Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah

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Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah of Al-Habib 'Ali bin Muhammad Al-Habshi

Welcome to Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah Fi's Salawaat i'l Habshiyyah (Mercy from Allah's Throne in the Salawaat of al-Habshi), a kitab (book) of salawaat (blessings) on our beloved Prophet Sayyidina wa Mawlana Hadhrat Muhammad al-Mustafa Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam composed by Sayyidina al-Imam al-Habib 'Ali bin Muhammad al-Habshi (1259-1333 A.H) of Saywun, Hadhramaut. He is a direct descendant of Imam Husain ibn 'Ali Rady Allahu Anhu, the grandson of the blessed Prophet, Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. He was a Shaykh (accomplished spiritual master) in the 'Alawi tariqa who learned Islam from his father al-Habib Muhammad bin Husain al-Habshi Rahmatullahi 'alaih who was the Mufti in Makkah in the Shafi'i school of Muslim law. His khalifa (successor), as-Sayyid Muhammad bin 'Aydaroos al-'Alawi had Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah published and as-Sayyid 'Alawi bin Muhammad al-Haddad wrote its introduction.

When we recite the salawaat from Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah, the feeling we get is that they must have come from the heavens because nothing comparable exists on earth. Hence obviously the title, Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah (Mercy from Allah's Throne). These salawaat are at such a high level in terms of 'ulum and 'irfaan (spiritual knowledge and gnosis) that it is difficult to comprehend them. But if you make the effort, the rewards are immense. Once you have recited the kitab a few times, you realise that the main theme of the salawaat is that the Holy Prophet Sayyidina Muhammad al-Mustafa Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam is al-Insaan al-Kaamil (a perfect human), that the salawaat are ever expanding and are one (spiritual) stage above another (tabaqan an tabaq) just like the seven heavens are one above another (sab'a samaawaatin tibaaqaa), and that there is a definite reason and rhyme to the manner in which they are composed. Three kutub (books) of Sayyidina al-Habib al-Habshi Rady Allahu Anhu are well-known. These are: Simtu'd Durar (A Necklace of Pearls) which is a kitab on the mawlid (birth) of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam; Diwan, a collection of 87 qasaaid (hymns) most of them in praise of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam; and Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah, a kitab of blessings. Recitation of parts of these kutub (books) in mawlid celebrations have continued to attract thousands of people to Islam, especially in East Africa. Al-Habib al-Habshi was the Shaykh of al-Habib Sayyid Saleh Jamal al-Layl Naf'anallahu bih who popularised these kutub (books) of his Shaykh in mawlid celebrations in Lamu, Kenya; and as is well-known, Lamu is considered to be the cradle of Islamic civilization in East Africa. Al-Habib al-Habshi, may Allah sanctify his secret, drank deep at the founts of Wahdaaniyyah (Oneness of Allah Sub'hanahu wa Ta'ala) and of Risalah (Prophethood of Muhammad-e-'Arabi, Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam). In recognition of this, the noble Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam honoured him to serve humanity from three founts: one of zam zam which gushed forth in the form of Simtu'd Durar; second of kauthar which manifested itself in the form of his Diwan; and the third of salsabil which spiritually energizes you so much as to propel you into the heavens, and that is Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah.

The Most Famous Salaat of the Imam

The most popular salaat from Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah is: Allahumma Salli wa Sallim billisaani'l jaami'ah Fi'l hadhrati'l waasi'ah 'Alaa 'Abdika'l jaami'i li'lkamaalaati'l insaaniyyah Al waasi'i fi'l mashaahidi'r roohiyyah 'Adada'l harakaati wa's sakanaat Wa'l khataraati wallahadhaat Wa 'adada'l musalleena 'alaih Wa 'adada salawaatihim Wa 'adada'z zaakireena lahu Wa 'adada azkaarihim Salaatan yaqirru nuruhaa fee udhunee falaa ta'see Wa yaqirru nuruhaa fee 'aynee falaa ta'see Wa yaqirru nuruhaa fee lisaanee falaa ya'see Wa yaqirru nuruhaa fee qalbee falaa ya'see Wa yaqirru nuruhaa fee jasadee kullihi falaa ya'see Allahumma awsilnee ilaa haalatin Laa ya'malu feehaa qalbee bimukhaalafah Wa laa yahummu bihaa Wa laa tuqaarifu feehaa jawaarihee ma'siyah Wa ballighnee ilaa maqaamin Laa yafturu feehi qalbee 'an taa'atin lak Mardhiyyatin ladayk maqboolatan 'indak Wa laa tanfakku jawaarihee feehe 'An 'amalin saalihin khaalisin liwajhika maqboolin ladayk Yaa Arhama'r Raahimeen O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace that are invoked by all tongues in a vast gathering on Your servant (the noble Prophet), who combined in himself all admirable human qualities: such extensive blessings as are witnessed in the realm of souls; in every situation, in every thought, in every moment; as many times as the number of those who invoke blessings on him and the number of such invocations, and as many times as the number of those who remember him and the number of such rememberances, such blessings whose spiritual light may abide in my ears, in my eye, on my tongue, in my heart and indeed in my whole body so that neither my body nor these its parts disobey Allah. O Allah! Let me reach to the situation where my heart does not act contrary to Your Wishes, does not cause me any anxiety, and does not temp my limbs to disobedience; and let me reach a position in which my heart does not slacken in Your obedience, is pleasing in Your Presence, acceptable before You; and let my limbs not separate from good deeds done sincerely to please You, that are acceptable in Your Presence, O The Most Merciful of those who show mercy. As can be seen, this salaat is in two parts. The first part is the salaat itself which is there in Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah. The second part is dua (invocation). Although it is not in Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah, it is generally recited after this salaat and is contained in many other kutub (books) such as Azkaar wa'l Awraad (Regular Voluntary Invocations) compiled by Shaykh Muhyuddin bin AbdulRahman bin Muhammad of Zanzibar. This salaat has become so famous that it is recited at the end of every gathering of ilm (learning), zikr (rememberance of Allah), and mawlid (birth) celebration of the beloved Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam by the muhibbeen (loving disciples). One reason perhaps why this salaat has taken such a hold is that it is one of the easier salawaat of Imam al-Habshi to recite and understand! And of course, its spiritual benefits are all too obvious for everyone to witness. Indeed, Al-Habib al-Qutb Ahmad bin Abibakar bin Sumeit Naf'an Allahu Bih (1277-1343 A.H) who was the Chief Kadhi of Zanzibar took this salaat so much to heart that he wrote a sharh (appreciation) on it in Arabic.

Recite it in Masjid Nabawi

Once you have formed the habit of reciting Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah, you feel like reciting it in Masjid Nabawi in Madina. Those who go for Hajj inevitably make the intention of praying forty salaah in Masjid Nabawi, as is recommended. So they stay in Madina for at least eight days to pray the five times daily obligatory salaah for a total of forty salaah and to complete the recitation of the whole Qur'an Kareem (and more if possible) in the very presence of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. The muhibbeen (loving disciples) would be well advised to seize the opportunity to complete the recitation of Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah as well in those eight days. Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah is in seven parts, one part for each day of the week beginning from Friday. So you can finish Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah in seven days and start all over again with the first part on the eighth day to set the seal of continuity. In the process, you will have prayed forty salaah (prayer of worship of Allah Ta'ala) in Masjid Nabawi as well as the Qur'an Kareem and the salawaat (invocations of blessings on the noble Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam). It is no surprise to find that the famous translator of the kutub of Mawlana al-Haddad Rady Allahu 'Anhu, Dr. Mostafa al-Badawi has included eleven of the salawaat from Lataail i'l 'Arshiyyah in his kitab titled Ziyara Sayyidi'l Kawnain Sallallahu 'alaihi wa aalihi wa Sallam (Visit To The Leader of Both The Worlds) to be recited at the Rawda of Rasulullah, Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. If the pilgrim does not have time enough to recite Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah in full, he should not become despondent. Perhaps, the recitation of a smaller, yet spiritually rich kitab compiled by Dr. Mostafa al-Badawi, would also yield complete blessings, InshaAllah. Here is Imam al-Habshi who is saturated with the love of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam and here we are who aspire to attain his love. We would naturally want to recite these salawaat in the very presence of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam in Masjid Nabawi: as we enter Baab u's Salaam, at the Rawda, at the Qubba, behind the august pillars of the masjid, in the precincts of the original masjid where the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam himself prayed, in the place where the Ashaab u's Suffa Rady Allahu 'Anhum used to stay; in fact, in every blessed spot in Masjid Nabawi, but above all as part of the salawaat and salaams on the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam as we stand before him and cry our hearts out to him in loving agony. Assalaatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa Rasul'Allah Assalaatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa Nabiyy'Allah Assalaatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa Habib'Allah Assalaatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa Khaira Khalqi'llah Assalaatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa Nura 'Arshi'llah Blessings and salutations on you, O Messenger of Allah. Blessings and salutations on you, O The Prophet sent by Allah. Blessings and salutations on you, O The Beloved of Allah. Blessings and salutations on you, O The Best Creation of Allah. Blessings and salutations on you, O Light of Allah's Throne.   At this time, the Nur (light) of Allah's 'Arsh (Throne) is descending upon you as you begin your recitation from Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah. In fact, the very first salaat in Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah has been composed to be recited on the occassion of the Ziyara (visit) of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. It is included in the kitab of Dr. Mostafa al-Badawi just referred to, as well as in Mukhul Ibada (The Essence of Worship) whose compiler is anonymous. It begins as follows: Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem Allahumma Salli wa Sallim wa Baarik 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-in Awwali mutalaqqi li-faydhika'l awwal In the Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful. O Allah! Shower Your Blessings, Peace and Grace on Sayyidina Muhammad who is the first person to receive the first blessing from You. Imagine your thrill as you sense seventy thousand angels reciting salawaat and salaams along with you!

Nujum

Consider who would not be enchanted by these nujum (stars) that glisten in Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah. Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Madh'har i't ta'ayyunaati wa sirr i't ta'alluqaat Al-qaa'ili Innama'l A'maalu Binniyyaat Sayyidi'l kaainaat Wa 'alaa aalihi wa Ssahbihillazeena't-tasaloo fi't-talaqqiyaat Ba'da maa't-taba'oohu fi't-tawajjuhaat O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on the visible appearances and the secret contacts (of Sayyidina Muhammad) who said: "Actions are judged by intentions"; (he is) the leader of all the worlds, and blessings and salutations on his family and companions who received (bounties) from him through their contact with him after following him under his watchful care. Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-in Al-Jawhar-i'l-Makhzoon 'Adada maa kaana wa maa yakoon Wa 'adada maa huwa kaainun fee sirrika'l maknoon Salaatan turdhee-hi wa tardhaa bihaa 'annaa Yaa man Amruhu bayna'l Kaafi wa'n Noon O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on Sayyidina Muhammad, who is the golden treasure, as many times as what has happened in the past and what is going to happen in the future, and as many times as what is happening now, which is hidden in Your well-kept secret; such blessings that would please him (the Prophet) and that will make You happy with us, O the One Whose Command lies between the two letters "kaaf" and "noon". Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'ala'l Abi'l Kareem Hareesun 'alaikum bi'l mu'mineena Rauf u'r Rahim As-Sayyidi'l Kareem 'Aamiri's Siraati'l Mustaqeem Sayyidee Rasuli'llahi Muhammad ibni 'Abdi'llahi Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam Wa 'alaa aalihi wa Sahbihi wa man waalaah O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on the father of generosity, (about whom You said in the Holy Qur'an): (one who is) full of concern for you, for the believers, compassionate, merciful (9:128); the noble leader who gave orders for the right path to be followed, my master, the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad son of Abdullah peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, as well as on his family, companions and whoever befriended him. Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'ala'l Habib i'l Haamid i'l Mahmood Saahib i'l liwaa i'l ma'qood Wa'l hawdh-i'l mawrood Wa 'alaa aalihi wa sahbihi'llazeena Seemaahum fee wujoohihim min athari's sujood O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on the beloved who praises Allah and is praised (by all) the owner of the raised banner and the possessor of the water pool and, (blessings and salutations as well) on his family and companions whose mark is on their foreheads from traces of prostrations (48:29). Of these four salawaat, the first fits perfectly as the opening to any kitab as it contains the famous hadith "actions are to be judged by intentions" which, as is well known, is the first Hadith Shareef in the Sahih (Authentic) of Imam Bukhari, Mishkaat u'l Masaabih (Niche For Lamps) of Imam Waliuddin Abu 'Abdullah Mahmud, and Riyadh u's Saleheen (Gardens of the Righteous) of Imam an-Nawawi, Rahmatullahi 'alaihim ajma'een. And what better way to begin a kitab than with this Hadith Shareef, musk-scented with salaat on the noble Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam? In the second salaat, Imam al-Habshi shows his deep love for Allah Sub'hanahu wa Ta'ala. Allah's Sifaat (Attribute) is that when He says "kun" ("Be"), it becomes instantaneously ("fayakun"). The Arabic word "kun" is formed by the two letters "kaaf" and "noon". Allah Ta'ala's Command is said to be fulfilled between these two letters. No sooner is the letter "kaaf" pronounced, then the Command is fulfilled; there is no waiting for the "noon". Hence, the fulfilment of Allah's Command is between "kaaf" and "noon" (baynal "kaaf" wa'n "noon"). In the third salaat, Imam al-Habshi includes part of verse 128 from Surah at-Tawbah of the Holy Qur'an Kareem which praises the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam (full of concern for you; for the believers, compassionate, merciful). The fourth salaat has part of verse 29 from Surah al-Fat'h praising the sahaba (his companions) (their mark is on their foreheads from traces of prostrations).

Rich Sufi Vocabulary

Indeed, each salaat that Imam al-Habshi composed is spiritually laden with rich Sufi vocabulary in praise of the beloved Prophet Muhammad al-Mustafa Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam, for example that he is: As-Saadiq-i'l-Amin (the truthful and trustworthy), Habibi Rabbi'l 'Aalameen (the beloved of the Lord of the worlds), Al-Habibi'l Qareebi't Taahiri'l Mutahhar (the Beloved, the Near and dear, the Pure, purified by Allah), Waseelatu'l 'uzmaa (tremendous spiritual means), Baab-u'sh-shafaa 'ati'l 'uzmaa (the gate of the great intercession), Khaatam-u'l-Anbiyaai wa'l Mursaleen (the seal of the Prophets and Messengers of Allah), Al-Kareemu wa'l Karaamatu Khuluquh (the generous and noble hearted in character), Imamu Mihraab-i't-Tawheed (Imam of the prayer-niche of monotheism),   An-Nur-u't-Taam (the light in its entirety), Al-Habib-u'l-ladhee kulluhu nur (the beloved whose whole being is light), Sirri'l asraari'l 'irfaaniyyah (the secret of the secrets of gnosis),   Ruhi sirri'l ilmi'l Furqaani (the soul of the secret of the knowledge of the Qur'an), Sirri "Nun wa'l qalami wa maa yasturun" (the secret of the verse, "Nun. By the pen and by that which they [the angels] write". [68:1]), Saahibu'l qabdati'l asliyyah (the one who had the original [spiritual] seizure [of the heart]), Sayyidu'l Awwaleen wa'l Aakhireen (master of the first and the last, master of those who preceded and those who came in their wake), Sayyidu'l insi wa'l jaan (master of men and jinns), As-Sayyidi'l kaamili'l ma'sum (the complete master who is sinless), Daa'il haqqi ila'l haqqi bi'l haqqi (the truthful inviter to the truth with the truth), Sultaani jamee'il asaakir (the commander of all the assembled soldiers), Sultaani hadrati'l jam'iyyah fi'l mashaahidi'l haqiyyah (the sultan of the whole gathering in the witnessing of the truth), Ahmadi'l Mahmoodi fi'z zaati wa's sifaati wa'l af'aali wa'l a'maali wa'n niyyah (the most praiseworthy; laudable in his being, attributes, actions, deeds and intentions), and so on. This leads us to the main thrust of the message of these salawaat which is that the blessed Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam is Al-Insaan al-Kaamil (The Perfect Human).

