Sending peace and blessings upon the Prophet (ﷺ), known as Salawat or Durood, is one of the best acts of worship and a means to gain great rewards. Allah Almighty has commanded His faithful servants to do it in the Qur’an:
“Indeed, Allah showers His blessings upon the Prophet, and His angels pray for him. O believers! Invoke Allah’s blessings upon him, and salute him with worthy greetings of peace.” (Qur’an, 33:56)
Many hadiths encourage sending Salawat upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on Friday (Jumu’ah), indicating that the reward for this action is multiplied on this day. Imam Al-Sakhawi states that the virtue of conferring blessings on Friday has been narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah, Anas, Aws bin Aws, Abu Umama, Abu Darda, Abu Mas’ud, Umar, Ibn Umar and others. Some of these narrations will be presented below.
Hadith 1 – “Your blessings are presented to me…”
It was reported from Aws ibn Aws that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“The best of your days is Friday. On that day Adam was created; on that day he died; on that day the Trumpet will be blown; and on that day all of creation will swoon. So send a great deal of blessings upon me (i.e. on Friday), for your blessings will be shown to me.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, how will our blessings upon you be shown to you when you have turned to dust?” He said, “Allah has forbidden the earth to consume the bodies of the Prophets.”
(Narrated by Abu Dawud (1047) under the chapter “The Blessing Of Friday And The Eve Of Friday”, Al-Nasa’i (1374), Ibn Majah (1636), Ahmad (16207), Ibn Khuzaymah (1733) and Al-Hakim (1/278). Classed as Sahih by Al-Nawawi in “Al-Athkar” (p. 154)).
Abu Mas’ud al-Ansari reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Increase your supplications for blessings upon me on Friday, for no one blesses me on Friday but that his supplication is presented to me.”
(Narrated by Al-Hakim (2/457) and Al-Bayhaqi in “Al-Shu’ab” (3/110). Classed as Sahih by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami (1208)).
Al-Hassan Al-Basri reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Increase your prayers upon me on Friday, for they are presented to me.”
(Narrated by Ibn Abi Shaybah (2/517) and Al-Tabari in “Tahdheeb Al-Athar” (p. 226). Its chain of transmission is authentic but it’s mursal).
Hadith 2 – “Your blessings are witnessed by the angels…”
Abu Darda’ reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Send a great deal of blessing upon me on Fridays, for it is witnessed by the angels. No one sends blessing upon me but his blessing will be presented to me, until he finishes them.” A man said: “Even after death?” He said: “Even after death, for Allah has forbidden the earth to consume the bodies of the Prophets, so the Prophet of Allah is alive and receives provision.’”
(Narrated by Ibn Majah (1637). Al-Busayri said (2/59): The men of this chain are trustworthy, except that it is interrupted. Al-Mundhiri said (2/328): It was narrated by Ibn Majah with a good chain of transmission.)
Hadith 3 – “Whoever sends the most blessings upon me is the closest to me in status…”
Abu Umamah Al-Bahili reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Increase the sending of blessings upon me on Friday, for the blessings of my followers are presented to me every Friday. Whoever sends the most blessings upon me is the closest to me in status.”
(Narrated by Al-Bayhaqi in “Al-Kubra” (3/249) and “Shu’ab Al-Iman” (3/110). Classed as Hasan by Al-Suyuti in Al-Kharaisat Al-Kubra (2/261)).
Hadith 4 – “… Allah will bless him tenfold.”
Anas ibn Malik reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Increase the sending of blessings upon me on the day and night of Friday, for whoever sends a blessing upon me, Allah will bless him tenfold.”
(Narrated by Al-Bayhaqi in his “Sunan” (3/249). Classed as Hasan by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami (1209)).
The sayings of the jurists regarding the desirability of praying for the Prophet on Friday
It is highly recommended to send blessings upon our Prophet, peace be upon him, on the day of Friday and its night. This is a consensus among the jurists, supported by the texts of the four madhabs.
Imam Ibn Abidin, the Hanafi jurist, stated in his “Radd al-Muhtar” (1/518): “The scholars have affirmed the recommendation of sending blessings on certain occasions, such as the day of Friday and its night.”
Imam Abu Abdullah Al-Risaa, the Maliki jurist, mentioned in “Tuhfat al-Akhyar fi Fadl al-Salat ‘ala al-Nabi al-Mukhtar”; “Among the situations in which sending blessings is confirmed … is on the day of Friday.”
Imam al-Rafi’i, the Shafi’i jurist, said in “Fath al-Aziz” (2/316), while explaining the etiquette of attending the Friday prayer: “When one arrives before the sermon, engage in the remembrance of Allah, recitation of the Quran, and sending blessings upon the Prophet, peace be upon him. It is recommended to increase sending blessings on him on the day of Friday and its night, recite Surah Al-Kahf, and make abundant supplications on Friday, hoping to coincide with the hour of acceptance.”
Imam Al-Shafi’i used to say, “I love to send plenty of salat upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) all the time and I love it more so on the day of Jumu’ah.” (Kitab al-Umm, 1/546)
Imam Ibn Qudamah, the Hanbali jurist, in “Al-Mughni” (2/262), stated: “It is recommended to increase sending blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, on the day of Friday. It is narrated from Abu Darda’, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: ‘Increase your prayers upon me on the day of Friday, for your prayers are witnessed by the angels.’ Reported by Ibn Majah.”
What is the wisdom behind why Friday is singled out of all the days?
Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah said: “The virtue of conferring blessings on Friday is because Friday is the
best of all days and the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) is the best of all the Prophets. Thus, Friday has a strong bond with sending blessings upon the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) which no day other has.” (Zad al-Ma’ad, p. 121)
This indicates the great reward of praying for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on Friday because the combination of these two virtues indicates the greatness of the reward.
Timing
Unlike the Gregorian calendar in which the day starts at midnight, in the Islamic calendar the day starts after Maghrib (i.e. at sunset) on the previous day.
Therefore, the time for sending blessings upon the Prophet (ﷺ) on Friday extends from the Maghrib time on Thursday up until the time of Maghrib on Friday.
How to send Salawat or Durood upon the Prophet (ﷺ).
Recite the following:
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّمْ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ
Allaahumma salli wa sallim ‘alaa Nabiyyinaa Muhammad.
O Allah, send your peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad.
The number of blessings to send on the Prophet (ﷺ) each Friday
There is no sahih hadith that specifies the number of times one should send Salawat upon the Prophet (ﷺ) on Fridays so everyone should strive to send as many Salawat upon the Prophet (ﷺ) as possible without being restricted to a specific number.
Some righteous people, for example, have made it a habit to recite a minimum of 100, 500 or even 1000 Salawat or Durood each Jumu’ah, seeking only the pleasure of Allah and closeness to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in the hereafter.
And Allah is the Source of strength.
