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For the community to maintain a strong connection with the noble personality of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and to follow and emulate his teachings is known as “Taluq bil-Rasool” (connection with the Prophet). Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَالَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَعَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ وَاٰمَنُوْا بِمَا نُزِّلَ عَلىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَّهُوَ الْحَقُّ مِنْ رَّبِّهِمْ كَفَّرَ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّاٰتِهِمْ وَأَصْلَحَ بَالَهُمْ﴾([1])
“And those who believe and do righteous deeds and believe in what has been sent down to Muhammad – and it is the truth from their Lord – He will remove from them their misdeeds and improve their condition” (Quran 47:2). It is understood that to attain faith and salvation from Hell, it is necessary to believe in all that the Prophet ﷺ brought from Allah. Denying even one aspect of it means one is no longer a believer, whether it reached us through the Quran or Hadith. This is why, in this verse, it emphasizes believing in what was revealed to the Beloved Prophet ﷺ rather than just the Quran. Denying the Prophet ﷺ leads to the path of falsehood and Hell.
We often make lofty claims of love for the Prophet ﷺ but fail to meet the demands of this love. Establishing a connection with the Prophet ﷺ means to serve him in such a manner that it frees us from the servitude of this world. Those who become true servants and followers of the Prophet ﷺ break the idols of worldly power and false loyalties, gaining freedom from servitude to others and reaching the pinnacle of liberty.
The Virtue of Sending Blessings
The importance of sending blessings (Salawat) can be understood as such: it is a beloved act through which all problems are resolved. The most important and foremost is the command and blessed statement of the Creator of the universe:
﴿إِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلٰئِكَتَهٗ يُصَلُّوْنَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّط يَآ أَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا صَلُّوْا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوْا تَسْلِيْمًا﴾([2])
“Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who have believed, ask [ Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [ Allah to grant him] peace” (Quran 33:56). Allah Almighty has given many commands in the Holy Quran, like prayer, fasting, and Hajj, but this honor is only for the Master of the Universe, the Pride of the World ﷺ. Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Noble Prophet ﷺ, and O believers, you should also send many blessings and peace upon him. This verse itself proves the virtue of sending blessings, starting with the word “Inna” which indicates certainty, leaving no room for doubt that Allah and His angels continuously send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ.
Sending blessings is such a beloved act that when one sends blessings upon the beloved Prophet ﷺ once, Allah Almighty sends ten blessings upon that person, erasing their sins and elevating their ranks. The noble statement of the Prophet ﷺ is: “Whoever sends blessings upon me once, Allah will send blessings upon him ten times.” (Muslim)
A Hadith About the Virtue of Sending Blessings Upon the Prophet
Here’s a translation of the provided Arabic text, which is a hadith (a saying of the Prophet Muhammad) regarding the virtue of sending blessings upon the Prophet:
“Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: ‘The closest of people to me on the Day of Resurrection will be those who send the most blessings upon me.'” (Muslim)
And the specific hadith you’ve provided, which is a detailed conversation between the Prophet Muhammad and his companion Abu Bakr, elaborates on the benefits of sending blessings:
“Abu Bakr said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I send many blessings upon you. How much of my supplication should I allocate for you?’ The Prophet replied: ‘As much as you wish.’ Abu Bakr said: ‘A quarter?’ The Prophet said: ‘As much as you wish. And if you increase it, it will be better for you.’ Abu Bakr said: ‘Half?’ The Prophet said: ‘As much as you wish. Increase it more, it will be better for you.’ Abu Bakr said: ‘Two-thirds?’ The Prophet said: ‘As much as you wish. And if you increase it, it will be better for you.’ Abu Bakr said: ‘Shall I allocate all of my supplication for sending blessings upon you?’ The Prophet replied: ‘Then your worries will be relieved, and your sins will be forgiven.'” (At-Tirmidhi)
Explanation of the Hadith
This hadith highlights the immense reward and benefits of sending blessings (salawat) upon the Prophet Muhammad. It encourages Muslims to frequently invoke blessings upon him, emphasizing that there is no limit to how much one can send. The Prophet’s response indicates that the more blessings one sends, the greater the reward and the closer one becomes to the Prophet on the Day of Judgment.
Expressing Love for the Prophet ﷺ
Love is a feeling of inclination and attraction of the heart, and it is always for cherished things and personalities. The passion for love and devotion to the Master of the Universe ﷺ distinguishes Muslims from other nations. This feeling is beyond deception, cunningness, hope, and greed. It elevates a person to heights and expansiveness beyond imagination. Love for the Prophet ﷺ strengthens faith and brings belief in the unseen. Love for the Prophet ﷺ acts as a magnet, pulling a believer closer to the beloved Prophet ﷺ, instilling the urge to follow his Sunnah and act upon his teachings. Without establishing this connection of love, one cannot attain the status of complete faith. The noble statement of the Prophet ﷺ is:
«لَا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى أَكُونَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ وَالِدِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِيْن»([3])
“None of you will have complete faith until I am more beloved to him than his father, his children, and all people” (Bukhari). This hadith indicates that the measure of faith is to love the radiant personality of the intercessor of the Day of Judgment ﷺ more than anything else in the world. Until this feeling is achieved, a person cannot attain complete faith.