Al-Insaan Al-Kaamil

Indeed, the major theme of these salawaat is that the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam is al-Insaan al-Kaamil (the Perfect Human). Four salawaat from different parts of Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah are sufficient to illustrate this. Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-i Ni'lladhee jama'ta feehi min mahaasini'l akhlaaq Maa lam tajma'hu fee gayrihi O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on Sayyidina Muhammad in whom You combined all the good traits and qualities; such combination of qualities which You did not give to anyone else. Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-in Al-jaami'i sifaat-i'l kamaali 'ala't-tahqeeq Wa 'alaa aalihi wa sahbihi min kulli saadiqin wa siddiq   O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on Sayyidina Muhammad who in reality combined in himself all the superlative qualities; and blessings and peace on his family and companions, from among all the truthful and truth-establishing. Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-in Jaami'il mahaamidi kullihaa Fahuwa Mahmooduhaa wa Haamiduhaa Wa 'alaa aalihi wa sahbihi's saalikeena sabeelahu Wa'l Muwahhideena qawaaidahaa O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on Sayyidina Muhammad who combined in himself all praiseworthy qualities; he is the praiseworthy and the praised one, and bless as well his family and companions who tread his path, and those whose foundation is belief in One Allah. Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'ala'l 'abdi'l kaamili'l mukammal Sayyidee Rasuli'llah-i'l-mutahallee bi kulli wasfin akmal Wa'l jaami'i likulli khuluqin afdhal Sallallahu 'alaihi wa 'alaa aalihi wa sahbihi Wa man 'alaa tariqatihi aqbal O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on Your most perfect of perfect servants, my master, Allah's Messenger who wore all things in the most perfect manner and who combined in himself all the best manners and habits. Allah's blessings be on him, his family, his companions and those who tread his accepted path. These salawaat at once remind us of the following verse of the Holy Qur'an Kareem in praise of the beloved Prophet Sayyidina Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. Wa Innaka La'alaa Khuluqin 'Azeem And surely, you have the most excellent manners. (68:4) Allah Sub'hanahu wa Ta'ala is Rabb (Sustainer, Nourisher) and He has the huquq (rights) of Ruboobiyyah (Lordship) over His creation. Allah is the One Lord to be worshipped and He has the huquq (rights) of 'uboodiyyah (that people should worship and serve Him alone). According to Imam al-Habshi, the beloved Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam fulfilled these rights of Allah Ta'ala as no one else did. In that sense also, he is al-Insaan al-Kaamil (the perfect human). We learn of this in one of the salawaat as follows:   Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-in Alladhee kamulat 'uboodiyyatuhu Wa sahhat wuslatuhu O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on Sayyidina Muhammad who totally fulfilled the duties of worshipping You and proved true his attachment (to You).

The Rhyming Pattern Manifests Love

There are various characteristics of these salawaat that are worthy of note. First, that they are ever expanding. For example, the first salaat quoted above is comprised of one sentence whereas the other salawaat consist of two or more sentences. We also observe that the first salaat mentions the beloved Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam only, the second includes his blessed family and companions while the third and the fourth also mention the saleheen (the pious) who follow tariqa (spiritual path leading to Allah Ta'ala). Another interesting feature of these salawaat is that the end words rhyme. For example, in the second salaat just quoted, the words "tahqeeq" and "siddiq" rhyme; in the third salaat, the words "kullihaa", "Haamiduhaa" and "qawaaidahaa" all rhyme while in the fourth salaat, the words "mukammal", "akmal", "afdhal" and "aqbal" all rhyme. Such rhyming is accomplished throughout the kitab. It appears that al-'Arif Billah Sayyidunal Imam 'Ali bin Muhammad al-Habshi has perfected this ageless rhyming tradition among Muslims. In the following salaat, Imam al-Habshi, may Allah Ta'ala make us benefit from him, not only shows his deep love for Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam in talking of his sifaat (beautiful attributes) which made him the perfect human, but also reveals his own stature as a scholar in the rhyming he achieves. Allahumma Salli 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-in-i'l-Hameedi'l Mahmood Wa's-sirri'l ladhee laa yanqati'u madaduh Wa laa yanhasiru 'adaduh Ashrafi maujood Wa a'zami maulood Allazee sharrafa kullu maulood Ashrafi'l mursaleen Wa aqrabi'l muqarrabeen Wa afdhali'l khalqi ajma'een Ashrafi'l mukammaleen Wa afdhali'nnaasi ajma'een As-sirrillazee saraa fi'l arwaahi wa'l-masaami'a Laa tahya'l quloobu illa bi zikrih Laa ba'eeda illaa qarrabahu Aqraba kulla qareeb Wa ahabba kulla habib Hayaati kulli rooh Baabi'l fadhli wa'l futooh Wa baabi'l azeemi'l maftooh Sirri'l asraar Wa nuri'l anwaar Wa miftaahi baabi'l yasaar Wa jaami'i'l kamaal Hayaat-i'r-roohi wa'l baal O Allah! Shower blessings on Sayyidina Muhammad, the praiseworthy and the praised one, the help of whose secret is never cut off and is uncountable; who is noble in his presence; whose birth was the most significant and the best among all births; the best among the Messengers of Allah, the nearest among those drawn near and the best in all creation, the best among all those who are perfect and the best in all humanity whose sacred mystery was that he sojourned into the realm of souls and hearers. One's heart does not become alive except with his zikr (rememberance). There is no one who is far away, except he brings him near. He is closer to one than everyone else who is close and most beloved of all those loved. He is the life of all souls, the door of graciousness and victories; and indeed a big open door (of magnanimity), the secret of secrets, and the light of lights, and the key to the gate of ease and abundance and the one who combined in himself all wonderful qualities; the life of souls and hearts. We notice that in this salaat, the words "madaduh" and "'adaduh" rhyme; the words "maujood" and "maulood" rhyme; the words "mursaleen", "muqarrabeen", "ajma'een" and "mukammaleen" rhyme; the words "qareeb" and "habib" rhyme; the words "rooh", "futooh" and "maftooh" rhyme; the words "asraar", "anwaar" and "yasaar" rhyme; and the words "kamaal" and "baal" rhyme. Seven different rhymes in just one salaat on the beloved Sayyidina Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam! The biggest salaat in Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah is one and half pages long and has eight different rhymes. In it, the words "tajalliyaatika", "dhaatika", "ladayka", "yadayka", "Wahdaaniyyatika", "millatika", "lihubbika", and "mahboobuka" rhyme; "fardaa" and "sardaa" rhyme; "binaseebih" and "habibih" rhyme; "ilayhim" and "'alayhim" rhyme; "sifatuhu", and "khuluquhu" rhyme; "ibtihaajaa", and "mi'raajaa" rhyme; "amalih" (which starts with the letter alif), and "'amalih" (which starts with the letter 'ain) rhyme; and "shuhooduh", and "wurooduh" rhyme. One other salaat has eleven end words that rhyme. These are: "haqiyyah", "ghaybiyyah", "'indiyyah", "roohiyyah", "saniyyah", "Muhammadiyyah", "qalbiyyah", "Mustafawiyyah", "wa'n-niyyah", "bariyyah", and "wa'z-zurriyyah". Such rhymes and rhyming patterns are achieved in all the salawaat throughout the kitab. This is only one manifestation of the love for Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. Is there anyone in the whole wide world more loved than the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam in all humanity throughout history, we begin to ask? This naturally makes us stand up in reverential awe of the beloved Prophet Sayyidina Muhammad al-Mustafa Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam as we begin to give words to our as yet dim understanding of his grandeur before Allah Sub'hanahu wa Ta'ala. Sallallahu 'alaa Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallim Sallallahu 'alaa Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallim Sallallahu 'alaa Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallim May Allah's blessings be on Muhammad; May Allah's blessings and peace be on him.

Salawaat of Gauth u'l A'zam Muhyuddeen Shaykh 'Abdul Qadir Jilani

Gauth u'l A'zam Muhyuddeen Shaykh 'Abdul Qadir Jilani al-Hasani wa'l Husaini, Rady Allahu 'Anhu (470-561 A.H/1077-1166 C.E) who was born in Jilan, Persia and whose shrine is in Baghdad, Iraq was so profuse in reciting salawaat (blessings) on our beloved Prophet Sayyidina wa Mawlana Hadhrat Muhammad al-Mustafa Sallallahu 'alaihi wa aalihi wa Sallam that their compilation could easily fill a volume. Most of these salawaat are contained in Fuyudhaat u'r Rabbaniyyah (Overflowing Abundance From The Lord) which is a compilation of his salawaat (blessings), his awraad and azkaar (regular voluntary invocations), his aqeeda (creed), his nasiha (advice) and his qasaaid (hymns).

Three salawaat of the Shaykh (spiritual master), who is lovingly referred to by millions across the world as the Gauth u'l A'zam (the greatest spiritual helper), are well-documented. These are: 1. As-Salaatu'l Gauthiyyah, also known as As-Salaatu's Sughraa or the "small salaat". This salaat, although short in length, is so famous that it has lovingly been named after him as As-Salaatu'l Gauthiyyah (Durood Gauthiyyah in Urdu). 2. Kibriti'l Ahmar, also known as As-Salaatu'l Wusta or the "medium salaat". This is a spiritual combination of five salawaat, one of which interestingly, is As-Salaatu'l Gauthiyyah itself. Kibriti'l Ahmar means "the Philosopher's Stone", or something that is rare to come by. 3. As-Salaatu'l Kubra or the "big salaat". This is a spiritual combination of 33 salawaat, 25 verses of the Holy Qur'an Kareem, and dua (invocation) covering about 20 pages. We will now study each of these salawaat in a little more detail.

As-Salaatu'l Gauthiyyah

This salaat of the Gauth u'l A'zam is so famous that many mashaaikh (spiritual masters) choose to include it in their kutub (books) as part of the awraad and azkaar (regular voluntary invocations). Some of the kutub that contain this salaat are: Dalaail u'l Khairaat (Proofs of Goodness) of Imam Muhammad bin Sulayman al-Jazuli.   Hizb u'l A'zam (The Great Supplication) of Hadhrat Mulla 'Ali al-Qaari.   Majmu'ah Salawaat u'r Rasul (Compilation of Blessings On The Messenger, Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam) of Hadhrat Khwaja Shaykh Abdur Rahman Chohravi.   Afdhal u's Salawaat (The Best Blessings) of Imam Yusuf ibn Ismail an-Nab'haani.   Awraad u'l Qaadiriyyah (Regular Voluntary Invocations of the Qaadiriyyah), compiled by Muhammad Salim Bawwaab.   Durood Shareef (Noble Blessings) (in Urdu) by Khwaja Nithaar Ahmad.   Fazaaile Durood Shareef (The Benefits of The Noble Blessings) (in Urdu) by al-Allamah Habibu'l Bashar Khairi Rangooni. Here then is As-Salaatu'l Gauthiyyah, shining as distinctly as the north star. Allahumma Salli 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-in As-Saabiqi li'lkhalqi nuruhu Wa Rahmatullil 'aalameena dhuhuruhu 'Adada man madhaa min khalqiqa wa man baqiya Wa man sa'ida minhum wa man shaqiya Salaatan tastagriqu'l 'adda wa tuhitu bi'l haddi Salaatan laa gaayata lahaa wa laa muntahaa wa lanqidha'a Salaatan daaimatan bidawaamika Wa 'alaa aalihi wa sahbihi wa sallim tasleeman mithla dhaalik O Allah! Bestow blessings on our master Muhammad whose light was created first, and whose appearance is a mercy for all the worlds, as many times as the number of Your creations past and yet to come among those that are blessed and those that are unfortunate; such blessings that are unlimited and unbounded, countless, endless, never finishing; such blessings as everlasting as You, and on his family and companions, and in the same manner complete salutations as well. In this salaat, Shaykh 'Abdul Qadir Jilani Rady Allahu 'Anhu declares his aqeeda (belief) loud and clear that before Allah Sub'hanahu wa Ta'ala created anything else, He created Nur-e-Muhammadi, the Nur of Sayyidina Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam. Sub'hanAllah!

Kibriti'l Ahmar

Kibritil Ahmar which means "the Philosopher's Stone" is also included in many kutub some of which are: Fuyudhaat u'r Rabbaniyyah, compiled by al-Hajj Ismail ibn as-Sayyid Muhammad Sa'eed al-Qadiri.   Awraad u'l Qaadiriyyah Rahmaniyyah, compiled by Hadhrat al-'Allamah as-Sayyid Muhammad Tayyib Shah.   Awraad u'l Qaadiriyyah, compiled by Muhammad Salim Bawwab.   Mishkaat u's Salawaat (A Niche For Lit-Up Blessings) of Mawlana Muhammad Ilyas Burney.   Majmu'ah Wazaaif Ma' Dalaail u'l Khairaat (Compilation of Regular Voluntary Invocations Together With Dalaail u'l Khairaat), translated into Urdu and compiled by Pir Muhammad Karam Shah. Kibriti'l Ahmar is truly magnificent. It weaves verses of the Holy Qur'an Kareem together with Asma-u'n-Nabi Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam (his attributive names of praise), dua (invocation), and five salawaat, three of which are famous. These are: (a) As-Salaatu Kanzi'l A'zam, the salaat with which Kibriti'l Ahmar begins and which will be observed in more detail later, (b) As-Salaatu'l Gauthiyyah, which we have already looked at, and (c) As-Salaatu'l In'aam, which is now presented. As-Salaatu'l In'aam Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaihi wa 'alaa aalihi 'Adada na'maaillahi wa ifdhaalihi O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on him and on his family As many times as Allah's bounties and Grace. Kibriti'l Ahmar ends with the following verses of the Holy Qur'an Kareem. Sub'haana Rabbika Rabbi'l 'Izzati 'Amma Yasifun Wa Salaamun 'ala'l Mursaleen Wa'l Hamdu Lillaahi Rabbi'l 'Aalameen Glory to your Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power (He is free) from what they ascribe to Him And peace be on the Messengers. And praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds (37:180-182).

