Is including a Number in the Wording of Salawat the Same as Saying It That Many Times?
Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Question
Does saying “O Allah send blessings upon Muhammad” a thousand times have the same effect if I was to recite “O Allah send blessings upon Muhammad 1000 times” once?
Also, what is the best form of salawat on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace)?
Answer
I pray you are well.
Yes, the effect is the same with both wordings, according to the great scholar of the 20th century Shaykh Yusuf al-Nabahani. [Nabahani, Sa‘adat al-Darayn]
In essence, the wording is a supplication to Allah to bless His beloved Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace), and the addition of a number in it does not change this.
This should spur us to send more blessings on him. One of the best aids to this, and one which uses this means of multiplying the blessings on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), is the celebrated manual “Dala’il al Khayrat.”
Shaykh Nabahani said that the most perfect wording is the one the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) taught us to say in the prayer – the Abrahamic blessing. (Nabahani, Afdal al Salawat ‘ala Sayyid al Sadat) Recite it as much as you can.
In general, the best wording for each of us is the one we can say the most. This brings the most benefit. Don’t neglect the shorter, simpler wordings. Focus on the names of Allah Most High and His Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) with emotion, and you’ll benefit a great deal.
May Allah fill our moments with the remembrance of Him.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital, and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.
