What are the Virtues and Spiritual Gains for a Believer in Offering Salât and Salam?
One of our most virtuous remembrances is Salawat (blessings and peace). Sending Salât and Salam to our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the most beautiful expression of our respect and love for him.
VIRTUES OF OFFERING SALÂT AND SELÂM TO THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD ﷺ
The more a believer sends Salât and Salam to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the more spiritually they benefit. This is because our Prophet’s worth in the sight of Allah is very high. Sending Salât and Salam is an important act of worship that both honors our Prophet ﷺ and earns the pleasure of Allah.
Firstly, Our Lord Himself has elevated the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ by sending Salât to him, with His mercy, acceptance, and good pleasure, and He has commanded us to do likewise. This demonstrates how important Salât and Salam are.
One of the places where we offer Salam to the Prophet ﷺ is in the Tahiyyat that we recite during prayer. It is narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
اَلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلٰى عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصَّالِحِينَ
“(All) words, actions, and offerings – including prayer, fasting, and charity – and all forms of respect and reverence are exclusively for Allah.”
“Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and may the mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon you. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah!”
When you say this, all righteous servants on earth and in heaven are included.
(Then say):
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَٓا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
“I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.” (Bukhari, Adhan, 148)