As-Salaat U'l Kubra

As-Salaat u'l Kubra or the "big salaat", is a spiritual mosaic of 33 salawaat, 25 verses of the Holy Qur'an Kareem and dua (invocation) interspersed among the salawaat. Among other kutub, it is also found in; Fuyudhaat u'r Rabbaniyyah, compiled by al-Hajj Ismail ibn As-Sayyid Muhammad Sa'eed al-Qadiri.   Awraad u'l Qaadiriyyah Rahmaniyyah, compiled by Hadhrat al-'Allamah as-Sayyid Muhammad Tayyib Shah.   Awraad u'l Qaadiriyyah, compiled by Muhammad Salim Bawwab.   Afdhal u's Salawaat of Imam Yusuf ibn Ismail an-Nab'haani. The very first of its 20 pages gives us a flavour of this spiritual masterpiece. Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem Laqad ja'akum Rasulun min anfusikum 'azeezun 'alayhi maa 'anittum Hareesun 'alaikum bi'l mumineena rauf u'r raheem A'budu'llaha Rabbee wa laa ushriku bihi shay'aa Allahumma Innee ad'uka bi asmaaika'l husnaa kullihaa Laa Ilaaha Illaa Anta Subhaanaka An Tusalliya 'alaa Muhammad-in wa 'alaa aali Muhammad-in Kamaa sallayta 'alaa Ibrahima wa 'alaa aali Ibrahima Innaka Hameedun Majeed Allahumma Salli 'alaa Muhammadi-nin-Nabiyyi'l ummiyyi Wa 'alaa aalihi wa sahbihi wa sallim tasleema Wa Sallallahu 'alaa Muhammad-in wa 'alaa aali Muhammad-in Salaatan huwa ahluhaa Allahumma Yaa Rabba Muhammad-in wa aali Muhammad-in Salli 'alaa Muhammad-in wa 'alaa aali Muhammad-in Wajzi Muhammad-an Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam Maa huwa ahluhu Allahumma Rabba's samaawaati's sab'i wa Rabbia'l 'Arshi'l 'Adheem Rabbanaa wa Rabba kulli shay-in Wa munzila'tTawraati wa'l Injeeli wa'z Zaburi wa'l Furqaani'l 'Adheem Allahumma Anta'l Awwalu falaysa qablaka shay-un Wa Anta'l Aakhiru falaysa ba'daka shay-un Wa Anta-dh-Dhaahiru falaysa fawqaka shay-un Wa Anta'l Baatinu falaysa dunaka shay-un Falaka'l Hamdu Laa Ilaaha Illaa Anta Sub'haanaka Innee Kuntu Min-adh-Dhaalimeena Maashaa Allahu kaana wa maa lam yasha' lam yakun Laa Quwwata Illa Billah Allahumma Salli 'alaa Muhammad-in 'Abdika wa Nabiyyika wa Rasulika Salaatan Mubarakatan Tayyibatan kamaa amarta an nusallee 'alaih Wa Sallim tasleemaa With the name of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful. Certainly, there has come to you a Messenger from among yourselves, grievous to him is your suffering, full of concern for you, to the believers (he is) compassionate, merciful (9:128). I worship Allah who is my Lord and do not associate anything with Him. O Allah! I ask of You for the sake of Your Most Beautiful Names None is to be worshipped except You, Glory be to You (21:87). Shower Your blessings on Sayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammad as You showered Your blessings on Sayyidina Ibrahim and on the family of Sayyidina Ibrahim. Surely, You are The Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah! Bestow Your blessings and complete peace on Sayyidina Muhammad, The Prophet not taught by any human (but directly by You, O Allah) and on his family and companions. And may Allah's blessings rest on Sayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammad, such blessings which they deserve. O Allah! O Lord of Sayyidina Muhammad and the family of Sayyidina Muhammad Bestow blessings on Sayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammad And reward Sayyidina Muhammad, Allah's blessings and peace be on him, as he deserves it. O Allah! The Lord of the seven skies and the Lord of the Great Arsh Our Lord and the Lord of everything, and the One Who sent the Tawraat, the Injeel, the Zabur and the Great Qur'an. O Allah! You are The First without beginning and You are The Last without end and You are The Manifest with nothing above You and You are The Hidden with nothing below You All praise belongs to You. None is to be worshipped but You. Glory be to You; surely, I have been unjust. (21:87)   Whatever Allah wished, happened. Whatever Allah did not wish, did not happen. There is no power except with Allah. O Allah! Bestow blessings on Sayyidina Muhammad, Your servant, the Prophet sent by You, Your Messenger, favourable, agreeable blessings, as You have ordered us to invoke blessings on him and grant him complete peace. We notice that As-Salaatu'l Kubra begins with verse 128 from Surah at-Tawba, then invokes Allah with his Most Beautiful Names, follows this up with As-Salaatu Ibrahimiyyah and two other salaat, after which there is dua, verse 87 from Surah al-Anbiyaa, praise of Allah, and more salawaat, and so it continues. As-Salaatu'l Kubra ends with this verse of the Holy Qur'an Kareem. Da'waahum Feehaa Sub'haanaka'llahumma Wa Tahiyyatuhum Feehaa Salaam Wa Aakhiru Da'waahum Ani'l Hamdu Lillaahi Rabbi'l 'Aalameen Their prayer therein will be "Sanctity to You, O Allah", and their greeting therein will be "peace", and the end of their prayer will be, "all praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds". (10:10) In total, there are 25 verses of the Holy Qur'an Kareem in As-Salaatu'l Kubra. Some of these verses in which Allah Ta'ala Himself praises the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam are: Yaa Seen Wa'l Qur'an i'l Hakeem Innaka Lamina'l Mursaleen 'Alaa Siraatin Mustaqeem Yaa Seen By the Qur'an full of wisdom Most surely, you are one of the Messengers. On a straight way. (36:1-4) Laqad Mann'Allahu 'ala'l mu'mineena Iz ba'atha feehim rasulan min anfusihim Yatlu 'alayhim aayaatihi wa yuzakkeehim Wa yu'allimuhumu'l kitaaba wa'l hikmah Wa in kaanu min qablu lafee dhalaalin mubeen   Certainly, Allah conferred a great favour on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from among themselves who recites to them His revelations, and purifies them and teaches them the Book and the Wisdom although before that they were surely in manifest error. (3:164) Wa Idh Akhadh'Allahu meethaaqa'nnabiyyeena Lamaa aataytukum min kitaabin wa hikmatin Thumma ja'akum rasulun musaddiqun limaa ma'kum La tu'minunna bihi wa latansurunnah Qaala a'aqrartum wa akhaztum 'alaa dhaalikum isree Qaalu aqrarnaa Qaala fa'sh-hadu wa ana ma'kum minash-shaahideen And when Allah took the Covenant of the Prophets (He said): (Behold) what I have given you of the Book and Wisdom. Afterward, there will come to you a Messenger confirming what is with you; you shall believe in him and you shall help him. He said: do you agree and take this my Covenant as binding on you? They said: We agree. He said: Then bear witness. And I am with you among the witnesses. (3:81) Wa maa arsalnaaka illaa Rahmatallil 'aalameen And We sent you not but as a mercy for all the worlds (21:107) These verses are interspersed in an intricate pattern among the salawaat (blessings) and dua (invocations), with dua following one or more salawaat, as in this instance. Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa 'abdika wa Nabiyyika wa Rasulika Sayyidina wa Nabiyyinaa Muhammad-i-nin Nabiyyi'l Ummiyyi wa'r Rasuli'l 'Arabiyyi Wa 'alaa aalihi wa as'haabihi Wa azwaajihi wa dhurriyyaatihi wa ahli baytihi Salaatan takunu laka ridhaa wa lahu jazaa-an wa lihaqqihee adaa-an Wa a'tihi'l waseelata wa'l fadheelata Wa'sh sharafa wa'ddarajata'l 'aaliyata'r rafee'ata Wab'ath-hu'l maqaama'l Mahmood Alladhee wa 'adtahu Yaa Arhama'r Raahimeen. Allahumma innaa natawassalu bika Wa nas'aluka wa natawajjahu ilayka Bikitaabika'l 'Azeezi wa Binabiyyika'l Kareemi Sayyidina Muhammad-in Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam Wa bisharafihi'l majeedi Wa biabawayhi Ibrahima wa Ismaila Wa bisaahibayhi Abi Bakr-in wa 'Umar-a Wa Zinnuraini 'Uthmaan-a wa aalihi Fatima-ta wa 'Aliyy-un Wa waladayhima'l Hasan-i wa'l Husain-i Wa 'ammayhi'l Hamza-ti wa'l 'Abbas-i Wa zaujatayhi Khadija-ta wa 'Aishah. O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on Your servant, the Prophet sent by You, Your Messenger, our master, our Prophet Muhammad who was not taught by any human (but directly by You, O Allah), The Messenger who was an Arab, and on his family and companions and his blessed wives, and offspring and his blessed household; such blessings as may please You, reward him and fulfil his rights, and (O Allah), give him the Wasila and distinction, and nobility and the highest exalted position and raise him to the highest Praised Station which You have promised him, O The Most Merciful of those who show mercy. O Allah! Indeed, You are our only Means and we beg of You and we turn our faces towards You with the means of Your exalted Book and through the means of the gentle Prophet sent by You, Sayyidina Muhammad, blessings and peace of Allah be on him, and through the means of his glorious nobility and through the means of his forefathers Sayyidina Ibrahim and Sayyidina Isma'il and through the means of his companions Sayyidina Abu Bakr and Sayyidina 'Umar and the possessor of the two lights Sayyidina 'Uthman and the family members of Sayyidatna Fatima and Sayyidina 'Ali and their two sons Sayyidina Hasan and Sayyidina Husain, and his uncles Sayyidina Hamza and Sayyidina 'Abbas and his blessed wives Sayyidatna Khadija and Sayyidatna 'Aishah. In this salaat and the dua following it, the Gauth u'l A'zam not only shows his deep love for the blessed Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam, but also for the ahlu'l bayt (his blessed household) and his glorious sahaba (companions). In the salaat, he includes the dua that is recited after the azan. We notice that this entire dua is in honour and praise of the beloved Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. In the dua that follows, he invokes Allah using the wasila (means), of Allah Ta'ala Himself, of the Holy Qur'an Kareem, the noble Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam, Nabi Ibrahim and Nabi Ismail Alayhimussalam, the ahlu'l bayt and the sahaba, Rady Allahu 'Anhum Ajma'een. Sallu 'ala'r Rasul Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaih.

Kanzi'l A'zam

One of the salawaat present in both Kibriti'l Ahmar as well as As-Salaatu'l Kubra, is such a gem it is referred to as Kanzi'l A'zam (The Greatest Treasure). Khwaja Shaykh Abdur Rahman Chohravi Rahmatullahi 'alaih naturally chose to include it in his Majmu'ah Salawaat u'r Rasul and al-Hajj Ismail ibn as-Sayyid Muhammad Sa'eed al-Qadiri Rahmatullahi 'alaih had it printed separately in Fuyudhaat u'r Rabbaniyyah, identifying it as Kanzi'l A'zam. In it, Shaykh 'Abdul Qadir Jilani Rady Allahu 'Anhu pours his heart out in superlative praise of the Holy Prophet Sayyidina Muhammad al-Mustafa Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. Allahummaj'al afdhala salawaatika abadan Wa anmaa barakaatika sarmadan Wa azkaa tahiyyaatika fadhlan wa 'adadan 'Alaa Ashrafi'l haqaaiqi'l insaaniyyah wa'l jaanniyah Wa majma'id daqaaiqi'l Imaaniyyah Wa Turi't Tajalliyyaati'l Ihsaaniyyah Wa mahbati'l Asraari'r Rahmaaniyyah Wa 'Arusi'l mamlakati'r Rabbaaniyyah Waasitati 'Iqdi'n Nabiyyeena Wa muqaddami jayshi'l Mursaleena Wa Qaaidi rakbi'l Awliyaa-i wa's Siddeeqeena Wa afdhali'l khalaaiqi ajma'eena Haamili liwaai'l 'Izzi'l A'laa Wa maaliki azimmati'l majdi'l asnaa Shaahidi asraari'l azali Wa mushaahidi anwaari's sawaabiqi'l awwali Wa tarjumaani lisaani'l qidami Wa manba'il 'ilmi wa'l hilmi wa'l hikami Wa madh-hari sirri'l wujudi'l juz'iyyi wa'l kulliyyi Wa insaani 'ayni'l wujudi'l 'ulwiyyi wa's sufliyyi Ruhi jasadi'l kawnayni Wa 'ayni hayaati'd-daaraini Al mutahaqqiqi bi a'laa rutabi'l 'ubudiyyati Wa'l mutakhalliqi bi akhlaaqi'l maqaamaati'l istifaaiyyati Al Khalil-i'l A'zam Wa'l Habib-i'l Akram Sayyidina wa Mawlana wa Habibina Muhammad ibni 'Abdillah ibni Abdi'l Muttalib Sallallahu 'alaihi wa 'alaa aalihi wa as'haabihi 'Adada ma'lumaatika Wa midaada kalimaatika Kullamaa zakaraka wa zakarahu'z zaakirun Wa ghafala 'an zikrika wa zikrihi'l ghaafilun Wa Sallim tasleeman daaiman kathiraa O Allah! Confer for ever Your best blessings and ever increasing and never ending favours and Your Purest and Gracious boons on him who is exalted in the realm of the realities of the nature of humans and jinns, and is fully aware of all subtleties of faith, and is the Mount Sinai recieving Divine Illuminations and the place on which descend the mysteries of the All-Beneficent and who is a bridegroom in the Kingdom of the Lord, the centrally placed jewel in the chain of prophets, the first and the foremost in the front line of the army of Messengers, the leader of the caravan of the saints and the truthful, the most graceful of all creation, the bearer of the highest flag of honour, the owner of the keys to the shining gallery, the beholder of the secrets of eternity, the beholder of the pristine glow of Primal Light, the interpreter of the Divine Language, fountain-spring of knowledge, tolerance and wisdom, the manifestation of the existence of the secrets of the whole and its parts, and the person who is the (cause of the) existence of (everything) above and below, the soul in the body of both the worlds (that keeps them alive), the fountain of life of this world and of the world to come, the one who knows the reality of the high rank of servitude of Allah and is created with the highest spiritual stations of morality, the foremost among the friends of Allah and His beloved, highly honoured; our master, our patron, our beloved, Muhammad, son of 'Abdullah, son of 'Abdul Muttalib, Allah's blessings on him, his family and companions, in the number which is in Your Knowledge (O Allah) and as many times as Your Words, whenever You are remembered and he is remembered by those who remember and whenever You are not remembered and he is not remembered by the negligent, and abundant, never ending, complete salutations on him. For sure, Kanzi'l A'zam is at such a high level in terms of 'ulum and 'irfaan (spiritual knowledge) that it is breath-taking and awe-inspiring. One of its interesting features is that it is in rhyming prose. We notice that in this salaat, the words "abadan", "sarmadan", and "'adadan" rhyme; the words "jaanniyah" , "Imaniyyah", "Ihsaaniyya", "Rahmaaniyyah" and "Rabbaaniyyah" rhyme; the words "Nabiyyeena", "Mursaleena", "Siddiqeena", and "ajma'eena" rhyme; the words "A'laa" and "asnaa" rhyme; the words "azali", "awwali", "qidami", and "hikami" rhyme; the words "kulliyyi" and "sufliyyi" rhyme; the words "kawnayni" and "daaraini" rhyme; the words "'ubudiyyati" and "istifaaiyyati" rhyme; the words "A'zam" and "Akram" rhyme; the words "ma'lumaatika" and "kalimaatika" rhyme; and the words "zaakirun" and "ghaafilun" rhyme. Eleven different rhymes in just one salaat. MaashaaAllah! It must be remembered that this is only one of the remarkable achievements of this salaat. There are various other levels of 'ulum (knowledge) here, both manifest and hidden that call for more intensive study.

Huruf U'l Muqatta'at

An ancient tradition among the ulama (the learned) and the mashaaikh (spiritual masters) is to compose salawaat giving a meaning to each letter in the name of the beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. On earth, the Holy Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam is called Muhammad and in the heavens, he is called Ahmad. The name Muhammad is composed of four letters: "Meem", "Haa", "Meem", and "Daal", while the name Ahmad is composed of "Alif", "Haa", "Meem" and "Daal". The mashaaikh have composed salawaat with these letters. But Shaykh 'Abdul Qadir Jilani Rady Allahu 'Anhu went a step beyond this. He composed a salaat with these letters together with the Huruf u'l Muqatta'at. The Huruf u'l Muqatta'at are the letters with which some of the surahs of the Qur'an Kareem start. These are: "Alif Laam Meem", "Alif Laam Meem Saad", "Alif Laam Raa", "Kaaf Haa Yaa 'Ain Saad", "Taa Haa", "Taa Seen Meem", "Taa Seen", "Yaa Seen", "Saad", "Haa Meem", "Ain, Seen, Qaaf", "Qaaf", and "Noon". Only Allah Sub'hanahu wa Ta'ala knows their true meanings, as well as those whom He cares to give this knowledge to, the foremost among them being the Holy Prophet Muhammad al-Mustafa Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. The mashaaikh are agreed that Taa Haa and Yaa Seen are attributive names of praise for the blessed Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. Other mashaaikh have explained the significance of each of the huruf u'l muqatta'at, saying they denote the sifaat (attributive qualities) of the noble Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. For example, the letter "Yaa" in "Yaa Seen" denotes a sifat, and so does the letter "Seen". Yet other mashaaikh have composed salawaat with the huruf u'l muqatta'at. Shaykh 'Abdul Qadir Jilani Rady Allahu 'Anhu combined all this 'ulum (knowledge) in a grand convocation in just one salaat. We find that in one of the salawaat given in Fuyudhaat u'r Rabbaniyyah, the Gauth u'l A'zam has used the letters in the blessed names Muhammad and Ahmad as well as the Huruf u'l Muqatta'at without repeating any of the Huruf u'l Muqatta'at! Who can beat such scholarship? As we appreciate this learning that is open, manifest and clear, we begin to understand the depth of his spiritual knowledge that was a secret and even more hidden. Let us then approach this salaat after reciting Surah al-Fateha. Al-Fateha! Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem Wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa Bi'llah i'l 'Aliyy i'l 'Azeem Laa Ilaaha Ill'Allah u'l Malik u'l Haqq u'l Mubeen Muhammad u'r Rasulullah i's Saadaq i'l Wa'di'l Ameen Rabbanaa aamannaa bimaa anzalta wattaba'na'r Rasul-a Fa'ktubnaa ma'ash-shaahideen Allahumma Salli wa Sallim Wa birra wa akrim wa a'izza wa a'zim wa'rham 'Ala'l 'izzish-shaamikhi wa'l majdi'l baadhikhi Wa'n nur-it-taamihi wa'l haqqi'l waadhihi Meemi'l mamlakati wa Haa-i'r-rahmati Wa Meemi'l ilmi wa Daal-i'd-dalaalati Wa Alifi'l jabaruti wa Haa-i'r-rahamuti Wa Meemi'l malakuti wa Daali'l hidaayati Wa Laami'l altaafi'l khafiyyati Wa Raa-i'r-ra'fati'l khafiyyati Wa Nuni'l minani'l wafiyyati Wa 'Aini'l 'inaayati wa Kaafi'l kifaayati Wa Yaa-i's-siyaadati wa Seen-i's-sa'adati wa Qaafi'l qurbi Wa Taa-i's-saltanati wa Haa-i'l-'urwati wa Saad-i'l-'ismati Wa 'alaa aalihi hawaajiri 'ilmihi'l 'azeezi Wa as'haabihi man asbahaddeenu bihim fee hirzin hareez. With the name of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful (1:1) And there is no power nor strength except with Allah, The Most High, The Magnificent. None is worthy of worship except Allah, The Sovereign Lord, The Clear Truth. Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, truthful to his promise, trustworthy. Our Lord! We believe in what You have Revealed and we follow the Messenger, so write us down among those who bear witness (3:53). O Allah! Bestow blessings, peace and honour; and give nobility, power and greatness; and have mercy on the one who is lofty in power and towering in grandeur, and is the high-aspiring light and the clear truth; the letter "Meem" (in the name Muhammad) is for the kingdom, "Haa" is for mercy, "Meem" is for knowledge, and "Daal" is for evidence (proof); the letter "Alif" (in the name Ahmad) is for might and power, "Haa" is for the realm of mercy, "Meem" is for sovereignty, and "Daal" is for guidance; the letter "Laam" (in the Huruf u'l Muqatta'at) is for hidden kindness, "Raa" is for hidden compassion, "Noon" is for perfect benevolence, "Ain" is for care and concern, "Kaaf" is for sufficiency, "Yaa" is for headship and becoming master, "Seen" is for happiness, "Qaaf" is for nearness, "Taa" is for the sultanate, "Haa" is for the tie or bond (of friendship) and "Saad" is for preservation, and (blessings and peace) on his family, who are the high noon of his esteemed knowledge, and on his companions through whom religion was well protected. This is just the opening portion of this momentous salaat which is only about a quarter of it. The remaining three quarters consists mostly of dua (invocation). This calls for a Fateha. Al-Fateha!

