Supplications of Salawat
The month of Rabiʿ al-Awwal is the month in which the radiant light of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (p) appeared in this world. It is also a month of joy for the Ahl al-Bayt (p), and therefore holds a special place of happiness and spiritual celebration in the Shiʿa calendar.
During the blessed month of Rabiʿ al-Awwal, we present the following article under the title “Supplications of Salawat.”
This article contains eleven consecutive passages taken from the Great Salawat (al-Salawat al-Kabirah) of the blessed month of Ramadan. The final two sections contain independent forms of Salawat, each transmitted through its own narration and source.
The Qur’anic Foundation
This collection begins with verse 56 of Surah al-Ahzab:
“Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe, send blessings upon him and greet him with a worthy greeting of peace.”
The Holy Qur’an — Surah al-Ahzab, 33:56
This blessed verse reveals the great status of Salawat. Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Messenger of Allah (p), and the believers are then commanded to send blessings upon their Prophet and to offer him their greetings of peace and submission.
The Great Salawat
The following eleven passages are taken, in order, from the Great Salawat of the month of Ramadan.
One — As You Blessed the Prophets Before Him
In the first four passages of this noble supplication, we ask Allah, the Most Exalted, to grant Prophet Muhammad (p) and his family the blessings and favors that He bestowed upon the prophets who came before him.
“Here I am, O my Lord, responding to You and seeking happiness from You. Glory be to You. O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and bestow Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, just as You sent Your blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim and bestowed Your blessings upon them. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.”
“O Allah, have mercy upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, just as You had mercy upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.”
“O Allah, send peace upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, just as You sent peace upon Nuh among all the worlds.”
“O Allah, bestow Your favor upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, just as You bestowed Your favor upon Musa and Harun.”
These passages mention four divine favors: blessings, mercy, peace, and divine favor. Each was granted to a prophet of the past, and each is now sought from Allah for Muhammad and the family of Muhammad (p).
Two — For What He Brought to Us
The following two passages offer Salawat in recognition of the precious blessings that the believers received through the Seal of the Prophets, Prophet Muhammad (p):
“O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, just as You honored us through him.”
“O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, just as You guided us through him.”
Honor and guidance are two priceless blessings granted to this Ummah through the Holy Prophet (p).
Three — The Praised Station
This passage of Salawat speaks of the exalted and praised station of the Messenger of Allah (p):
“O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and raise him to the Praised Station — a station that those of the past and those of the future will admire.”
Four — An Endless Salutation of Peace
The final three passages ask Allah to grant Muhammad and his family a salutation of peace that is endless, countless, and uninterrupted — from beginning to end, and throughout this world and the Hereafter.
“Peace be upon Muhammad and his family whenever the sun rises or sets. Peace be upon Muhammad and his family whenever an eye blinks or shines.”
“Peace be upon Muhammad and his family whenever a greeting of peace is mentioned. Peace be upon Muhammad and his family whenever an angel glorifies or sanctifies Allah.”
“Peace be upon Muhammad and his family among those of the past. Peace be upon Muhammad and his family among those of the future. And peace be upon Muhammad and his family in this world and in the Hereafter.”
Two Forms of Salawat Narrated from the Imams (p)
The Comprehensive Salawat of Imam Zayn al-Abidin (p)
This Salawat is narrated from Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn, Zayn al-Abidin (p). It mentions, in order, the blessed names of the Fourteen Infallibles, from the Seal of the Prophets to the Seal of the Successors.
اللّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلی مُحَمَّدٍ المُصطَفی، وَ عَلی عَلِیٍّ المُرتَضی، وَ فاطِمَةَ الزَّهراء وَ خَدیجَةَ الکُبری، وَ الحَسَنِ المُجتَبی، وَ الحُسَینِ الشَّهیدِ بِکَربَلاءَ، وَ عَلی عَلِیِّ بنِ الحُسَینِ زَینِ العابِدِینَ، وَ مُحَمَّدِ بنِ عَلِیٍّ الباقِر، وَ جَعفَرِ بنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الصّادِقِ، وَ مُوسَی بنِ جَعفَرٍ الکاظِمِ، وَ عَلِیِّ بنِ مُوسَی الرِّضا، وَ مُحَمَّدِ بنِ عَلِیٍّ التَّقی، وَ عَلِیِّ بنِ مُحَمَّدٍ النَّقی، وَ الحَسَنِ بنِ عَلِیٍّ العَسکَری، وَ الحُجَّةِ القائِمِ المَهدِیِّ ابنِ الحَسَنِ، اَلاِمامِ المُنتَظَرِ، صَلَواتُ اللهِ عَلَیهِم اَجمَعین
“O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad al-Mustafa, upon Ali al-Murtada, upon Fatimah al-Zahra and Khadijah al-Kubra, upon al-Hasan al-Mujtaba, upon al-Husayn, the Martyr of Karbala, upon Ali ibn al-Husayn Zayn al-Abidin, Muhammad ibn Ali al-Baqir, Jaʿfar ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq, Musa ibn Jaʿfar al-Kazim, Ali ibn Musa al-Rida, Muhammad ibn Ali al-Taqi, Ali ibn Muhammad al-Naqi, Hasan ibn Ali al-Askari, and al-Hujjah al-Qa’im al-Mahdi, son of Hasan, the awaited Imam. May the blessings of Allah be upon them all.”
The Imam (p) then continued with the following supplication:
اللّهُمَّ وَالِ مَن والاهُم، وَ عادِ مَن عاداهُم، وَ انصُر مَن نَصَرَهُم، وَ اخذُل مَن خَذَلَهُم، وَ عَجِّل فَرَجَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَ انصُر شیعةَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَ ارزُقنی رُؤیَةَ قائِمِ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَ اجعَلنی مِن أتباعِهِ وَ أشیاعِهِ، وَ الرّاضینَ بِفِعلِهِ، بِرَحمَتِکَ یا اَرحَمَ الرّاحِمینَ
“O Allah, befriend those who befriend them, and oppose those who oppose them. Support those who support them, and abandon those who abandon them. Hasten the relief of the family of Muhammad, and grant victory to the followers of the family of Muhammad. Grant me the blessing of seeing the Qa’im of the family of Muhammad, and make me one of his followers, his supporters, and those who are pleased with his actions. By Your mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful.”
Sources: Muhaj al-Daʿawat, vol. 1, p. 16; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 91, p. 265.
A Salawat Narrated from Imam Hasan al-Askari (p)
The final passage is part of a Salawat upon the Infallibles (p), narrated by Shaykh al-Tusi through a reliable chain from Imam Hasan al-Askari (p):
“O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, for he carried Your revelation and conveyed Your message. And send Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, for he declared lawful what You made lawful, declared forbidden what You made forbidden, and taught Your Book.”
Sources: Zad al-Maʿad, vol. 1, p. 309; al-Balad al-Amin, vol. 1, p. 303.
Sources
Muhaj al-Daʿawat wa Manhaj al-ʿIbadat — Sayyid Ibn Tawus
Bihar al-Anwar — Allamah Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi
Zad al-Maʿad — Allamah Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi
al-Balad al-Amin wa al-Darʿ al-Hasin — Ibrahim al-Kafʿami