Durood Sharif, also known as salawat or salat ‘alan-Nabi, means sending blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. It is one of the most beloved and rewarding acts of worship in Islam, and it is unique because Allah Himself and His angels do it, and then command the believers to do the same.
The Quran says: “Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe, send blessings upon him and greet him with peace.”
No other act of worship is introduced in quite this way.
This article explains the meaning of Durood Sharif, its virtues from the Quran and Sunnah, the most important forms including Durood Ibrahim, when to recite it, how it connects to prayer and practical ways to make it a daily habit.
What Does Durood Sharif Mean?
The word “Durood”
“Durood” is a Persian word widely used in South Asia, meaning blessings or salutations. In Arabic, the term is “salat” or “salawat” upon the Prophet ﷺ.
What it means when Allah sends blessings
Scholars explain that when Allah sends blessings on the Prophet ﷺ, it means He praises him before the angels and raises his status.
What it means when angels send blessings
When the angels send blessings, it means they pray for him and ask Allah to honour him.
What it means when believers send blessings
When believers send blessings, they ask Allah to praise, honour and bless the Prophet ﷺ. It is a form of dua and an expression of love and gratitude.
The Virtues of Durood Sharif
1. Allah sends ten blessings
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever sends one blessing upon me, Allah will send ten blessings upon him.” One small sentence brings ten blessings from Allah.
2. Sins are erased and ranks raised
In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ said that whoever sends one blessing upon him, Allah sends ten blessings upon them, erases ten sins and raises them ten degrees.
3. Closeness to the Prophet ﷺ on the Day of Judgement
The Prophet ﷺ said that the people closest to him on the Day of Judgement will be those who sent the most blessings upon him.
4. Relief from worry and forgiveness of sins
A Companion, Ubayy ibn Ka’b, told the Prophet ﷺ he wanted to devote much of his dua time to sending blessings on him.
The Prophet ﷺ encouraged him to increase, until Ubayy said he would devote all of it. The Prophet ﷺ replied: “Then your worries will be taken care of and your sins forgiven.”
5. Duas are more likely to be accepted
Scholars mention that dua is held back until blessings are sent upon the Prophet ﷺ. Beginning and ending dua with salawat is a recommended etiquette.
6. Blessings reach the Prophet ﷺ
The Prophet ﷺ said that Allah has angels who travel the earth and convey the greetings of his Ummah to him.
7. Avoiding miserliness
The Prophet ﷺ said that the miser is the one in whose presence he is mentioned and who does not send blessings upon him.
| Virtue | Reward |
|---|---|
| One salawat | Ten blessings from Allah |
| One salawat | Ten sins erased, ten degrees raised |
| Frequent salawat | Closeness to the Prophet ﷺ on the Day of Judgement |
| Devoting dua time to salawat | Worries removed, sins forgiven |
| Salawat with dua | Greater hope of acceptance |
The Forms of Durood Sharif
Durood Ibrahim (Salat Ibrahimiyyah)
This is the most excellent form, taught by the Prophet ﷺ himself when the Companions asked how to send blessings upon him. It is recited in the final sitting of every prayer.
“Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammad, kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid. Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammad, kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid.”
Meaning: “O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.”
Short forms
- “Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam” – “May Allah send blessings and peace upon him.” Said whenever the Prophet’s name is mentioned.
- “Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad” – “O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad.”
- “Allahumma salli wa sallim ‘ala nabiyyina Muhammad” – “O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad.”
Why Ibrahim is mentioned
Durood Ibrahim connects the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ with Prophet Ibrahim, the father of the prophets, whom Allah blessed greatly.
It asks Allah to bless Muhammad ﷺ and his family as He blessed Ibrahim and his family.
Choosing authentic forms
There are many forms of salawat in circulation. The safest and best are those taught by the Prophet ﷺ himself, especially Durood Ibrahim.
Short forms such as “Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam” are also authentic and easy to use.
Durood Sharif in Prayer
Its place in salah
In the final sitting of every prayer, after the tashahhud, Muslims recite Durood Ibrahim.
In prayers with more than two rakat, the first sitting is usually shorter and the Durood is recited in the final sitting.
Learning it correctly
Since Durood Ibrahim is part of every prayer, it should be learned accurately. Pay attention to:
- Pronouncing “salli” with a clear sad (ص), not a seen (س)
- The ha (ح) in “Hamid” and “Muhammad”, which has friction
- The ayn in “‘ala”
- Correct lengthening in “Ibrahim” and “ali”
Learning to read Arabic letters correctly through the Noorani Qaida makes this much easier.
When to Recite Durood Sharif
Whenever the Prophet’s name is mentioned
Saying “Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam” whenever you hear or say his name is a minimum act of love.
On Fridays
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Increase your blessings upon me on Friday, for your blessings are presented to me.”
Many Muslims set a target, such as one hundred or more salawat, every Friday.
In morning and evening
The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever sends ten blessings upon him in the morning and ten in the evening will receive his intercession.
Before and after dua
Begin dua by praising Allah and sending blessings on the Prophet ﷺ, and end it the same way.
After the adhan
The Prophet ﷺ taught that after hearing the adhan, one should send blessings upon him and ask Allah to grant him al-wasilah, a special rank in Paradise.
When entering and leaving the mosque
Sending blessings on the Prophet ﷺ when entering and leaving the mosque is part of the Sunnah.
In gatherings
The Prophet ﷺ warned that a gathering in which Allah is not remembered and blessings are not sent upon him will be a cause of regret.
In times of difficulty
Many Muslims increase in salawat when facing worries, following the hadith of Ubayy ibn Ka’b.