Salaams On The Beloved Prophet

It is apt to conclude by presenting the salaams of the Gauth u'l A'zam on the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam as given in Mishkaat u's Salawaat (A Niche For Lit-Up Blessings) of Mawlana Muhammad Elyas Burney Rahmatullahi 'alaih. Assalatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa RasulAllah Assalatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa NabiyyAllah Assalatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa SafiyyAllah Assalatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa KhalilAllah Assalatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa HabibAllah Assalatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa man Sharrafahu'llah Assalatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa man Karramahu'llah Assalatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa man 'Allamahu'llah Assalatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa man 'Adh-dhamahu'llah Assalatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa man Zayyanahu'llah Assalatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa Sayyidal Mursaleen Assalatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa Khaatam an-Nabiyyeen Assalatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa Imama'l Muttaqeen Assalatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa Shafi'al Mudhnibeen Assalatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa Rahmatallil 'aalameen Assalatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa Khaira Khalqi'llah Assalatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa Nura 'Arshi'llah Salawaatu'llahi wa malaaikatihi wa anbiyaaihi wa rusulihi Wa hamalati 'arshihi wa jami'e khalqihi 'Alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-in wa 'alaa aalihi wa sahbihee ajma'een Ilaa yaumi'ddeen. Blessings and salutations on you, O Messenger of Allah Blessings and salutations on you, O Prophet of Allah Blessings and salutations on you, O Sincere Friend of Allah Blessings and salutations on you, O Intimate Friend of Allah Blessings and salutations on you, O Beloved of Allah Blessings and salutations on you, O whom Allah has honoured Blessings and salutations on you, O whom Allah has made noble Blessings and salutations on you, O to whom Allah has imparted knowledge Blessings and salutations on you, O whom Allah has exalted Blessings and salutations on you, O whom Allah has well-endowed Blessings and salutations on you, O master of Messengers Blessings and salutations on you, O last in the line of the Prophets Blessings and salutations on you, O leader of those who are pious Blessings and salutations on you, O intercessor for sinners Blessings and salutations on you, O mercy for all domains of existence Blessings and salutations on you, O best of the creations of Allah Blessings and salutations on you, O light of the Throne of Allah May blessings of Allah, and His angels, His Prophets and His Messengers, and the bearers of His Throne, and all whom He created, rest on our master Muhammad, on his family and all his companions till the Day of Judgement.

A Blessed Son Of The Blessed Prophet

Shaykh 'Abdul Qadir Jilani Rady Allahu 'Anhu was a descendant of the Holy Prophet, Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. His father, Hadhrat Abu Salih was a descendant of Hadhrat Imam Hasan ibn 'Ali Rady Allahu 'Anhu. His mother Ummul Khair Fatima was the daughter of Shaykh 'Abdullah Sumi who was a descendant of Imam Husain ibn 'Ali Rady Allahu 'Anhu. Thus Shaykh 'Abdul Qadir Jilani Rady Allahu 'Anhu is both Hasani and Husaini. He is a descendant of the Ahl u'l Bayt (The Prophet's Household) about whom Allah Ta'ala said in the Holy Qur'an Kareem: Innamaa Yureedu'llahu liyudh-hiba 'ankumu'rrijsa ahla'l bayti Wa yutahhirakum tat'heeraa   Allah only desires to keep away the uncleanness from you, O people of the House, and to purify you a thorough purifying. (33:33) Besides the salawaat (blessings), Shaykh 'Abdul Qadir Jilani is famous for his awraad and azkaar (regular voluntary invocations); his qasaaid (hymns), the most famous of which is Qasida Gauthiyyah; and for his khutbas (sermons) and nasiha (advice) which have been compiled and handed down through centuries as classics of Muslim spirituality. His major spiritual works in this field are: 1. Sirr al-Asrar (The Secret of Secrets) 2. Futuh al-Ghayb (Revelations of the Unseeen) 3. Gunyat-u't-Taalibeen (Wealth For Seekers) 4. Al-Fat'hu Rabbani (The Endowment of Divine Grace) As we read these masterpieces and his salawaat, we are struck by the fact that his style of expression is different from that of any other Shaykh (spiritual master), 'aalim (learned scholar), or wali (saint). He is so saturated with the spiritual power of Tawheed and brimming with the realisation that the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam is his ancestor, that his exposition and its flow has a spiritually confident personality all its own. Anyone who reads his khutbas and recites his salawaat, awraad and azkaar, spontaneously admits that he is the muhyuddeen (reviver of faith), the qutb u'l aqtaab (the spiritual authority of all spiritual authorities), the Shaykh u'l mashaaikh (the spiritual master of all spiritual masters), the Gauth u'l A'zam (the greatest spiritual helper) and much more.... a Shaykh who epitomises both mujaddidiyyah (faith revival) and wilayah (sainthood). Shaykh 'Abdul Qadir Jilani Rady Allahu 'Anhu is truly a model of a Sufi saint. Through his nasiha, azkaar and salawaat, through giving a living reality to Islam, in his complete surrender to the Will of Allah and in his showing of tawakkul (trust in Allah), as well as through his teachings and preachings, he converted more than five thousand Jews and Christians to Islam. More than a hundred thousand ruffians, outlaws, murderers, thieves and bandits also repented and became devout Muslims and gentle derveshes, explains Shaykh Tosun Bayrak al-Jerrahi al-Halveti in his Introduction to Sirr al-Asrar, p.xxxi. The halaqa of zikr (congregations to remember Allah) which he instituted have continued to attract millions of people to Islam through centuries and will continue to do so Insha-Allah, till the Day of Judgement, Aameen Yaa Rabbal 'Aalameen. The sahaba (companions) of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam are referred to as Rady Allahu 'Anhum wa Radhu 'Anhu (Allah is well pleased with them and they are well pleased with Him). According to Shaykh 'Abdul Qadir Jilani, his own position is equal to the dust under the feet of the sahaba; this should give us some idea of the stature of the blessed sahaba. Their spiritual stature derives from the fact that they were blessed with the opportunity of beholding the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam with the eyes of Iman (faith). As this is the case, is anyone really capable enough to explain in full the sifaat (attributes) of Muhammad-i-'Arabi, Rasuli Rabbil 'Aalameen, Rahmatullil 'Aalameen? Only Allah Rabbu'l 'Izzat is fully aware of what he bestowed on the beloved Prophet, Allahumma Salli wa Sallim wa Baarik 'alaih.

Jaaliya tu'l Akdaar wa's Sayf u'l Battaar of Mawlana Dhiya id-Deen Khalid al-Baghdadi

Mawlana Diya ud-Deen Khalid al-Baghdadi al- ' Uthmani (1192-1242 A.H; 1778-1826 C.E) has written a gem of a kitab (book) called Jaaliya tu'l Akdaar Wa's Sayf u'l Battaar Fi's-Salaati 'ala'l Mukhtaar (A Community With Meagre Means But With The Sword That Slays In The Invocation of Blessings On The Chosen One). Any Muslim would be proud to possess it as his choice collection of classics.

The distinctive feature of this incomparable treasure is that it has salawaat (blessings) and salaams (salutations) on our beloved Prophet Sayyidina wa Mawlana Hadrat Muhammad al-Mustafa Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam, spiritually strengthened with three mighty fortresses. These are: Asma u'l Husna, the Most Beautiful Names of Allah Sub'hanahu wa Ta'ala Asma u'n Nabi, the blessed names of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam, with his attributes of praise Asma Ahl Badr, the blessed names of his 313 companions or sahaba, Rady Allahu 'Anhum who fought together with him against the 1000 mushrikeen (polytheists) of Makkah in the Battle of Badr. The awliya (saints) and the saleheen (the pious) who write these books of salawaat on the Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam inevitably include Asma Allah u'l Husna in their salawaat as they are very near and dear to them. And why not? Asma u'l Husna surely lead us to paradise as we learn from the following blessed Hadith Shareef: Hadrat Abu Hurairah Rady Allahu 'Anhu reported the Beloved Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam as saying: "Allah Most High has ninety nine names. He who retains them in his memory will enter paradise". (Tirmidhi and Bayhaqi) At this juncture, let us make the niyyah (intention) of memorizing the Asma Allah u'l Husna if we have not already done so. Each of the Asma Allah u'l Husna in the kitab is to be recited three times except Yaa Allah (O Allah, 100 times), Yaa Latif (O The Most Gentle, 21 times), Yaa Wadud (O The Loving One, 22 times) and Yaa Sabur (O The Patient One, 7 times). Asma Allah u'l Husna have both Jamaal (Majestic Beauty) and Jalaal (Awe-inspiring Majesty) but Asma Ahl Badr are very jalaali while salawaat are pure jamaal so the Jalaal (Awe-inspiring Majesty) of Asma Ahl Badr is cooled off with the Jamaal (Majestic Beauty) of salawaat on the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. And the title of the kitab is fitting. The blessed Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam and his sahaba (companions) were a community with meagre means ( Jaaliya tu'l Akdaar ) but they wielded the sword that cut ( Wa's Sayf u'l Battaar ) against an army three times larger and many times better equipped, because they had the help of Allah Sub'hanahu wa Ta'ala. The kitab begins with As-Salaatu Ibrahimiyyah. Then come the most Beautiful Names of Allah Sub'hanahu wa Ta'ala. Yaa Allah (O Allah) is to be recited 100 times, followed by Yaa Rahman (O Most Beneficent One), Yaa Raheem (O Most Merciful), and Yaa Malik (O Sovereign Lord), each to be recited 3 times. As-Salaatu Ibrahimiyyah is repeated, followed by invoking Allah with His Most Beautiful Names of Yaa Quddus (O Most Holy One), Yaa Salaam (O Bestower of peace), Yaa Mu'min (O The Granter of Security) and Yaa Muhaymin (O The Protector). Then start the names of the sahaba (companions) who fought in the battle of Badr, in alphabetical order. First are mentioned all the sahaba whose names start with the letter alif. These are interspersed with Asma Allah u'l Husna and 29 salawaat (blessings), each of which begins with " Wa bi Fadlillahumma Salli wa Sallim wa Baarik 'Alaa Sayyidina Muhammad " (And with the Grace of Allah's blessings, peace and favours on Sayyidina Muhammad). The kitab ends with du'a (invocation) for maghfira (forgiveness of sins) and eternal bliss in paradise. The Khulafa ar-Raashideen al-Mahdiyyeen, the four rightly-guided Khalifas of the Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam, that is, Sayyidina Abu Bakr Siddiq Rady Allahu 'Anhu , Sayyidina 'Umar Farooq Rady Allahu 'Anhu, Sayyidina ' Uthman Dhu'n-Nurain Rady Allahu 'Anhu and Sayyidina ' Ali al-Murtada Rady Allahu 'Anhu are all mentioned. Among the other great sahaba mentioned are Hadrat Talha ibn ' Ubaidillah Rady Allahu Anhu, Hadrat Zubair ibn ' Awwaam Rady Allahu 'Anhu, Hadrat ' Abdirrahman ibn ' Awf Rady Allahu 'Anhu, Hadrat Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqaas Rady Allahu 'Anhu, Hadrat Sa'eed ibn Zaid Rady Allahu 'Anhu and Hadrat Abi ' Ubaida ' Aamir ibn al-Jarraah Rady Allahu 'Anhu. Together with the four Khulafa ar-Rashideen, they are called the Asharatu'l Mubash-shara, the ten who were given glad tidings of paradise by the Holy Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. It is true that Sayyidina ' Uthman Rady Allahu 'Anhu was not physically present in the Battle of Badr but even so, Mawlana al-Baghdadi has included his name because the beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam had himself instructed him to remain behind to take care of his wife Sayyidatina Ruqayya, who was the daughter of the beloved Prophet himself, as she was seriously ill in Madina. Her condition was indeed so serious that immediately after the Muslims returned from Badr, she passed away.

Salawaat 'Ala'r-Rasul

According to Mawlana Diya ud-Deen Khalid al-Baghdadi, the letters kaaf, haa, yaa, 'ain, saad in the first verse of Surah Maryam refer to the sifaat (attributes) of Allah Sub'hanahu wa Ta'ala or of Sayyidina Muhammad-e-'Arabi, Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam as captured in one of the salawaat in the kitab as follows: Wa bi Fadlillaahumma Salli wa Sallim Wa Baarik 'Alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-i Nilladhee huwa Saahibu'l Burhaani Wa's sababu fee wujudi kulli insaanin Kaafu karami'l kifaayati Haa-u'l Uluhiyyati wa'r-Ri'aayati Wa yaa u'l yaqazati wa'l hidaayati 'Ainul 'ismati wa'l 'inaayati Wa saadus siraati'l manshuri Siraatillaahilladhee lahu maa fissamaawaati wa maa fi'l ardi 'Alaa Ilallaahi taseeru'l umur Salaatan tusbilu Allahumma (Yaa 'Azeezu Yaa Jabbaaru Yaa Mutakabbiru Yaa Khaaliqu) [3] Bihaa 'alayya's sitra'l jameela Wa atawassalu ilayka bihaqqi 'abdika Al-Arqam ibni Abi'l Arqam Maula Rasulillahi Sallallahu Ta'ala 'alaihi wa Sallam As'ad ibni Yazeed, Anas ibni Mu'aadh, Unays ibni Qatadah, Anas-ata maula Rasulillahi Sallallahu Ta'ala 'alaihi wa Sallam Aws ibni Thabit, Aws ibni Khawliyy, Iyaas ibni Aws, Iyaas ibni'l Bukayr Rady Allahu Ta'ala 'Anhum. And with the Grace of Allah's blessings, peace and favours on Sayyidina Muhammad who is a personality with a clear proof, and the cause of the existence of all humans. The letter kaaf stands for the Prophet's unbounded generosity, the letter haa is for Allah's Divine Power and Loving Care, the letter yaa denotes the Prophet's wakefulness and guidance, the letter 'ain stands for his sinlessness and loving care, and the letter saad denotes a wide-open straight path; "The path of Allah to Whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. Behold (how) all affairs return to Allah" (42:53). A salaat (on the Holy Prophet) that pours like mercy: For the sake of this salaat, O Allah (O The Mighty, O The Compeller, O The One Supreme in Greatness, O The Creator) [recited 3 times] hide my shame with a beautiful covering, and I beg of You in the name of Your servant al-Arqam ibni Abi'l Arqam, the slave emancipated by Rasulullah, blessings and peace of Allah the Exalted be upon him; As'ad ibni Yazeed, Anas ibni Mu'aadh, Unays ibni Qatadah, Anas, the slave emancipated by Rasulullah, Sallallahu Ta'ala 'alaihi wa Sallam; Aws ibni Thaabit, Aws ibni Khawliyy, Iyaas ibni Aws and Iyaas ibni'l Bukayr, may Allah the Exalted be pleased with them all. We notice that the salawaat in Jaaliya tu'l Akdaar have a standard, yet very rich format. Each salaat is followed by: Asma u'n Nabi and praise of the noble Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam coupled with a verse from the Holy Qur'an in his honour A description of the salaat (In this instance; Salaatan tusbilu: An invocation of blessing that pours like mercy) Asma u'l Husna, in the order in which they are universally known Du'a (invocation) Asma Ahl Badr, in alphabetical order We also notice that each salaat (blessing) in this kitab is simultaneously a du'a which uses three different types of wasila (means of approach to Allah); first, Asma u'l Husna; second, the salaat on the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam; and third, Asma Ahl Badr, Rady Allahu 'Anhum. The salaat that preceded the one quoted earlier contains the names of two more companions whose names begin with the letter "alif". These are: Ubayy ibn Ka'b Rady Allahu 'Anhu and al-Akhnas ibn Kubayb, Rady Allahu 'Anhu. The salaat that follows the one quoted earlier, contains the names of the sahaba (companions) whose names begin with the letter "baa". The next salaat has the names of the sahaba whose names begin with the letter "taa". In this way Asma Ahl Badr are presented alphabetically in the salawaat.

Love of Allah Ta'ala, Rasulullah and the Sahaba

The spiritual stature of Mawlana Diya ud-Deen Khalid al-Baghdadi is especially manifested in the manner in which he overflows with salawaat on the Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. It appears he is immersed in the love of Allah Sub'hanahu wa Ta'ala, the love of the Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam and the love of the sahaba Rady Allahu 'Anhum. We would expect that of him, as he was initiated in the tariqa (spiritual path leading to Allah) of Qadiriyya, Naqshbandiyya, Chishtiyya and Suhrawardiyya. He has the title al-'Uthmani, as he was a descendant of Sayyidina 'Uthman Rady Allahu 'Anhu. He composed qasaaid (hymns) in Arabic, Farsi and Kurdi among which is his takhmees of Mawlana AbdulRahman Jami's qasida (hymn) in Farsi. A takhmees is the augmentation of a qasida from couplets to quintets. He was a multiple migrant who studied and taught in Sham (which now comprises of Syria and Palestine) and in India. When he visited Makkah and Madina, he recited Dalaail u'l Khairaat (Proofs of Good Deeds) of Imam Jazuli Rahmatullahi 'alaih in front of the Ka'ba, Sub'hanAllah! All in good time, Allah blessed him to compose a kitab of salawaat himself. Waqf Ikhlas of Istanbul, Turkey has done a great service to Muslims to have this book published. They have prepared it with the love and care it truly deserves. Allah's Names have been printed in green, salawaat on the Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam in black, and the names of the sahaba in red, with a beautiful flower painting on the borders on each page. It has to be seen to be believed! May Allah Sub'hanahu wa Ta'ala fill us with His love, the love of His Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam and the love of the sahaba, Rady Allahu 'Anhum, Aameen Yaa Rabbal 'Aalameen.

Dalaail u'l Khayraat of Imam al-Jazuli

Dalaail u'l Khayraat (Proofs of Good Deeds) is a kitab (book) of salawaat (blessings) on our beloved Holy Prophet Sayyidina wa Mawlana Hadhrat Muhammad al-Mustafa Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam composed by Imam Muhammad bin Sulayman al-Jazuli Rahmatullahi 'alaih of Morocco.

