Salawat: Difference between revisions

The most common phrase for salawat among [[Shi'a]] is; "{{ia|اللهم صل علی محمد و آل محمد}}" (O Allah, May you grant peace and honor on Muhammad and his progeny; trans.: Allāhumm-a Ṣall-i 'Alā Muḥammad-in Wa Al-i Muḥammad).

Salawat is the plural form of "salat" (Arabic: {{ia|صلاة}}), and from the root of "Sad Lam Waw" (Arabic: ص ل و), meaning prayer, salutation, greeting, and mercy. "Salat", the singular form of "salawat", also means the ritual prayer, and it is called so since it includes some prayers, and thus "salawat" has a plural meaning in Arabic, and means ritual prayers, prayers (in general), or salutations.<ref>Al-Turayhi, ''Majma' al-bahrayn'', vol.1 p.266</ref> Among non-Arab Muslims though, it is not regarded as a plural word, but it has rather assumed a terminological meaning of the special salutation upon the [[Prophet (s)]] and [[Ahl al-Bayt|his progeny]].

The most common phrase of salawat among Shi'a is; "{{ia|اللهم صل علی محمد و آل محمد}}" (O Allah, May you grant peace and honor on Muhammad and his progeny, trans.: Allahumm-a Sall-i 'Ala Muhammad-in Wa Al-i Muhammad). All Islamic denominations are consent to "{{ia|اللهم صل علی محمد}}" (O Allah, May you grant peace and honor on Muhammad) as the main phrase of salawat, but there are conflicts about the following phrase. Unlike [[Sunni]]s, Shi'as often attach the following phrase; "and his progeny", adducing many hadiths in Shi'a and Sunni sources, in which it is suggested that a complete salawat contains the following phrase. For instance it is narrated that the Prophet (s) said to a man who asked about salawat; "Say, 'O Allah, May you grant peace and honor on Muhammad and his progeny, so as You granted peace and honor on the dynasty of Ibrahim, verily You are the Laudable, the Glorious. O Allah, May you grant blessing on Muhammad and his progeny, so as You granted blessing on Ibrahim, verily You are the Laudable, the Glorious'.<ref>Al-Suyuti, ''al-Durr al-manthur'', vol.5 p.214</ref>

Some hadiths state that salawat is not complete without the "and his progeny" phrase.<ref>Al-Al-'Amili, ''Wasa'il al-Shi'a'', vol.7 p.199</ref> Also some [[hadith]]s stress that salawat upon the holy Prophet (s) should accompany salawat upon his progeny, such as a hadith from [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] that phrases salawat as; "The salutations of Allah, and the salutations of His angels, His prophets, and all His creatures, upon Muhammad and the progeny of Muhammad and all peace be upon him and them, along with Allah's mercy and blessings".<ref>Al-Al-'Amili, ''Wasa'il al-Shi'a'', vol.7 p.196</ref> It is also narrated that salawat upon the Prophet (s) is recorded as a hundred good deeds, while a salawat upon him and his progeny is recorded as a thousand.<ref>Al-Al-'Amili, ''Wasa'il al-Shi'a'', vol.7 p.197</ref>

: Whoever sends ten salawats upon Muhammad and his progeny, God and His angels will send him a hundred salutations, and whoever sends a hundred salawats upon Muhammad and his progeny, God and His angels will send him a thousand.<ref>Al-Kulayni, ''al-Kafi'', vol.2 p.493</ref>

In his book ''[[Wasa'il al-Shi'a]]'', [[al-Shaykh al-Hurr al-'Amili]] (and also in the epilogue of this book called ''[[Mustadrak al-wasa'il]]'', by [[Mirza Husayn al-Nuri]]) has compiled several chapters titled as; the character of salawat,<ref>Al-'Amili, ''Wasa'il al-Shi'a'', vol.7 p.196</ref> saying salawat out loud,<ref>Al-'Amili, ''Wasa'il al-Shi'a'', vol.7 p.193</ref> and so forth. Also [[al-'Allama al-Majlisi]] has reported 67 hadiths in the chapter of "the merits of salawat upon the Prophet and his progeny", in his book ''[[Bihar al-anwar]]'', which is the greatest hadith source of Shi'a.<ref>Al-Majlisi, ''Bihar al-anwar'', vol.91 p.47-73</ref>

Several hadiths are narrated from the [[Prophet (s)]] in which he said; 'perfect your salawat upon me with the salawat upon my dynasty. A salawat upon me is incomplete but with a salutation upon my progeny.'

Also in some [[hadith]]s, one who does not send salawat upon the progeny of the Prophet (s) is represented as distant from heaven and a violator of their right.

* When [[God]] is mentioned: it is recommended that when God is mentioned, salawat should be sent upon Muhammad and his progeny.<ref>Al-'Amili, ''Wasa'il al-Shi'a'', vol.7 p.201</ref>

* Following to [[prayer]]: according to reliable hadiths, salawat is of the most important [[dhikr]]s after prayers, so as it is included in the three common supplications that are recommended after all prayers ([[ta'qibat]]). In the ta'qibat particular to the [[morning prayer]], it is recommended to say a hundred salawats. It is also desirable to say the [[al-salawat verse]] as one of the ta'qibat of [[maghrib prayer]].<ref>Al-'Amili, ''Wasa'il al-Shi'a'', vol.5 p.96</ref> A common tradition in [[Shi'a]] mosques is that following to each prayer, the al-Salawat verse is recited, and then the prayers send three salawats upon Muhammad and his progeny.

* Before other prophets: it is stated in some hadiths that, when mentioning the prophets of God, before sending a salutation upon them, a salawat ought to be sent upon Muhammad and his progeny.<ref>Al-'Amili, ''Wasa'il al-Shi'a'', vol.7 p.199</ref>

* To recall what is forgotten: according to some hadiths, salawat is an influential dhikr to recall what is forgotten, provided that it is completed by a salawat upon the Prophet's (s) progeny.<ref>Al-'Amili, ''Wasa'il al-Shi'a'', vol.7 p.199</ref>

Salawat is a [[compulsory dhikr]] in the [[prayer]]s, and every Muslim is obliged to utter salawat in the [[tashahud]] of his [[daily prayers]], and salute the Prophet (s) and his progeny with the special phrase. According to reliable hadiths, deliberate abandonment of this salawat invalidates the prayer.<ref>Al-Saduq, ''Man la yahduruhu al-faqiq'', vol.2 p.183</ref>