Quick Reference: When to Send Salawat
| Time or situation | Recommended practice |
|---|---|
| Hearing his name | “Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam” |
| Every prayer | Durood Ibrahim in the final sitting |
| Friday | Increase greatly |
| Morning and evening | Ten times each |
| After the adhan | Salawat and dua for al-wasilah |
| Before and after dua | Begin and end with salawat |
| Mosque | Entering and leaving |
| Worry or hardship | Increase salawat |
Making Durood Sharif a Daily Habit
Set a daily number
Start with a manageable number, such as ten or thirty a day, and increase gradually.
Attach it to routines
Recite salawat while walking, commuting, cooking or waiting.
Use a counter
A simple counter or tasbih can help you keep track.
Friday goal
Set a higher target for Friday, such as one hundred, three hundred or more.
Family salawat
Recite salawat together as a family after Maghrib on Thursday night or after Jumu’ah.
Learn about him
Love grows with knowledge. Reading the Seerah increases the sincerity of your salawat.
A Weekly Salawat Plan
| Day | Target |
|---|---|
| Saturday–Wednesday | 10 morning, 10 evening, plus after every adhan |
| Thursday evening | 100 as a family |
| Friday | 300 throughout the day |
Teaching Children Durood Sharif
Start with the short form
Teach children to say “Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam” when they hear the Prophet’s name.
Learn Durood Ibrahim in parts
Break it into four short parts and learn one part a week.
Explain the reward
Tell children that every time they send one blessing, Allah sends ten blessings on them.
Make it a game
Count salawat together on Fridays and celebrate reaching a family target.
Common Mistakes
- Shortening to letters. Writing “SAW” or “PBUH” in place of the full phrase is common, but scholars encourage writing and saying it in full.
- Rushing Durood Ibrahim in prayer. Recite it calmly and clearly.
- Using unverified forms. Prefer forms taught in authentic hadith.
- Mispronouncing key letters. Learn correct pronunciation with a teacher.
Understanding the Words of Durood Ibrahim
Knowing the meaning of each part of Durood Ibrahim makes it far more powerful in prayer.
“Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad”
“O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad.” Here we ask Allah to praise and honour the Prophet ﷺ in the highest company.
“Wa ‘ala ali Muhammad”
“And upon the family of Muhammad.” Scholars explain that “family” here includes his household and, according to many, all his true followers.
Every time we say this, we are also including ourselves in the request.
“Kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahim”
“As You sent prayers upon Ibrahim.” We ask Allah to honour the Prophet ﷺ in the way He honoured Ibrahim, the friend of Allah, whose family included many prophets.
“Innaka Hamidun Majid”
“Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.” The dua ends with two names of Allah.
Al-Hamid is the One who deserves all praise. Al-Majid is the One of great glory and generosity.
“Allahumma barik”
“O Allah, send blessings.” Barakah means lasting growth and goodness. We ask Allah to make the Prophet’s legacy, message and Ummah full of blessing until the end of time.
Durood Sharif and Love of the Prophet ﷺ
The Prophet ﷺ said that none of us truly believes until he is more beloved to us than our parents, our children and all people.
Sending blessings upon him is one of the clearest ways to express and grow this love.
Love is not only in words. It shows in following his Sunnah, learning his life, defending his honour with good character and spreading his message with wisdom.
Salawat keeps him in our hearts and on our tongues, and that remembrance pushes us towards following his example in our actions.
Durood Sharif in the Life of the Companions
The Companions were eager to learn how to send blessings properly.
When the verse commanding salawat was revealed, they asked the Prophet ﷺ: “We know how to greet you, but how do we send blessings upon you?” He then taught them Durood Ibrahim.
This shows the importance of learning acts of worship correctly from their source rather than inventing new forms.
They also took the matter of salawat seriously in gatherings, in dua and whenever his name was mentioned, and the scholars who came after them followed the same path, often writing the full salawat each time they wrote his name in their books.
A Reflection for Fridays
Friday is a weekly opportunity. Before Jumu’ah, read Surah Al-Kahf, make dua during the last hour before Maghrib and fill the day with salawat.
Imagine that every blessing you send is being presented to the Prophet ﷺ, with your name, as the hadith describes.
That thought alone can turn a routine count into a moment of deep love and sincerity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Durood Sharif?
Durood Ibrahim is considered the best, as it was taught by the Prophet ﷺ himself and is recited in every prayer.
How many times should I recite Durood daily?
There is no fixed limit. Start with a manageable amount, such as ten in the morning and evening, and increase.
Is Durood Sharif obligatory?
Durood Ibrahim in the final sitting of prayer is regarded by many scholars as an essential part of prayer. Outside prayer, it is highly recommended.
Can I recite Durood without wudu?
Yes. Salawat can be recited at any time without wudu.
Why should we increase Durood on Fridays?
The Prophet ﷺ instructed us to increase blessings on Fridays, as they are presented to him.
Does Durood help duas get accepted?
Scholars teach that beginning and ending dua with salawat is an etiquette that brings hope of acceptance.
Final Thoughts
Durood Sharif is a simple act with enormous reward.
With a few words, you join Allah and His angels in honouring the Prophet ﷺ, receive ten blessings from Allah, have sins erased and draw closer to the Prophet ﷺ on the Day of Judgement.
Learn Durood Ibrahim correctly for your prayers, say “Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam” whenever you hear his name, increase on Fridays and make salawat part of your daily life.
Let your love for the Prophet ﷺ be expressed through your tongue, your heart and your actions.
Recite Durood Ibrahim correctly in every prayer.