 

The importance of salawaat

The introduction to Dalaail u'l Khayraat explains the importance of love for the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam and of recitation of salawaat on him. The wordings of one Hadith Shareef that is quoted is: Wa 'an Anas-in annahu qaal: Qaala Rsulullahi Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam Laa yu'minu ahadukum hattaa akoona ahabba ilaihi Min nafsihi wa maalihi wa waladihi wa waalidihi wannaasi ajma'een Hadhrat Anas, Rady Allahu 'Anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, "None of you becomes a true believer until he loves me more than himself, his wealth, his children, his parents, and all people". This hadith has been reported in both Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim with slightly different wording. According to another hadith narrated by Sayyidina 'Umar Rady Allahu 'Anhu, the noble Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam said this three times: Alaa laa Imaana Liman Laa Mahabbata Lahu Behold! A person does not have faith if he does not love him (meaning the Holy Prophet, Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam). If you send blessings on the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam once, Allah sends blessings on you ten times, according to a hadith narrated by Hadhrat 'Abdullah bin 'Amr ibn al-'Aas Rady Allahu 'Anhu and reported in Sahih Muslim. According to another hadith narrated by Sayyidina 'Ali Rady Allahu 'Anhu and reported in Tirmidhi, if you hear the name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ibn 'Abdillah Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam mentioned and if you do not send blessings on him, then you are counted among the bukhalaa (plural of bakheel, the miserly). Since to recite salawaat on the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam is such a good and meritorious deed, Imam al-Jazuli perhaps decided to call his kitab of salawaat Dalaail u'l Khayraat (Proofs of Good Deeds).

The Niyyah (intention)

The kitab begins with the following niyyah. Allahumma innee nawaytu bi-Salaatee 'Alan Nabiyyi Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam Imtithaalan Li-Amrika wa tasdeeqan li Nabiyyika Muhammad-in Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam Wa mahabbatan feehi wa shawqan ilayhi Wa ta'zeeman liqadrihi wa likawnihi ahlan lidhaalika Fataqabbalhaa minnee Bi Fadhlika wa Ihsaanika Wa azil hijaabal gaflati 'an qalbee Waj'alnee min 'ibaadikas-saaliheen. O Allah! I make the intention to invoke blessings on the Prophet, may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him, in compliance with Your Order and as an attestation of the Prophet sent by You, our master Muhammad, may Your blessings and peace be upon him; in his love and in my yearning for him and with the respect due to him as he merits it. Accept it from me by Your Grace and Kindness and remove the veil of negligence from my heart and make me among one of Your righteous servants.

Salawaat taught by the beloved Prophet

The most famous salaat (invocation of blessing) taught by the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam is of course As-Salaatu'l Ibrahimiyya (called Durood-e-Ibrahim in Urdu) which is recited in salaah (obligatory five times daily prayers). This salaat is reported in the blessed Hadith Shareef in Sahih Bukhari by Hadhrat AbdurRahman bin Abi Layla Rady Allahu 'Anhu. We also find it in books of Hadith Shareef compiled by Imam Muslim, Imam Abu Dawud, Imam Tirmidhi and Imam an-Nasaai, Rahmatullahi 'alaihim ajma'een as noted by Imam Yusuf an-Nab'haani in Al-Anwaar u'l Muhammadiyyah (The Muhammadan Lights). Its transliteration and translation is: Allahumma Salli 'alaa Muhammad-in wa 'alaa aali Muhammad-in Kamaa Sallayta 'alaa Ibrahima wa 'alaa aali Ibrahima Innaka Hameedun Majeed Allahumma Baarik 'alaa Muhammad-in wa 'alaa aali Muhammad-in Kamaa Baarakta 'alaa Ibrahima wa 'alaa aali Ibrahima Innaka Hameedun Majeed. O Allah! Shower blessings upon Sayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammad as You showered blessings upon Sayyidina Ibrahim and on the family of Sayyidina Ibrahim. Surely, You are the Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah! Bestow favours upon Sayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammad as You bestowed favours upon Sayyidina Ibrahim and on the family of Sayyidina Ibrahim. Surely, You are the Praiseworthy, Glorious. Al-Hafiz as-Sakhawi Rahmatullahi 'alaih has compiled about forty different ways of reciting As-Salaatu'l Ibrahimiyyah that had been reported in books of Hadith Shareef, a majority of which we find interspersed in Dalaail u'l Khayraat. An example of one such variation as reported in a Hadith Shareef by Hadhrat 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud Rady Allahu 'Anhu in Haakim is: Allahumma Salli 'alaa Muhammad-in wa 'alaa aali Muhammad-in Wa Baarik 'alaa Muhammad-in wa 'alaa aali Muhammad-in Warham Muhammad-an wa aali Muhammad-in Kamaa Sallayta wa Baarakta wa Tarahhamta 'Alaa Ibrahima wa 'alaa aali Ibrahima Innaka Hameedun Majeed. O Allah! Shower blessings on Sayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammad, and bestow favours on Sayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammad, and have mercy on Sayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammad, as You blessed, bestowed favours and had mercy on Sayyidina Ibrahim and on the family of Sayyidina Ibrahim. Surely, You are the Praiseworthy, Glorious. Besides As-Salatu'l Ibrahimiyyah, Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam also taught his sahaba (companions) many other salawaat. We learn of one such salaat and its benefits from a blessed Hadith Shareef quoted by Sayyidina al-Imam al-Habib 'Abdallah bin 'Alawi al-Haddad Rady Allahu 'Anhu Wanfa'na bihi (1044-1132 A.H.) in an-Nasaaih id-Diniyya (Sincere Religious Advices) as narrated by Hadhrat Ruwayfi' ibn Thaabit al-Ansari Rady Allahu 'Anhu and reported by Imam Ahmad Rahmatullahi 'alaih. Wa qaala 'alaihi's-Salaatu wa's-Salaam: man qaala Allahumma Salli 'alaa Muhammad-in Wa anzilhu'l maq'adal muqarraba 'indaka yauma'l qiyamah Wajabat lahu shafa'atee. He said, may blessings and salutations be upon him, "My intercession is obligatory on whoever recites (this salaat): O Allah! Bestow blessings on Sayyidina Muhammad and give him a seat near You on the Day of Judgement". Dalaail u'l Khayraat contains this salaat but with slightly different wording as follows: Allahumma Salli 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-in Wa anzilhu'l manzila'l muqarraba yauma'l qiyamah O Allah! Bestow blessings on Sayyidina Muhammad and give him a place nearby on the Day of Judgement.

Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik

Allah commands us to go for Hajj if we have the means, and when we are ready to go for Hajj, we say Labbaik (meaning, I am ready to obey Your orders, O Allah). Allah also commands us in the Holy Qur'an to send blessings and salutations on the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam and what a pleasant surprise it is to find a salaat in Part 1 of Dalaail u'l Khairaat with the relevant verse (33:56) and the response of Labbaik as follows: Innallaha wa Malaaikatahoo Yusalloona 'ala'n Nabiyy Yaa ayyuhalladheena Aamanu Salloo 'alaihi wa Saallimoo Tasleemaa Labbaik Allahumma Rabbee wa Sa'dayk Salawaatullahi'l Barrir-Raheem wa'l Malaaikati'l Muqarrabeen Wa'n-Nabiyyeen wa's-Siddiqeen wa'sh-Shuhadaai wa's-Saaliheen Wa maa Sabbaha Laka min shay-in Yaa Rabba'l 'Aalameen 'Alaa Sayyidina Muhammad ibni 'Abdillah Khaatamin Nabiyyeen wa Sayyidi'l Mursaleen Wa Imam-i'l Muttaqeen wa Rasuli Rabbi'l 'Aalameen Ash-Shaahidi'l Bashir-i'd-Daa'ee Ilayka Bi-Idhnika's-Siraaji'l Muneeri wa 'Alayhissalaam. Surely, Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O you who believe! Send blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation. (33:56) I am here and ready to obey You O Allah, my Sustainer. May the blessings of Allah, the Righteous, the Merciful, and the angels who are close to You (O Allah) and the Prophets, the Truthful, the martyrs and the pious and those of Your creation that praise You O Lord of the Worlds, (may the blessings of all of them) be on Sayyidina Muhammad ibn 'Abdillah the Seal of the Prophets, the leader of the Messengers of Allah and the leader of those who are in reverential awe of Allah, and a Messenger from the Lord of the Worlds, a witness who brought glad tidings and who calls people to You O Allah with Your permission, who is a shining light, and many salutations to him as well.

 

The salawaat that existed in his time

Countable and uncountable blessings

A popular form of reciting salawaat is to specify the number of times a particular salaat is intended. For example, in Chapter Two of Dalaail u'l Khayraat, we come across this salaat: Allahumma Salli 'alaa Sayyidina wa Mawlana Muhammad-in 'adada makhlooqaatika O Allah! Bestow blessings on our patron Sayyidina Muhammad, as many times as the number of things created by You. In the same way, there is salawaat on the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam as many times as are the (uncountable) Words of Allah ('adada Kalimaatika), as many times as the Pen Wrote in the Mother of Books ('adada maa jaraa bihi'l Qalamu fee Ummi'l Kitab), the number of stars ('adada nujoomi's samaa), the number of leaves of trees ('adada awraaqil ashjaar), the number of men and women (adad-an-nisaai warrijaal), and so on. Muslims of course never become satiated in sending salawaat on the blessed Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. A form of salaat that occurs most often in Dalaai u'l Khayraat is the one that offers blessings a thousand times the number of days from the day Allah Ta'ala created the earth till the Day of Judgement. An example of one such salaat is: Allahumma Salli 'alaa Muhammad-in 'Adada kulli qatratin qatarat min Samaawaatika ilaa Ardhika Min yaumi khalaqtaddunya ilaa yaumi'l qiyaamati Fee kulli yaumin alfa marrah O Allah! Bestow blessings on Sayyidina Muhammad as many times as the number of rain drops that drop from Your sky to Your earth from the day You created the earth till the Day of Judgement a thousand-fold a day!

Salawaat with praise of the Holy Prophet

Then there is salawaat on Muhammad-e-Arabi Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam with his sifaat (attributes of praise), for example: Allahumma Salli 'alaa Saahibi'l Maqaamil Mahmood O Allah! Bestow blessings on the one raised to the Praised Station. In the same way, there is salawaat on him who attained the state of Witnessing (Saahibi'l Makaani'l Mash-hood), on the intercessor (Saahibi'sh-Shafa'ah), on the intermediary (Saahibi'l Waseelah), on the one who performed miracles (Saahibi'l mu'jizaat), on the one who physically ascended to the heavens on mi'raaj (Saahibi'l mi'raaj), and so on. Imam al-Jazuli Rahmatullahi 'alaih also presents simple salawaat easy to recite and memorise with the names and titles of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam as follows: Allahumma Salli 'alal Bashir i'n Nadheer O Allah! Bestow blessings on the one who brought glad tidings (of paradise) and who warned (against hell-fire). In the same way, there is salawaat on siraajummuneer (the shining light), nuri'l anwaar (the light of lights), manin shaqqa lahu'l qamar (for whom the moon cleaved into two parts), saaqee linnaasi mina'l hawdh (the quencher of thirst of people from his Pond of Kawthar), and so on. Some of the salawaat combine all this praise in an enriching totality with a flourish of artistry as in this salaat which sparkles on earth as a gem and lights up the sky as does the full moon. Allahumma Salli 'alaa Muhammad-in Afdhali Anbiyaaika wa Akrami Asfiyaaika Wa Imami Awliyaaika wa khaatami Anbiyaaika Wa Habibi Rabbi'l 'Aalameena wa Shaheedi'l Mursaleena Wa Shafee'il mudhnibeena wa Sayyidi waladi Adam-a ajma'eena Al marfu'iz-zikri fi'l Malaaikati'l Muqarrabeena Al Bashir i'n Nadheer As-Siraaji'l Muneer As-Saadiqi'l Ameen al-Haqqi'l Mubeen Ar-Rauf i'r Raheem Al Haadee ilaa Siraati'l Mustaqeem Alladhee aataytahu Sab'an Mina'l Mathaanee wa'l Qur'an-al-'Azeem Nabiyy i'r Rahmah wa Haadi'l Ummah Awwali man tanshaqqu 'anhu'l ardhu wa yadkhulu'l Jannah Wa'l muayyadi Jibrila wa Meekaaila Al Mubash-shari bihi fi't Tawraati wa'l Injili Al-Mustafa al-Mujtaba al-Muntakhabi Abi'l Qasim Muhammad ibni 'Abdillah ibni 'Abdil Muttalib ibni Hashim O Allah! Bestow blessings on Sayyidina Muhammad, who is the best among Prophets sent by You and the most noble among Your chosen people, the leader of the saints, and the Seal of the Prophets, and the beloved of the Lord of the Worlds, a witness for the Messengers of Allah (on the Day of Judgement) and the intercessor for sinners, the leader of all the children of Prophet Adam Alayhissalaam; whose rememberance has been exalted among the highest angels, who brings glad tidings (of heaven) and warns (against hell-fire), a shining light, truthful, trustworthy, manifest truth, most kind and merciful, the guide to the straight path, whom You gave the seven often-repeated verses of Surah Fatiha and the magnificent Qur'an, the Prophet of mercy and the guide of the nation, the first one to be resurrected and to enter paradise, and one who is supported by angels Jibril and Meekaail, whose coming had been foretold in the Torah and the Bible, Mustafa, Mujtaba, the selected one, the father of Qasim, Muhammad, son of 'Abdillah, son of 'Abdil Muttalib, son of Hashim.

Praise with each letter of his name

Dua

There is dua (invocation) at the end of each chapter. One dua, easy to memorise which we can surely benefit from is: Allahummasturna bi sitrika'l Jameel O Allah! Hide our shame with Your Own Beautiful Covering. Imam al-Jazuli Rahmatullahi 'alaih has also included the famous Dua u't Tawassul and invokes Allah using the mediation (wasila) of Asma u'l Husna, of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam, of Arsh (His Throne) and of Kursi (His Seat). The dua in the final part provides such a spiritually enriching mixture of Asma u'l Husna and salawaat, it tastes like the river of milk from paradise itself. Imam al-Jazuli takes three sips as is sunnah and fittingly concludes with a dua for himself. Allahummagfir li muallifihi Warhamhu Waj'alhu minal mahshooreena fee zumratin-Nabiyyeena wa's-Siddiqeena Yaumal Qiyaamati Yaa Rahmaan O Allah! Forgive this writer and have Mercy on him, and raise him up on the Day of Judgement in the company of the Prophets and the Truthful, O the Most Beneficent. Allahummaj 'alnaa ma'hum O Allah! Make us their companions too. Aameen Yaa Rabba'l 'Aalameen. Sallu 'ala'n Nabiyy! Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaih Sallu 'ala'r Rasul! Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaih

Majmu'ah Salawaat u'r Rasul (Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam) of Khwaja 'Abdur Rahman Chohravi

Majmu'ah Salawaat u'r Rasul of Hadhrat Mawlana Khwaja 'Abdur Rahman Chohravi, QaddasAllahu Sirrahu'l 'Azeez is a gift given to him by Allah Ta'ala Himself. It is a compilation of salawaat and salaams on our Holy Prophet Sayyidina wa Mawlana Hadhrat Muhammad al-Mustafa Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam, in 30 chapters.

Each chapter of 48 pages (one of which is the title page), weaves the Asma Allah u'l Husna (The Most Beautiful Names of Allah Ta'ala), Salawaat u'r Rasul (blessings on the Holy Prophet) and dua (invocation) around a particular theme. For example, the theme of the first chapter is "Fee Noorihi wa Zuhoorihi" (On the Holy Prophet's Light And Manifestation); that of the second, "Fee Salawaatihi wa Salaamihi" (On Blessings And Salutations On Him); of the third, "Fee Badnihi wa A'dhaa-ihi" (On His Blessed Body And Limbs) and so on. Each chapter begins with Surah al-Fateha and ends with Surah Ikhlas. However, before Surah al-Fateha, Allah Ta'ala is invoked for the sake of Bismillah. For example, Chapter 7, "Fee Asma-ihi wa Sifaatihi" (On His Blessed Names And Attributes) begins with the following dua: Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem Allahumma innee as-aluka bi-Asmaa-ika Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem Wa bi-Asmaai Habibika Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem Wa bi-Asmaai Jamee-i Anbiyaaika wa Rusulika Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem Wa bi-Asmaai 'Ibaadikassaaliheena Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem. In the name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful O Allah I beg of you through the means of Your Names Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem and through the means of the names of Your beloved Prophet Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem and through the means of the names of all Your Prophets and Messengers Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem and through the means of the names of all Your pious servants Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem.

