Salawat

Salawat (Arabic: صَلَوَات, romanized: ṣalawāt; sg. صَلَاة, ṣalāh) or durood (Urdu: دُرُوْد, romanized: durūd) is an Islamic complimentary Arabic phrase which contains veneration for Muhammad. This phrase is usually expressed by Muslims as part of their five daily prayers (usually during the tashahhud) and also when Muhammad's name is mentioned.^[1][2][3] Salawat is a plural form of salat (Arabic: صَلَاة) and from the triliteral root of ṣ-l-w (the letters ṣād-lām-wā, ص ل و) which literally means 'prayer' or 'send blessings upon'.^[4][5] Some Arabic philologists suggest that the meaning of the word "Salawat" varies depending on who uses the word and to whom it is used for.^[6]

The suffix «صَلَوَاتُ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِه», meaning "May God's peace be upon him and his household", is a respectful Arabic term used in Arabic and Persian Islamic texts to respect the prophet of Islam, Muhammad when his name mentioned. Of course, this term can be used for the Fourteen Infallibles or any great person.^[7] This phrase is most often used after the name Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam. This Arabic phrase may also come after the names of special and holy people. All of these phrases mean "asking for divine favor for a special and holy person."^[8][9] On the other hand, in Islamic sources, Salawat may also be seen in other forms, including «صَلَی اللهُ عَلَیه و آلِه و سَلَّم» (translation: May God grant him and his family mercy and peace), «صَلَی اللهُ عَلَیه و سَلَّم» (translation: May God send his mercy and blessings upon him), «صَلَی اللهُ عَلَیه و آلِه» (translation: May God's blessings be upon him and his household), «صَلَی اللهُ عَلَیه» (translation: May God's blessings be upon him), «صَلَوَاتُ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ» (translation: May the peace of Allah be upon him) or «صَلَواتُ ﷲِ وَ سَلامِه عَلَیه» (translation: May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).^[10] According to some researchers, Salawat is expressed in more than 210 different Arabic phrases in Islamic sources.^[11]

Salawat with the text «اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّد», meaning "O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and his family", or with the text «اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّد و عَجِّل فَرَجَهُم», meaning "O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and his family and hasten their attainment", is an Islamic invocation used to honor the Islam Prophet Muhammad and his family.^[12] The most famous form of Salawat throughout history and according to the sources, has been to say it in the form of «اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّد», meaning "O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and his household".^[13] In Islamic circles, especially in the Twelver Shia school of thought, when the name of the Prophet Muhammad is mentioned, it is customary to send blessings upon him to respect his high position.^[14][15] Also, the recitation of Salawat is used in worship because of its virtue and reward, and sometimes people even vow to recite a specific number of it (for example, 100, 200, or 1000) in order to have their heartfelt desires (called "Haajat" in Islamic thoughts),^[16] so that through this, they may receive God's grace and their problems may be resolved.^{[17][18][19][20]}