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. Assalaat 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 asSayyid 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.
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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,
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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
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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,
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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.