Salawaat with Hadith Qudsi

One of the most pleasing features of this kitab is that Shaykh 'Abdur Rahman Chohravi presents many salawaat with the Hadith Qudsi as well. The difference between Hadith Qudsi and Hadith Nabawi is that while Hadith Nabawi are sayings of the blessed Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam, Hadith Qudsi is what Allah has communicated to him through revelation, inspiration, or in a dream, and the beloved Prophet has then communicated it in his own words. The Qur'an is of course superior to Hadith Qudsi because besides being revealed, it is Allah's own Word. One of the salawaat in the Majmu'ah containing a Hadith Qudsi is as follows: Allahumma Salli 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-i nillazee Qaala fi'l Qudsiyyi Qaal'Allahu Ya'bna Adam-a Kam min siraajinn atfaahu'r reehu Wa kam min 'aabidin afsadahu'l 'ujbu Wa kam min faqeerin afsadahu'l faqru Wa kam min ghaniyyin afsadahu'l ghinaa Wa kam min saheehin afsadahu'l 'aafiyah Wa kam min 'aalimin afsadahu'l 'ilmu Yaa bani Adam-a Zaari'oonee wa raabihoonee wa aasiqoonee wa 'aamiloonee Inna rib'hakum 'indee maa laa 'ainun ra'at Wa laa uzunun sami'at Wa laa khatara 'alaa qalbi basharin Wa laa yanfadu khazaainee Wa laa yanqasu mulkee Ana'l Wahhaab O Allah! Bestow blessings on Sayyidina Muhammad who said in a Hadith Qudsi that Allah said: O son of Adam! How many lamps have been put out by the wind, and how many worshippers have been destroyed by pride, and how many faqeers (derveshes) have been destroyed by faqr (poverty), and how many of the rich have been destroyed by riches, and how many of the healthy have been destroyed by good health, and how many of the learned have been destroyed by knowledge? O son of Adam! Sow for me, profit for my sake, put your confidence in me, and work for me. Truly, the gain you will have with me, no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no human mind has any idea about. My treasures do not run out and my Kingdom does not decrease. I am the Bestower.

The Beloved Prophet's Knowledge of the Unseen

Chapter 21, "Fee Ilmihi wa Ilmi Gaybihi" (On His Knowledge Of The Seen And Unseen), has 361 salawaat proving that the blessed Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam had the knowledge of the seen as well as the unseen. For example, the beloved Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam had seen heaven and hell, he had seen angel Jibril 'alaihissalaam as well as the other angels, he had been to the seven skies and met the Prophets 'alaihimussalaam on them when he was invited by Allah on mi'raj, he had seen the punishment given to sinners in their graves, he knew who would go to heaven and hell, he knew that Imam Hasan Rady Allahu 'Anhu would one day unite two Muslim factions, and he knew that Sayyidah Fatima Rady Allahu 'Anha would be the first to follow him after he left his earthly existence. He made many other prophecies all of which came true. For example, he prophesized that Allah Ta'ala will conquer Rome and Persia for the Muslims. He knew about Sidratu'l Muntaha (the farthest Lote-tree), Arsh (Allah's Throne), Maqam Mahmud (The Highest Praised Station), as well as the Tasbeehaat (hymns) of the angels in the various heavens. He informed us that the Tasbeeh (hymn) of the angels in the first heaven is "Sub'hana Zi'l Mulki wa'l Malakoot" and Shaykh 'Abdur Rahman Chohravi Rahmatullahi 'alaih has a salaat for it: Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-in Wa 'alaa aali Sayyidina Muhammad-i Nilladhee akhbara anna Tasbeeha malaaika-ta's-samaa-id-dunyaa Sub'haana Zi'l Mulki Wa'l Malakoot O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on Sayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammad who informed us that the hymn of the angels on the first sky is: Glory be to Allah! Owner of the Kingdom and Sovereignty In the same way, he informed us about the Tasbeehaat (hymns) of the angels on the other skies as follows: On the second sky: Sub'haana Zi'l Izzati wa'l Jabaroot Glory be to Allah! Possessor of Honour and Omnipotence On the third sky: Su'bhaana'l Hayyi'lladhee laa yamoot Glory be to Allah! Everliving, Everlasting   On the fourth sky: Subboohun Quddoosun Rabbunaa wa Rabbu'l Malaaikati Wa'rrooh Glory be to Allah, The Most Holy One, Our Lord, and the Lord of the angels and of the Archangel Jibril Alayhissalam On the fifth sky: Sub'haana Man Jama'a bayna'th-thalji wa'n-naar Glory be to Allah! Who brought together ice and fire On the sixth sky: Sub'haana'l Maliki'l Quddoosi Rabbi Kulli Shay'in wa Ilay-hi'nnushoor Glory be to Allah! The Sovereign, The Most Holy One, Lord of all Creation and to Him is the return (on the Day of Judgement) On the seventh sky: Sub'haana Khaaliqinnoor Glory be to Allah! The Creator of Light When we finish praying Chapter 21 of Majmu'ah Salawaat-u'r-Rasul, we obtain the certitude that Allah gave the sum total of all knowledge, both manifest and hidden to the beloved Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam who then distributes it among people in proportion to what has been decreed for them by Allah Ta'ala Khaaliq u'l Arsh.

Salaat on the Salaah of the Prophet

Trust Shaykh 'Abdur Rahman Chohravi Rahmatullahi 'alaih to come up with a salaat with Tasbeehaat as in this instance: Allahumma Salli 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-i nilladhee qaala Sub'haanAllahi wa'l Hamdu Lillahi Wa Laa Ilaaha Illallahu Wallahu Akbar Wa Salli 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-i nilladhee qaala Sub'haanAllahi wa bi Hamdihi Wa Salli 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-i nilladhee qaala Laa Ilaha Illallahu Wahdahoo Laa Sharikalahoo Lahu'l Mulku wa Lahu'l Hamdu wa Huwa 'Alaa Kulli Shay-in Qadeer O Allah! Bestow blessings on Sayyidina Muhammad who said: "Glory be to Allah and all praise is for Allah and none is to be worshipped but Allah and Allah is the Greatest." And bestow blessings on Sayyidina Muhammad who said: "Glory be to Allah as He Himself Glorifies and Praises Himself." And bestow blessings on Sayyidina Muhammad who said: "None is to be worshipped but Allah; He is One; He has no partner. His is the Kingdom and His is the Praise and He has power over all things."

Mishkaat u's Salawaat of Mawlana Muhammad Elyas Burney

Mishkaat u's Salawaat (A Niche For Lit-Up Blessings) compiled by Mawlana Muhammad Elyas Burney (1890-1959 C.E) of India is a rare treasure, a manifestation of overflowing love for Allah Sub'hanahu wa Ta'ala and our beloved Prophet Sayyidina wa Mawlana Hadhrat Muhammad al-Mustafa Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam.

Mawlana Burney has referenced Dalaail u'l Khairaat (Proofs of Good Deeds) of Imam Muhammad Sulayman al-Jazuli, Kanzu'l 'Ummaal (The Treasure of Authors) of Hadhrat Ali al-Muttaqi, Hizbu'l A'zam (The Great Supplication) of Hadhrat Mulla 'Ali al-Qaari, Majmu'atul Awraad Wa'l Ahzaab (Collected Regular Voluntary Invocations) of 'Allamah Kamishkhaanwi, and three kutub (books) of Imam Yusuf ibn Ismail an-Nab'haani, that is, Salawaat u's Sanaa, (The Shining Blessings), Afdhal u's Salawaat, (The Best of Blessings) and Sa'adatu'd Daarain (Happiness Here and in the Hereafter). And in keeping with ancient Muslim scholarly tradition, his kitab (book) is in seven parts which provide recitation for seven days of the week. Mawlana Burney's disciple, Qaari 'Abdul Haleem Elyasee has done a great service to Muslims in having the kitab translated, transliterated and published, establishing a very high standard of scholarship and showing a deep sense of love for his Shaykh, for Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam and for Allah Sub'hanahu wa Ta'ala. He has dedicated the translation and the transliteration to all those who love, revere and follow the beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam, and quotes the following verse of the Holy Qur'an Kareem: Wa Rafa'naa Laka Zikrak And exalted for you your Zikr (O Prophet) (94:4) Each part of the kitab starts with the niyya (intention) as in Dalaail u'l Khairaat of Imam al-Jazuli, Rahmatullahi 'alaih, followed by Salaat u's Sa'adah; and ends with As-Salaat u'l Munjiya (also known as Salaat Tunjina), and Salaams on all the Prophets, 'alaihimussalaam, as in the following verses of the Holy Qur'an Kareem. Sub'haana Rabbika Rabbi'l 'Izzati 'ammaa yasifoon Wa Salaamun 'ala'l Mursaleen Wa'l Hamdu Lillaahi Rabbi'l 'Aalameen. Glory be to your Lord, the Lord of Honour. (He is free) from what they ascribe (to Him). And peace be on the Messengers. And all praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. (37:180-182)

Salawaat with Verses of the Holy Qur'an

The beauty of the first two parts of the kitab is the way verses of the Qur'an Kareem are woven with salawaat on the Noble Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam as follows: Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-i Nilladhee qulta feeh Innallaha wa Malaaikatahoo Yusalloona 'ala'n Nabiyy Yaa ayyuhalladheena aamanoo salloo 'alaihi wa sallimoo tasleemaa O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on Sayyidina Muhammad, out of regard for whom You said: Truly, Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet: O you who believe! Invoke blessings on him, and salute him with a worthy salutation. (33:56) Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-i Nilladhee anzalta 'alayh Qul Huwallahu Ahad Allah-us-Samad Lam Yalid wa Lam Yoolad Wa Lam Yakullahu Kufuwan Ahad O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on Sayyidina Muhammad, to whom You revealed: Say: He is Allah, the One and Only: Allah, the Eternally Besought (on Whom all depend and He depends on none). He begets not, nor is He begotten; and there is none like Him. (112:1-4) Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-i Nilladhee qulta lahu Qul In Kuntum Tuhibboonallaha Fattibi'oonee Yuhbibkumullahu wa Yaghfirlakum Dhunoobakum Wallahu Ghafoorun Raheem O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on Sayyidina Muhammad, to whom You said: Say (O Prophet): If you truly love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: and Allah is Forgiving, Most Merciful. (3:31) Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-i Nilladhee qulta lahu Wa Maa Arsalnaaka Illaa Rahmatallil 'Aalameen O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on Sayyidina Muhammad, to whom You said: (O Prophet) And We have not sent you but as mercy for all the worlds. (21:107)

The Holy Prophet Brings Glad Tidings

Part three of the kitab presents salawaat on the blessed Prophet Sayyidina Muhammad al-Mustafa Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam as the exalted herald of glad tidings for various categories of his followers. For example, he is the exalted herald of glad tidings for mu'mineen (believers) as in the following salaat: Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-i-ni'l Basheeri'l mubash-shiri li'l mu'mineena Bimaa Qaal-Allahu Ta'ala Wa Bash-shiri'l Mu'mineena bianna lahum Min-Allahi Fadhlan Kabeeraa Wallahu dhoo fadhlin 'ala'l Mu'mineen O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on Sayyidina Muhammad, who is indeed the exalted herald of glad tidings and the conveyor to the believers of what Allah, The Exalted said: And announce the glad tidings to the believers that they shall have high favours from Allah (33:47). And Allah is full of Graciousness towards the believers (3:152). In the same way, the beloved Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam brought glad tidings for: muslimeen (those who surrender to Allah, al-Qur'an, verse 22:78), ummatihi (his followers, 3:110), daa'een (the propagators of Islam, 3:104), shaahideen (witnesses of Truth, 5:83, 3:53), muti'een (those who obey Him, 4:69-70), mujahideen (those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah Ta'ala, 4:95-96), muhajireen and ansaar (emigrants in the way of Allah Ta'ala, and their helpers, 8:74, 59:8-9), mutawakkileen (those who put their trust in Allah Ta'ala, 3:159, 9:129), saabireen (those who endure the ordeals of life patiently, 2:153, 2:156-157, 3:146), shuhadaa (the martyrs, 2:154, 3:169-171), muttaqeen (the righteous who fear Allah, 2:1-5, 2:194), mukhliseen (sincerely devoted to Allah Ta'ala, 98:5, 40:65), 'aabideen (worshippers of Allah Ta'ala, 39:11-12, 13:36, 15:98-99), musalleen (who offer salah, prayers, 29:45, 2:238), zaakireen (who do zikr, 2:152, 62:10, 13:28, 33:35), musabbiheen (who praise and glorify Allah Ta'ala, 59:1, 33:41-44), haamideen (who hymn praises of Allah Ta'ala, 18:1, 17:111), shaakireen (the grateful, 2:172, 16:78), munibeen (who turn to Allah in devotion, 42:13, 50:33-34, 11:75), mukhbiteen (the humble and lowly before Allah Ta'ala, 22:34-35), qaaniteen (who adore Allah Ta'ala, 39:9), khaaifeen (who fear Allah Ta'ala, 55:46, 79:40-41), khaashi'een (who pray to Allah in humility, 23:1-2, 2:45-46, 36:11), mustaghfireen (who ask forgiveness, 4:110, 40:7, 8:33), tawwaabeen (who repent, 6:54, 66:8, 42:25, 2:222), as-saaileen (the questioners, 2:186, 40:60), 'aamileen (who work righteously, 16:97, 40:40, 39:74), saaimeen (who observe fast, 2:185), hujjaj (Hajj pilgrims, 3:96-97, 2:197), zaahideen (the abstinent, 18:46), saaliheen (the righteous, 7:196, 5:9, 3:114), saadiqeen (the truthful, 9:119, 5:119), muhsineen (who being good in themselves, do good to others, 2:195, 7:56, 9:120, 29:69), muqarrabeen (those who are drawn near to Allah, 56:88-89, 56:10-16), faaizeen (the successful in this life and in the Hereafter, 10:63-64, 57:12), al-abraar (the virtuous, 2:177), and munfiqeen (who spend in the way of Allah Ta'ala, 2:261-263, 2:268, 3:92, 2:215, 2:273-274, 3:133-134). Each of these sifaat (attributes) has a salaat woven around one or more verses of the Holy Qur'an. For example: Allahumma Salli Wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-i-ni'l Bashir i'l mubash-shiri li'z-zaahideena bimaa Qaal-Allahu Ta'ala:   Al-maalu wa'l banoona zeenatu'l hayaatid-dunyaa Wa'l baaqiyaat u's saalihaatu Khayrun 'inda Rabbika thawaaban Wa khayrun 'amalaa. O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on Sayyidina Muhammad, who is indeed the exalted herald of glad tidings and the conveyor to the abstinent of what Allah, The Exalted said:   Wealth and children are an adornment of the life of this world; but the good deeds which abide, are better with your Lord in reward and better in expectation. (18:46) There are 38 such salawaat with a total of 116 verses from the Glorious Qur'an. Mawlana Burney Rahmatullahi 'alaih thus conveys the hidaya (guidance) from the Holy Qur'an and adds to it the baraka (blessing) of salawaat.

