“If you do not send blessings to me (say salawat) at the beginning of your dua (supplication), that dua will not reach Allah.” Is this a sound hadith?

- Does this hadith really exist? If yes, will you explain it?

- Is it not a selfish statement? As far as we know, the Prophet is not selfish. How can this statement belong to him? How can it be explained?

- I also saw a different version of the hadith on the internet:

"Unless blessings are sent to me and my Ahl al-Bayt, a supplication is veiled before Allah Almighty." (Tabarani, from Ibn Masud)

Dear Brother / Sister,

According to what Tabarani narrates from Hz. Ali in al-Awsat (h. no: 721), the Prophet said,

“Unless blessings are sent to Muhammad and his Ahl al-Bayt, every dua (supplication) is veiled /prevented (it cannot enter into the presence of divine acceptance).”

Haythami states that the chain of narrators of this hadith is sound. (see Majmauz-Zawaid, h. no.17278)

Daylami reported a similar narration from Hz. Ali. (see Daylami, h. no: 4754)

It is necessary not to perceive the praise of the Prophet (pbuh) about himself and the statements expressing his greatness like the words of an ordinary person because his words are the words of a person who is the Messenger of Allah. His words do not originate from his own desire; they are based on revelation with the order or permission of Allah. (an-Najm, 53/3-4)

For instance, he states the following:

“All prophets will gather under my flag on the Day of Judgment but I do not boast when I say it.”

It means he has to express it as a messenger.

The issue of salawat (sending blessings) is like that too:

Allah orders it in the Quran:

“Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect.” (al-Ahzab, 33/56)

Scholars hold different views about the command related to salawat (sending blessings), particularly about saying it in “tashahhud (sitting)” in prayer whether it is fard or mandub/sunnah. The majority of the scholars says that this command is sunnah but some scholars like Imam Shafii hold the view that it is fard.

This issue has an aspect related to worshipping whether it is fard or sunnah. Saying salawat is a deed of worship. The Prophet (pbuh) taught his ummah related to various fards and sunnahs and he is an important source of thawabs; can it be thought that he neglected the importance of saying salawat, which is an important form of worshipping enabling Muslims to attain Allah’s consent, just because it is related to himself.?

If we regard the issue as – God forbid – selfishness, there are more important issues and verses than salawat. What are we supposed to do with them? Here are some examples:   

“He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah.” (an-Nisa, 4/80)

“O ye who believe! Obey Allah and His Messenger, and turn not away from him when ye hear (him speak)!” (al-Anfal, 8/20)

“All who obey Allah and the messenger are in the company of those on whom is the Grace of Allah,- of the prophets (who teach), the sincere (lovers of Truth), the witnesses (who testify), and the Righteous (who do good): Ah! what a beautiful fellowship!” (an-Nisa, 4/69)

“It is not fitting for a Believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger to have any option about their decision: if any one disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong Path.” (Ahzab, 33/36)

“But no, by the Lord, they can have no (real) Faith, until they make thee judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against Thy decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction.” (an-Nisa, 4/65)

We regard it appropriate to quote a question regarding the issue and its answer:

Question: What is the wisdom behind giving importance to salawat so much and the secret behind mentioning it together with salam?

The answer: It is a way to the truth on its own to utter salawat for the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) receives endless mercy but he needs endless salawat.

For, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) is interested in the problems of the whole ummah and receives his share from their happiness. He needs endless salawat due to being interested in the happiness of his ummah that is exposed to endless problems in the endless future and in the endless hereafter. Besides, the Messenger of Allah is both a slave and a messenger; therefore, he wants salah in terms of his slavery and salam in terms of his messengership; slavery goes to God Almighty from people and receives love and mercy. The word اَلصَّلاَة (salah) expresses it.

Prophethood is a messengership from God Almighty to people; it needs approval for its safety, delivery, the acceptance of the mission and fulfilment of the duty; the word سَلاَم (salam) expresses it.” (Nursi, Barla Lahikası, p. 270)

It is not selfishness but an example of great humility that the Prophet (pbuh) wants people to send blessings to him though he receives great grace from Allah because sending blessings (salawat) means to ask mercy and to invoke Allah.

It is a trait that needs to be appreciated with admiration instead of being criticized that the Prophet, who is the most beloved slave of Allah, the greatest prophet, the teacher of the last religion and the one who was sent as a mercy for all realms, wants people so insistently to send blessings and greetings to him.

Thus, he is a matchless person in terms of humility, as he is so in terms of all issues.

O Prophet, who is the source of pride of humanity! As many blessings and greetings as the number of the elements of the universe, the atoms and molecules of all non-living beings and the cells of all living beings to you!

Questions on Islam