Majlis 55: "What is the meaning of Salawaat, and the wisdom in reciting it?" - Syedna Taher Fakhruddin TUS

Allah Ta’ala commands Muslims in the Quran Majeed, “Allah ta’ala and his angels pray salawaat on the Prophet, O you who believe – Mumineen – pray salawaat on him and greetings.”

When this ayat was revealed, the Muslims asked Rasulullah SA how to invoke salawaat. Rasulullah replied and instructed to pray salawaat in this manner: “Allahumma salli ala Mohammedin wa ‘ala aale Mohammedin wa baarik wa sallim warham wa tarahham kama sallayta wa sallamta wa baarakta wa rahimta wa tarahhamta ‘ala Ibrahima wa aale Ibrahim innaka hamidun majeed” –

‘Allah pray salawaat on Mohammed and on Mohammed’s descendants, bless them, greet them in peace, and shower them with rahmat and compassion, just as you invoked salawaat and salaam on Ibrahim and Ibrahim’s descendants. You are the most praiseworthy the most noble’.

Is it not strange that Allah Ta’ala commands us to invoke salawaat and we in turn ask him to invoke salawaat. What is the reason for this?

All Muslims agree that Mohammed and his descendants are higher in station than Ibrahim and his descendants. Syedna al-Mu’ayyad al-Shirazi RA raises this question: why pray salawaat on Mohammed like you pray salawaat on Ibrahim? Should it not be the other way around because Mohammed is higher in station? What is the wisdom in this?

When you invoke salawaat and then beseech doa, your prayers are heard, why? Why is it especially meritorious to invoke salawaat on Friday?

Syedna TUS answers these questions in this Majlis, the 55th in the Majalis al Hikma series.