Famous Salawaat

Besides As-Salaatu Ibrahimiyyah, there are various other well-known salawaat in this kitab of which As-salaat u't taajiyyah, As-salaat u'l Qur'aaniyyah, Salaat u'l Fatih, Salaat u'l Tafreejiyyah, and Salaat u'l 'Aali'l Qadr are perhaps more popular. As-salaat u't taajiyyah is normally recited to begin a majlis (spiritual gathering) of Zikr, As-salaat u'l Qur'aaniyyah forms part of the dua (invocation) when one completes recitation of the whole Qur'an, Salaat u'l Faatih is a recommended wird (regular voluntary invocation), Salaat u'l Tafreejiyah is normally recited after salaah (obligatory five times daily prayers), while Salaatu'l 'Aali'l Qadr has been especially recommended to be recited on Fridays. These salawaat are found in many kutub (books) of salawaat and of azkaar (supplications) which also explain the merit and benefits of reciting these salawaat. As-salaat u't taajiyyah is very popular. It was composed by al-Habib AbiBakr bin Salim al-'Alawi al-Husayni, Rady Allahu 'Anhu (919-992 A.H), and in its original form is given in two kitabs, namely, Rasaailu Haammah fi'l Ad'iyah (Important Writings on Supplications, p. 320) Risaalat-ul-Hajj al-Mabrur wa Sa'yan Mashkoor (A Treatise on Accepted Hajj and Meritorious Sa'y, p. 180) of Shaykh Muhammad 'AbdAllah bin Shaykh al-Husaini, Naf'anAllahu bih. In its expanded form, it is found in kitabs such as: Qadiri Ridhwi Majmu'ah Wazaaif (Collected Regular Invocations in the Qadiri Ridhwi Tariqa) of Janab Iqbal Ahmad Nuri and Janab Anees Ahmad Nuri (in Urdu), and   Durood Shareef (Noble Blessings) of Khwaja Nithaar Ahmad (in Urdu). Salaat u'l Fatih is included in:   Abwaab al Faraj (Doors of Freedom From Sorrow), and   Shawaariq u'l Anwaar (Brilliant Burst of Sunshine), both of Imam as-Sayyid Muhammad Bin 'Alawi al-Maliki al-Hasani, and in   Afdhal u's Salawaat (The Best of Blessings) of Imam Yusuf an-Nab'haani. Salaat ul Tafreejiyyah is even more famous as it is included in all the books just mentioned as well as in other books such as Al-Azkaar wa'l Awraad (Regular Voluntary Supplications and Invocations) compiled by Muhyuddin bin 'AbdurRahman bin Muhammad Zanzibari. Let us begin with As-salaat u't taajiyyah (in its expanded form) which takes the beloved Prophet's mi'raj (heavenly journey) for its theme. As-salaat u't taajiyyah Bismillah i'r-Rahman i'r-Raheem Innallaha wa malaaikatahu yusalloona 'alan Nabiyy Yaa ayyuhalladheena aamanoo salloo 'alayhi Wasallimoo tasleemaa Allahumma Salli 'alaa Sayyidina wa Mawlana Muhammad-in Saahib i't Taaji wa'l Mi'raaji wa'l Buraaqi wa'l 'Alam Daafi-'il balaa-i wa'l wabaa-i wa'l qahti wa'l maradhi wa'l alam Ismuhoo maktoobun marfoo-'un mashfoo'un manqooshun fi'l Lawhi wa'l Qalam Sayyidi'l 'Arabi wa'l 'Ajam Jismuhoo muqaddasun mu'attarun mutahharun Munawwarun fi'l Bayti wa'l Haram Shamsi'd dhuhaa Badri'd dujaa Sadri'l 'ulaa Nuri'l Hudaa Kahfi'l Waraa Misbaahi'z-zulam Jameeli'sh Shiyam Shafee'il umam Saahibi'l Joodi wa'l Karam Wallahu 'Aasimuhoo wa Jibrilu khaadimuhoo wa'l Buraaqu markabuhoo Wa'l Mi'raaju safaruhoo wa Sidratu'l Muntahaa maqaamuhoo Wa Qaaba Qawsayni matloobuhu Wa'l matloobu maqsooduhu wa'l maqsoodu mawjooduhoo Sayyidi'l Mursaleen Khaataman-Nabiyyeen Shafee'il mudhnibeen Aneesi'l ghareebeen Rahmatalli'l 'aalameen Raahati'l 'Aashiqeen Muraadi'l Mushtaaqeen Shamsi'l 'Aarifeen Siraaji's Saalikeen Misbaahi'l Muqarrabeen Muhibbi'l fuqaraa-i wa'l ghurabaa-i wa'l masaakeen Sayyidi'th Thaqalain Nabiyyi'l Haramain Imami'l Qiblatain Waseelatinaa fi'd-daarain Saahibi Qaaba Qawsain Mahboobi Rabbi'l mashriqain wa Rabbi'l maghribain Jaddi'l Hasan-i wa'l Husain Mawlana wa Maula'th Thaqalain Abi'l Qasim Muhammad ibni 'Abdillah Nurin-min-Nurillah Yaa ayyuhal Mushtaaqoona bi Nuri jamaalihee Salloo 'alaihi wa aalihi wa as'haabihi wa sallimoo tasleemaa. In the Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful. (1:1) Surely, Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O you who believe! call for (Allah's) blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation. (33:56) O Allah! Bestow blessings on our patron Sayyidina Muhammad, the wearer of the holy crown, the one who ascended the heavens; the rider of the heavenly Buraq and the holder of the flag of Divine Unity; the remover of calamity, epidemic, famine, disease and pain (with the permission of His Lord, full of Wisdom). His name is written (in Divine Edict) - exalted, authorised for intercession, and inscribed in the Tablet and Pen. He is the leader of Arabs and non-Arabs. His body is most holy, fragrant, perfected in purity, and luminous in the Sanctuary of the Ka'ba and its precincts. He is the sun of the glorious morning and the full moon on a dark night, the chief occupant of the highest seat in heaven, light of guidance, refuge for the creatures and a lamp in darkness. Of excellent manners is he, intercessor for mankind, one gifted with generosity and magnanimity. Allah is his Protector (against all mischief) and Hadhrat Jibreel 'Alayhissalam attends on him frequently. The heavenly Buraq is his conveyance and Mi'raj is his journey to You. Sidhratu'l Muntaha (farthest point in the heavens) is his station. His objective was "Qaaba Qawsain" (to draw nearest to Allah) - the objective was reached and the goal covered. He is the leader of the Messengers of Allah and the last in the line of Prophets; the intercessor for sinners, a close friend of strangers, mercy indeed for all the worlds, comfort for those who love him and the one desired by yearning souls, the sun of the gnostics, and the lamp for those who travel on the path to Allah, and the light for those who are drawn to Allah, the lover of the poor, the strangers and the needy, the leader of jinn and people, Prophet of the two sacred centres (of Makkah and Madinah), leader of the two Qiblas (the Ka'ba and originally, Masjid Aqsa), our mediator and support in both the worlds, honoured with the "Qaaba Qawsain" (one who drew closest to Allah, a distance of two bows length or even less) - the Beloved of the Lord of the two easts and the two wests; the grandfather of Sayyidina Imam Hasan and Sayyidina Imam Husain, our patron and the patron of all jinn and people, the father of Qasim, Muhammad, son of 'Abdullah, who is the light from Allah's Light. Therefore, O lovers of the light of the beauty of Muhammad! Invoke blessings on him, his family and his companions, and salute him with a worthy salutation. Allahumma Salli wa Sallim wa Baarik 'alaih As-salaat u'l Qur'aaniyyah Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-in Wa 'alaa aalihi wa as'haabihi Bi'adadi maa fee jamee'il Qur'an-i harfan harfan Wa bi'adadi kulli harfin alfan alfaa O Allah! Shower blessings and peace on Sayyidina Muhammad, and on his family and companions, according to the number of every letter in the Qur'an - and let each letter carry thousands of blessings and salutations. Salaat u'l Faatih Many mashaaikh (spiritual masters) have really taken this ancient salaat to heart, among whom is Al-'Allamah As-Sayyid Muhammad bin Hadi bin Hasan ibn 'AbdurRahman as-Saqqaf al-Husaini who included it in his mosaic of salawaat and dua titled An-Nafahaati'l 'Anbariyyah Fi's Salaati 'alaa Khayri'l Bariyyah (The Fragrance of Amber in the Blessings on The Best of Creation). Allahumma Salli wa Sallim wa Baarik 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-i-ni'l Faatihi limaa ughliqa wa'l khaatimi limaa sabaqa Wa'n Naasiri'l Haqqi bi'l Haqqi Wa'l Haadee ilaa Siraatika'l Mustaqeem Sallallahu 'alaihi wa 'alaa aalihi wa as'haabihi Haqqa qadrihi wa miqdaarihi'l 'azeem. O Allah! Bestow blessings, peace and favours on Sayyidina Muhammad, who opens that which is closed and closes that (Prophethood) which preceded; who helps truth with truth and who guides (mankind) to Your Straight Path, - May blessings of Allah be upon him, his family, and his companions, in great abundance, according to his exalted position. As-Salaat u'l Tafreejiyyah (Also Known As-Salaat u'n Naariyah, and As-Salaat u't Taaziyyah) A saalik (traveller on the spiritual path) is recommended to recite this salaat 4444 times in his lifetime. Allahumma salli salaatan kaamilatan Wa sallim salaaman taamman 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-i Nilladhee tanhallu bihi'l 'uqad wa tanfariju bihi'l kurab Wa tuqdhaa bihi'l hawaaij wa tunaalu bihi'r-raghaaib Wa husnu'l khawaatim wa yustasqa'l ghamaamu biwaj'hihi'l kareem Wa 'alaa aalihi wa sahbihee fee kulli lamhatin wa nafasin Bi 'adadi kulli ma'loomin-lak O Allah! Bestow complete blessings and perfect peace on Sayyidina Muhammad and for his sake may all our difficulties be removed, all calamities and agonies prevented; all needs fulfilled; all our cherished desires obtained; and a felicitous end to earthly life attained (with Imaan); and (give us) rain-showering clouds through the generous countenance of the Prophet, and (bestow blessings and peace as well) on his family and companions in every moment and every breath, as many times as is in Your Knowledge (that is, unlimited blessings). Salaat u'l 'Aali'l Qadr Allahumma Salli wa Sallim wa Baarik 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-i-nin Nabiyy-i'l ummiyy-i'l habeebi'l 'aalil'l qadri'l 'azeem i'l jaah Wa 'alaa aalihi wa sahbihi wa Sallim O Allah! Bestow blessings, peace and favours on Sayyidina Muhammad, the Prophet not taught by anyone (but directly by You, O Allah), the beloved, of high esteem and great rank, and (bestow blessings, peace and favours) on his family and companions. Salaat u'l 'Aali'l Qadr is one of the salawaat in the "Salawaat u'l Hurufiyyah" of Sayyid Ahmad Dardir Rahmatullahi 'alaih, as given in Manba'us Sa'adaat (The Fountainhead of Bliss). This Hurufiyyah presents the salawaat in alphabetical order, with the salawaat ending in the letter "Hamza" coming first, followed by the salawaat that end in the letter "Baa", and so on! Imam Jalaluddin Suyuti Rahmatullahi 'alaih, well-known for his tafsir of the Qur'an Kareem, has expounded on the merits of the Salaat u'l 'Aali'l Qadr, as explained by Imam Yusuf an-Nab'haani in Afdhal u's Salawaat (The Best of Blessings). Some of the other kutub (books) that contain this salaat are Al-Hadiyyatu's Saniyyah Fi's Salaati 'alaa Khairi'l Bariyyah (The Shining Gift In The Blessings on the Best of Creation) of As-Sayyid Haamid bin 'Alawi bin Tahir al-Haddad, and Mukhu'l 'Ibadah (The Essence of Worship), compiled by al-Habib as Sayyid 'Abdullah bin Mustafa bin Hasan al-'Aydrarus, Rahmatullahi 'alayh.

Salawaat by Awliya and Saleheen

Mishkaat u's Salawaat is full of salawaat by the awliya (saints) and the saliheen (the pious) like Gauth u'l A'zam Shaykh 'Abdul Qadir Jilani (470-561 A.H/1077-1166 C.E), Sayyid Ahmad Badawi (596-675 A.H/1199-1276 C.E), Imam Abu'l Hasan Shazili (passed away 656 A.H/1258 C.E) and Shaykh u'l Akbar Muhyuddeen ibn al-'Arabi (560-638 A.H/1165-1240 C.E), Naf'anAllahu bihim. To benefit from the baraka (blessings) of these salawaat, let us seize the opportunity to recite one salaat from among the many salawaat attributed to each of these mashaayikh (accomplished spiritual masters). We will conclude by reciting a salaat from the learned author himself, Mawlana Muhammad Elyas Burney, Rahmatullahi 'alaih. Salaat by Gauth u'l A'zam Muhyuddeen Shaykh 'Abdul Qadir Jilani Rady Allahu 'Anhu This is one of the salawaat from Shaykh 'Abdul Qadir Jilani's Kibriti'l Ahmar (The Philosopher's Stone). Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-in Wa 'alaa aalihi wa as'haabihi Khazanati asraarihee wa ma'aadini anwaarihee Kunoozi'l haqaaiqi wa hudaati'l khalaaiqi Wa nujoomi'l ihtidaa-i limaniqtadaa Wa Sallim tasleeman katheeran daaiman abadaa O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on Sayyidina Muhammad, and on his family and his companions, who are the repositories of his secrets, the reflecting centres of his light, treasure houses of truths, leaders to the right path for the creatures, and the guiding stars for those who follow them: and grant them peace constantly in profusion for ever and ever Salaat by Sayyid Ahmad Badawi Naf'anAllahu Bih Allahumma Salli wa Sallim wa Baarik 'alaa 'Ayni'l 'Inaayah wa Zayni'l Qiyaamah Wa Kanzi'l Hidaayah wa Tiraazi'l Hullah Wa 'Arusi'l Mamlakah wa Lisaani'l Hujjah Wa Shafi'il Ummah wa Imami'l Hadhrah Wa Nabiyy i'r Rahmah Sayyidina Muhammad-in Kaashifi'l ghummah O Allah! Bestow blessings, peace and favours on the spring of grace, adornment of the Day of Judgement, source of guidance, the best type (model) of creation, a Prince of the Kingdom of heaven, the tongue that delivers the Divine Argument, the Intercessor for the believers, the Leader of those nearest to Allah, and the Prophet of mercy, Sayyidina Muhammad, who dispels pain and suffering (with the permission of Allah). Salaat by Imam Abu'l Hasan Shazili Rahmatullahi 'alaih Allahumma Salli 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-i Nilladhee Ja'altahoo Nur ar-Rashaadi Wa Daleelal 'ibaadi ilaa Yaumi'l Ma'aadi Salaatan tatadha'afu ila'l abadi Wa tashtamilu bi'l mazeedi wa'l madadi Wa 'alaa aalihi wa as'haabihi wa azwaajihi Wa ahli baytihi'l kiraami Wa sallim tasleeman katheeran bidawami Mulkillah O Allah! Shower Your blessings on Sayyidina Muhammad, whom You did make the light of guidance, and a guide of mankind till the Day of Resurrection; such blessings as will multiply for ever, and which will receive addition after addition, and shower blessings on his family, and his companions, and his wives, and on the Honoured people of his Household, and also grant them peace, constantly, in profusion, eternal as Your Kingdom. Salaat by Shaykh Muhyuddeen ibn al-'Arabi Rahmatullahi 'alaih Allahumma Salli 'alaa Muhammad-in Huwa badru u't tamaam noor uz zalaam Saahib u'l qamqaam Shafi'ul mudhnibeena yaum al qiyaam Muhammad ibni 'Abdillah i'd Daa'ee ilaa Daar-is-Salaam Wa 'alaa aalihi wa sahbihi wa sallim O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on Sayyidina Muhammad as he is the full moon, a light in darkness, possessor of immense bounties, intercessor for the sinners on the Day of Judgement, Muhammad, son of Abdullah, the summoner to the Abode of peace (paradise) and (bestow blessings and peace as well) on his family and companions. The learned author, Mawlana Muhammad Elyas Burney Rahmatullahi 'alaih also composed many salawaat one of which is called Afdhalu Salawaatillah, resplendent in its symmetry. Afdhalu Salawaatillahi wa Akramu Salawaatillah Wa Ajmalu Salawaatillahi wa Ahsanu Salawaatillah Wa Akmalu Salawaatillahi wa A'zamu Salawaatillah Wa Ajallu Salawaatillahi wa Az'haru Salawaatillah 'Alaa Afdhali Khalqillahi wa Akrami Khalqillah Wa Ajmali Khalqillahi wa Ahsani Khalqillah Wa Akmali Khalqillahi wa A'zami Khalqillah Wa Ajalli Khalqillahi wa Az'hari Khalqillah 'Indallahi Muhammad-in Rasulillah Afdhali'l Anbiyaai manzilatan wa akramihim nisaabaa Wa ajmalihim sabran wa ahsanihim khayraa Wa akmalihim sharee'atan wa a'zamihim sha'naa Wa ajallihim qadran wa az'harihim sultaanaa. May the best blessings of Allah and the most noble blessings of Allah, the most graceful blessings of Allah and the most excellent blessings of Allah, the most perfect blessings of Allah and the most magnificent blessings of Allah, the most shining blessings of Allah and the most distinct blessings of Allah, rest upon him, the best creation of Allah and the most noble creation of Allah, the most graceful creation of Allah and the most excellent creation of Allah, the most perfect creation of Allah and the most magnificent creation of Allah, the most shining creation of Allah and the distinct creation of Allah, - Muhammad the Messenger of Allah, who is the best among all Prophets in respect of his rank and status, most noble among them by lineage, the most graceful among them in patience, the most excellent among them in virtue, the perfect observer of the Law among them, the most magnificent among them by position, the most shining among them according to his worth and dignity, and the most distinct among them in dominion. The beauty of this salaat lies in its symmetry. It mentions eight sifaat (attributes) of the salaat that match eight attributes of the blessed Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam and how these attributes apply to him. For example, he invokes the best blessings of Allah (Afdhalu Salawaatillah) on the best creation of Allah (Afdhalu Khalqillah) who is the best of all the Prophets in respect of his rank and status (Afdhali'l Anbiyaai manzilatan). In this way, eight sifaat (attributes) are presented in sequence, Sub'haanAllah!

Salaams on Our Beloved Prophet

It is fitting to conclude with Mawlana Burney's salaams on our beloved Prophet Sayyidina wa Mawlana Muhammad al-Mustafa Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. We notice that these salaams have musk-scented sprinklings from the famous salaams by Mawlana Gulam Mustafa 'Ishqi Rahmatullahi 'alaih. Assalaatu wa's salaamu 'alaika Yaa Rasul'Allah Assalaatu was salaamu 'alaika Yaa Nabiyy'Allah Assalaatu wa's salaamu 'alaika Yaa Habib'Allah Assalaatu wa's salaamu 'alaika Yaa Sayyidal Mursaleen Assalaatu wa's salaamu 'alaika Yaa Khaataman Nabiyyeen Assalaatu wa's salaamu 'alaika Yaa Rahmatallil 'Aalameen Anta bi'l mu'mineena Rauf u'r Raheem Innaka La'alaa Khuluqin 'Azeem Anta mawlaaya anta maljaaya Yaa Nabiyyal Hudaa Salaamun 'alaik Yaa Shafi'al Waraa Salaamun 'alaik Sallallahu 'alaika wa sallama daaiman abadaa. Blessings and salutations on you, O Messenger of Allah! Blessings and salutations on you, O Prophet sent by Allah! Blessings and salutations on you, O the beloved of Allah! Blessings and salutations on you, O leader of Allah's Messengers! Blessings and salutations on you, O Seal of the Prophets! Blessings and salutations on you, O mercy for all the worlds! You are most kind and merciful to the believers. You stand on an exalted standard of character. You are my patron, you are my refuge! Salutations to you, O Prophet of guidance! Salutations to you, O intercessor for mankind! May the blessings and peace of Allah rest on you for ever and ever! With this contribution, the Mawlana, a Shaykh in Tariqatu'l Qadiriyya and Chishtiyya has lived up to his title of Farooqi, as he was a descendant of Sayyidina 'Umar Farooq Rady Allahu 'Anhu. May Allah Ta'ala give us the hidaya (guidance) to pray at least one tasbeeh of salawaat a day (that is, 100 times) on our beloved Prophet Muhammad al-Mustafa Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam in perpetuity, Aameen Yaa Rabba'l 'Aalameen.