Condition of the True Religion
The love of Muhammad ﷺ is the foremost condition of the true religion. If there is a flaw in this, everything else remains incomplete.
Love for the noble Prophet ﷺ should be one of grandeur and obedience. Such love should not be for anyone else in comparison to Allah Almighty and His Messenger ﷺ. Loving the Prophet ﷺ is a pillar of faith, and not having love for the Master ﷺ in the heart is a sign of disbelief. Allah Almighty says:
﴿قُلْ إِنْ كَانَ اٰبَآؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَآؤُكُمْ وَإِخْوَانُكُمْ وَأَزْوَاجُكُمْ وَعَشِيْرَتُكُمْ وَأَمْوَالُنِ اقْتَرَفْتُمُوْهَا وَتِجَارَةٌ تَخْشَوْنَ كَسَادَهَا وَمَسٰكِنُ تَرْضَوْنَهَآ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْكُمْ مِّنَ اللهِ وَرَسُوْلِه وَجِهَادٍ فِيْ سَبِيْلِه فَتَرَبَّصُوْا حَتّٰى يَأْتِيَ الله بِأَمْرِهط وَالله لَا يَهْدِى الْقَوْمَ الْفٰسِقِيْنَ﴾([4])
“Say, [O Muhammad], if your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your relatives, wealth which you have obtained, commerce wherein you fear decline, and dwellings with which you are pleased are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His cause, then wait until Allah executes His command. And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people” (Quran 9:24). Commentators state: “It is understood that love for the Prophet ﷺ should be natural and not merely intellectual. The love for the Prophet ﷺ should be like that for Allah, meaning with grandeur and obedience. Loving the Prophet ﷺ is not shirk but a pillar of faith, and not having love for the Prophet ﷺ in the heart is disbelief because it warrants punishment.”
Following the Example of the Prophet ﷺ
Muslims possess commendable qualities and rare attributes that make them stand out in their beliefs, worship, dealings, and manners among others. They believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Day of Judgment, and in the divine decree of good and evil. They seek refuge only in Allah, genuinely seek help from Him alone, pray to none but Him, and follow the beloved Prophet ﷺ whose life is an excellent example for those who hope for Allah and the Last Day, and remember Allah often.
“He follows his beloved Prophet (ﷺ), concerning whom Allah Almighty has said: ‘Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have a good example to follow for whoever hopes in Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah often.’ (33:21)”
: ﴿لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْاٰخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللهَ كَثِيرًا﴾([5])
Translation:
“He is a follower of his beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), about whom Allah Almighty has stated in the Quran: ‘Indeed, you have in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern [of conduct] for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and who remembers Allah often.’ (Surah Al-Ahzab, verse 21)”
The Companions’ Love for the Prophet ﷺ
The nature of the Companions was such that whenever the mention of the Prophet ﷺ arose, they became restless. This level of love and devotion is the essence of faith. Without love for the Prophet ﷺ, true obedience is impossible. Love for the Prophet ﷺ is expressed through words and deeds. Once, Sayyiduna Umar Farooq-e-Azam رضي الله عنه said to the Prophet ﷺ.
“O Messenger of Allah, I love you more than everything except my own self.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “No, by the One in Whose hand is my soul, not until I am dearer to you than your own self.” Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه then said, “By Allah, now you are dearer to me than my own self.” The Prophet ﷺ replied, “Now, O Umar, your faith is complete” (Bukhari). Therefore, to strengthen our bond and relationship with the beloved Prophet ﷺ, we must love him and act upon his teachings.
O Allah, grant us the true love and servitude of the Prophet ﷺ. Grant us the blessing to live and die in the love of the Prophet ﷺ. Grant us the ability to recite abundant blessings and salutations upon the Prophet ﷺ. Bestow upon us an abundance of Your blessings and grant us the ability to be grateful and protect them. Make us followers of Your commands and those of Your beloved Prophet ﷺ. O Allah, grant us goodness in this world and the hereafter, protect us from Your punishment, and grant us a significant share of the beloved Prophet’s ﷺ beautiful prayers. O Lord, make us such that we become pleasing to You and Your beloved Prophet ﷺ. Ameen, O Lord of the worlds!
Sending Blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ
May Allah send blessings and peace upon our Master, the best of creation, Muhammad ﷺ, and upon his family and companions. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.
([3]) “صَحيح البُخاري” كتابُ الإيمان، بابُ حُبُّ الرَّسُولِ ﷺ مِنَ الإِيمَانِ، ر: 15، صـ6.