah and the Muslims send Durood and Salaams, they are actually showing Almighty Allah their respect for the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). Muslims hope that, through the blessings of the Durood and Salaams, Almighty Allah will forgive them of their sins and increase their status in this world and in the Hereafter. The Malaa’ikah hope that Almighty Allah will increase their status.

Durood Sharif —Al Salat Ala Al Nabi – is an invocation we make to God to bestow His choicest favour and blessings on the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It is a kind of prayer. The truth is that, after God, the greatest obligation on us is that of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him). He underwent tremendous hardships and endured the bitterest of persecutions in order to convey the divine guidance to us. Had he not borne these trials and sufferings the light of faith would never have reached us. We would be dwelling in the gloom of apostasy and making our home in hell after death.

Since faith is the greatest blessing on the earth and we have attained it solely through the merciful agency of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), our greatest benefactor, next to God, is Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). There is nothing we can do to pay back the enormous debt of gratitude we owe him. We can only pray for him to God as a token of our loyalty and gratefulness.

But what prayer can we make that may be worthy of the Holy Prophet? Naturally, none besides that God may magnify him and bless him with His choicest favours. This is just what Durood is.

The Holy Quran clearly enjoins on us to offer the Durood, and in what a wonderful manner does it do so: “God and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him and salute him with all respect” (xxxiii:56).

In this verse we are first told that God himself honours the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and holds him in strongest affection and that His angels also do the same — they pay reverence to him and beseech God to bless him with His most marvellous favours. The verse then goes on to command us also, i.e., the believers to send blessings on him and salute him with all respects. Thus, before the command is given care is taken to explain to us that the thing we are being required to do is something which is particularly pleasing to God and which the angels also fondly do. After knowing it, what Muslim is there worth his name who will not make it a religious duty to offer the Durood?

In sum, to send blessings on the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is a foremost duty we owe to him, a source of stupendous virtue and blessedness and the fountainhead of prodigious blessings in this world and the next.

Another important point in the Islamic scheme of things is worship by night, especially during the latter part. It is highly commended by Allah. The Holy Quran says: “Stand (to prayer) by night, but not all night — half of it or little less, or a little more; and recite the Holy Quran in slow, measured, rhythmic tones” — 73:2,3 and 4.

“Truly the rising by night is most potent for governing (the soul), and most suitable for (framing) the word (of prayer and praise)” — 73:6.

In these verses it is stressed that the words of the Holy Quran must not be read hastily, merely to get through so much reading. They must be studied, and their deep meaning pondered over. They are themselves so beautiful that they must be lovingly pronounced in rhythmic tones. For contemplation, prayer and praise, no other time can be as suitable as night, when calm and silence prevail, the voices of the marketplace are still, and the silent stars pour forth their eloquence to the discerning soul.

The blessings of the nightly prayers are manifold. It is incumbent upon every Muslim, man or woman, to earnestly and sincerely seek forgiveness of God every night.

No doubt, it is the duty of every Muslim, man, woman, or child, to recite Durood Sharif regularly for their own good. Needless to say, the benefits of Durood Sharif cannot be described in words.

—Special to Khaleej Times