Salaam by Allamah Sulaiman Chelebi Effendi

This is the most popular salaam in the Turkish language. The munshid (reciter) recites the Mawlid u'n Nabi Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam composed by al-'Allamah Sulaiman Chelebi Effendi Rahmatullahi 'alaih in a deep melodious voice. At the appropriate moment, when his birth is mentioned, all stand as in Mawlid u'n Nabi celebrations all over the world. While standing, the congregation rhythmically chants the following salaat after each verse:

Allahumma Salli 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-i ni'n Nabiyyi'l Ummiyyi
Wa 'alaa Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Sallim.

O Allah bestow blessings and peace on Sayyidina Muhammad
The Prophet not taught by any human (but directly by You),
(O Allah send blessings and peace)
As well on his family and companions.

Sixteen verses in this mawlid eulogy welcome the Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam at his birth with the joyous cry of Marhaba (Welcome or "Hail to thee!"). Seven of these verses are presented here to gain their flavour (translation is by E.J.W. Gibb in A History of Ottoman Poetry, Vol 1, pages 246-247).

Hail to thee! Unsetting Sun! All hail to thee!
Hail to thee! Unwaning moon! All hail to thee!

Hail to thee! O Parrot of the world's herbere!
Wildered for thy love doth every soul appear!

Hail to thee! O Secret of the Scripture! Hail!
Hail to thee! O Balm for every dolour! Hail!

Hail to thee! O Coolth o' th' eyne! O Intimate!
Hail to thee! O Most Beloved of God the Great!

Hail to thee! O Moon! O Sun most fair!
Hail to thee! who from the Lord are parted ne'er!

Hail to thee! of all the fond Desire art thou!
Hail to thee! to God most near and dear art thou!

Hail to thee! O thou of either world the King!
Yea, for thee this universe to life did spring!


Salaams in Mawlid u'n Nabi of Imam Barzanji

The mawlid eulogy by Imam as-Sayyid Ja'far ibn Hasan ibn 'Abdal Karim al-Barzanji (1690-1766 C.E) Rahmatullahi 'alaih is popular Muslim poetry in praise of the Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam, universally recited to celebrate his birth (mawlid) on twelfth Rabi' u'l Awwal. It is a poetic biography of the Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam with his birth as its main theme. And when a Muslim says 'mawlid', every other Muslim knows it is the birth of the sweet beloved Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam that is being referred to.

This mawlid eulogy, just like dozens of others, is based on the Holy Qur'an Kareem, Hadith Shareef and books of seerah (history). It is in two parts. The first is Mawlid Barzanji Nathr, a 19 fasl (chapter) history of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam in poetic prose with 355 verses while the second is Mawlid Barzanji Nazm, a similar 16 chapter history in poetic form with 205 verses all of which rhyme with the letter 'noon'.

After the recitation of each verse in this mawlid eulogy as in all mawlid eulogies, the congregation responds:

Sallallahu 'Alaih
Allah's blessings be upon him

or

Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'Alaih
Allah's blessings and peace be upon him.

The spiritual benefits of reciting these salawaat are obviously immeasurable.

Mawlid Barzanji is in 'Arbi, it has been translated into Kiswahili by Mzee bin Ali Muhammad from the Comoro Islands of Africa, it is printed in Singapore, its introduction is in the Indonesian language in the Java dialect, it has been transcribed by Mawlana Uthman Abdulkarim Nasserpuri Rahmatullahi 'alaih of Kenya, it has been applauded in Zikr-e-Habib (Rememberance of the Beloved Prophet) by Ad-Daa'ee al-Kaamil Mawlana Abdul 'Aleem Siddiqi, Rahmatullahi 'alaih who incidentally composed salaams in Urdu, it has been reproduced in countless other kutub (books) including Baaqatun 'Atirah (A Perfumed Bouquet) of Imam as-Sayyid Muhammad 'Alawi al-Maliki of Makkah, and it is recited from Makkah to Mombasa, from Madina to Singapore, from Arafat to Jakarta and from Mina to Toronto, that is throughout the world by Muslims of all the four Madh'habs and all Tariqas.

When the munshid (reciter) reaches the narration of the actual birth of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam, all rise with respect and devotion in a standing ovation to the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam and they all offer him salaams from the depths of their hearts with deep love and affection in a resounding chorus which practically all Muslims know by heart, and indeed many other salaams whether in Arabic, Urdu or English have adopted this very same chorus.

Yaa Nabi Salaam 'alaika
Yaa Rasul Salaam 'alaika
Yaa Habib Salaam 'alaika
Salawaatu'llah 'alaika

Salutations on you, O Prophet
Salutations on you, O Messenger of Allah
Salutations on you, O Beloved
Blessings of Allah be upon you.

Although this Qiyam (standing ovation) is normally printed together with the Mawlid-u'n-Nabi Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam composed by Imam Barzanji, it cannot yet be established who actually composed it because it is also reproduced in the Mawlid-u'n-Nabi Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam titled Sharaf al-Anaam (Noble In The Whole World) composed by al-'Allamah Shaykh Ahmad bin Qasim Rahmatu'llahi 'alaih, as well as the one composed by al-Hafiz Shaykh Abdirrahman ibn Ali ad-Dayba'ee Rahmatu'llahi 'alaih. Interestingly, Shaykh ad-Dayba'ee is called al-Hafiz because he knew more than 100,000 Hadith Shareef of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam by heart. Such is the stature of the ulama who have composed Mawlid-u'n-Nabi Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam.

Of the 35 verses in this qiyam following the chorus, the ones that are normally recited are:

Ashraqa'l Badru 'alaina
Fakhtafat Minhu'l Buduru
Mithla Husnika Maa Ra'aina
Qattu Yaa Wajhas-Suroori

Anta Shamsun Anta Badrun
Anta Noorun Fawqa Noori
Anta Ikseerun wa Ghaali
Anta Misbaahu's-Sudoori

Yaa Habibee Yaa Muhammad
Yaa 'Arusa'l Khaafiqayni
Yaa Muayyad Yaa Mumajjad
Yaa Imama'l Qiblataini

Man-ra'aa Wajhaaka Yas'ad
Yaa Kareem al-Waalidaini
Hawdhuka's-Saafi'l Mubarrad
Wirdunaa Yawm an Nushoori

A full moon rises over us
The other moon disappears
We never saw the like of your beauty
O face of gladness

You are the sun, you are the moon
You are light upon lights
You are gold and even more priceless
You are the light of hearts

O my beloved, O Muhammad
O star of east and west
O supporter, O praised one
O leader of both Qiblas

Whoever sees your face, gets happiness
O the kind one to both parents
Your clear and cool fountain
Is our goal on the Day of Reckoning


Salaams at the Rawdha

When the Muslims visit the Holy Prophet Sall'Allahu 'alaihi wa Sallam in Madina, they greet him with salaams at his tomb, (popularly referred to as "Rawda" or garden of paradise) in Masjid Nabawi. These salaams are given in Azkaar (Supplications to Allah) of Imam Muhyuddin Abu Zakaria bin Sharaf an-Nawawi Rahmatullahi 'alaih (631-676 A.H).

Assalamu 'alaika Yaa Rasul'Allah
Assalamu 'alaika Yaa Kheerata'llahi min khalqihi
Assalamu 'alaika Yaa Habib'Allah
Assalamu 'alaika Yaa Sayyida'l Mursaleen wa Khaatama'n Nabiyyeen
Assalamu 'alaika wa 'alaa aalika wa as'haabika
Wa ahli baytika wa 'alan Nabiyyeen-a wa saairi's saaliheen
Ash-hadu annaka ballaghta'r Risalah
Wa addayta'l amaanah wa nasahta'l ummah
Fajazaak'Allahu 'annaa afdhala maa jazaa Rasulan 'an ummatihi

Salaams on you, O Messenger of Allah.
Salaams on you, O Allah's choicest one in all his creation.
Salaams on you, O the beloved of Allah.
Salaams on you, O the leader of all the Messengers and the last of the Prophets.
Salaams on you and on your family and your companions
and your household and on all the prophets and on all well-known pious people.
I bear witness that you completed your duties as the Messenger of Allah,
fulfilled your trusts, and sincerely advised your community.
May Allah reward you on our behalf better than
the reward that any Messenger received on behalf of his community.

Imam an-Nawawi Rahmatullahi 'alaih reports in Manasik (Muslim Ceremonies And Rituals) that Imam u'l 'Utbi Rahmatullahi 'alaih narrated that one day while he was sitting before the tomb of the beloved Prophet Sall'Allahu 'alaihi wa Sallam, a bedouin came, offered salaams to the Holy Prophet and recited this verse from Surah an-Nisaa:

Wa Law Annahum Idh-dhalamoo Anfusahum Jaa'uka
Fastaghfarullaha Wastaghfara Lahum u'r Rasulu
Lawajadullaha Tawwaaban Rahima.

And had they, when they were unjust to themselves
come to you and asked forgiveness of Allah
and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them,
they would have found Allah Forgiving, Merciful. (4:64)

Then, he requested the blessed Prophet Sall'Allahu 'alaihi wa Sallam to intercede for him with Allah and recited these two verses of a qasida (hymn).

Yaa Khaira Man Dufinat Bilqaai A'dhumahu
Fa Taaba Min Teebihinnalqaa'u Wa'l Akamu

Nafsi'l Fidaau Liqabrin Anta Saakinuhu
Feehi'l 'Afaafu Wa Feehi'l Joodu Wa'l Karamu

O the best person ever laid to rest! When his blessed body touched the earth
His perfumed bones made the earth and the surrounding forest fragrant

May my soul be sacrificed for the tomb you reside in
In it there is purity, generosity, munificence

Having recited these two verses, the bedouin left. Imam u'l-'Utbi then saw the Holy Prophet Sall'Allahu 'alaihi wa Sallam in a dream who told him to give the bedouin the glad tidings that Allah Ta'ala had forgiven him! Sub'hanAllah!

Muslims intending to go for Hajj, Umra and Ziyara inevitably learn the dua (invocation) and salaams they will recite while on pilgimage from a kitab (book) they have handy, that has been especially compiled for that purpose. We find that in most such kutub (books), the main features of the dua to be recited at the Rawda of Rasul'Allah Sall'Allahu 'alaihi wa Sallam are salaams on him, followed by verse number 64 from Surah an-Nisaa, then a request to the blessed Prophet to intercede with Allah, and the two verses from the qasida (hymn) quoted earlier. If this brought forgiveness for the bedouin in the time of Imam u'l 'Utbi as narrated by Imam an-Nawawi himself, why can't it bring forgiveness for the rest, so burns the eternal hope in the heart of every Muslim!

To gain special blessings, the saalik (traveller on the spiritual path) might be guided to recite the very first salaat from Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah (Mercies from Allah's Throne) of Sayyidina al-Imam al-Habib 'Ali bin Muhammad al-Habshi (1259-1333 A.H) of Hadhramaut who composed it on the occasion of his ziyara (visit) to the Holy Prophet, Sall'Allahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. It begins:

Bismi'llah i'r Rahman i'r Raheem
Allahumma Salli wa Sallim wa Baarik 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad
Awwali mutalaqqi li-faydhika'l awwal.

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O Allah! Shower Your Blessings, Salutations and Favours
on Sayyidina Muhammad who is the first person
to receive the first blessing from You

While at the blessed Rawda of the beloved Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam, seize the opportunity to recite the qasida of Sayyidina al-Imam al-Habib 'Abdallah bin 'Alawi al-Haddad Rady Allahu 'Anhu that is engraved in the hujra (room) of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam where he used to live with Sayyidatna 'Aisha Rady Allahu 'Anha. It is the same hujra where he rests in eternal peace now and above it is the qubba (green dome). From the outside can be discerned the eighteenth verse of this qasida which reads:

Nabiyyun azeemun khuluquhu'l khuluqul-ladhee
Lahu 'azzam ar-Rahmanu fee Sayyid i'l Kutbi

A great Prophet whose character was the character
Which the Most Beneficent has exalted in the Master of Books.

Here, Sayyidina al-Imam al-Habib 'Abdallah bin 'Alawi al-Haddad Rady Allahu 'Anhu is referring to this verse of the Qur'an Kareem in praise of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

Wa Innaka La'alaa Khuluqin 'Azeem
Assuredly, you are of a most excellent character (68:4)

The blessed Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam and Mawlana al-Haddad Rady Allahu 'Anhu obviously have a very special relationship of mutual love for Mawlana al-Haddad's qasida to be selected to adorn the hujra. This qasida is in his Diwan (Collected Hymns) titled Ad-Durru'l Mandhoom Li Dhawi'l 'Uqool wa'l Fuhoom (Poetic Pearls for Discerning and Understanding Minds). It has been reproduced by Imam as-Sayyid Muhammad bin 'Alawi al-Maliki of Makkah in Shifaa-u'l Fuaad bi Ziyaarati Khayri'l 'Ibaad (The Cure Of The Heart Arising From The Visit To The Best Servant of Allah). He has captioned it: "Al-Qasida al-Haddadiyyah al-Daakhiliyyah Lil-Hujratin Nabawiyyah Ash-Sharifah" ("The Eulogy by Mawlana al-Haddad Engraved Inside The Blessed Room Of The Prophet"). And he has provided an explanation (sharh) of its spiritual and historic significance. It has 41 verses all of which rhyme in the letter "Ba", praising the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. Each verse contains the teachings of one or more verses of the Holy Qur'an Karem or the blessed Hadith Shareef.

The last 14 of its 41 verses contain salawaat and salaams. So we are not surprised to find that Dr. Mostafa al-Badawi has given these verses in his Ziyarah Sayyidi'l Kawnayn Sallallahu 'alaihi wa aalihi wa Sallam (Visit To The Leader Of Both The Worlds) among other salawaat and salaams to be recited by the pilgrim when he visits the blessed Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. So let us take the opportunity to benefit from the transliteration and translation of these 14 verses.

'Alayka Salaatu'llahi yaa khayra man talaa
Kitaaban Muneeran ja'a bi'l-Fardhi wa'nnadbi

'Alayka Salaatu'llahi yaa khaira muhtadin
Wa Haadin bi Nuri'llahi fi'sh-sharqi wa'l gharbi

'Alayka Salaatu'llahi yaa khaira man da'a
Ila'llahi ba'da'rrifqi bi'ssumri wa'l qudhbi

'Alayka Salaatu'llahi yaa sayyidan saraa
Ila'llahi hatta marra bissab'i wa'l hujbi

Wa qaama bi "aw adnaa" fanaaheeka rif'atan
Wa majdan samaa hattaa anaafa 'ala'sh-shuhbi

'Alayka Salamu'llahi maa saara mukhlisun
Ilayka yaqool: Allahu wa'l Mustafa Hasbi

'Alayka Salamu'llahi maa as'harassaba
Faharraka arwaha'l muhibbeena lilqurbi

'Alayka Salamu'llahi maa baariqun saraa
Wa maa gannati'l atyaaru fee 'azab-i'l-qudhbi

'Alayka Salamu'llahi maa harraka'l hidaa
Qulooban ilaa maghnaaka bi'sh-shawqi wa'l hubbi

'Alayka Salamu'llahi 'addannabaati warrimaali
Wa 'addal qatri fee haalat i's sakbi

'Alayka Salamu'llahi anta malaazunaa
Lada'l yusri wa'l i'saari wa'ssahli wa'ssa'bi

'Alayka Salamu'llahi anta habibuna
Wa Sayyiduna wazzukhru yaa khaira man Nubbi

'Alayka Salamu'llahi anta Imamuna
Wa Matbu'una wa'l kanzu wa'l gauthu fi'l khatbi

Wa Salla 'alaikAllahu da'ban wa sarmadan
Wa Sallama Yaa Mukhtaru wa'l aali wa'ssahbi

Allah's blessings be on you O the best one to have recited
The shining Book which came with the obligatory and the voluntary

Allah's blessings be on you O the best of the rightly guided
Guiding with the Light of Allah in the east and the west

Allah's blessings be on you O the best inviter to Allah with kindness
Then, (against those in battle) with spears and swords

Allah's blessings be on you O master who travelled by night
To Allah until he passed the seven heavens and all the veils

And your position of (a distance of two bow lengths) "or even less"
Is enough exaltation and a gallery so high as to vie with the stars

Allah's salutations be on you as long as a sincere person
Says to you: "Allah and Mustafa are sufficient for me"

Allah's salutations be on you as long as dawn breaks
And you quicken the souls of loving disciples with nearness

Allah's salutations be on you as long as lightening flashes
And birds chirp on branches of trees

Allah's salutations be on you as long as camel drivers
Move hearts (of people in their caravan) to your wealth with yearning and love

Allah's salutations be on you as many times as the number of plants
And grains of sand and the number of rain drops in a downpour

Allah's salutations be on you; you are our only helper
In prosperity and poverty, in ease and difficulty

Allah's salutations be on you, you are our beloved
And our master, our treasure, O the best of the Prophets

Allah's salutations be on you, you are our leader
And our master, and treasure and helper in problems

And blessings on you from Allah for ever and ever
And salutations O chosen one, and on your family and companions

At this time, tears are flowing down your cheeks in loving agony for the beloved of Allah, Muhammad u'r Rasulullah Sall'Allahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. This is a manifestation of the baraka (blessing) of your Shaykh.

Sallu ala'r-Rasul
Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaih.