Blessings upon the Prophet: the wording and meaning of salawat
The salat Ibrahimiyyah in Arabic and English, the companions’ question and the merit of salawat in two authentic hadiths.
What does “sending blessings upon the Prophet” mean, and what words should you say? Salawat are supplications addressed to Allah for His Messenger ﷺ. The salat Ibrahimiyyah is one transmitted formula, which also mentions his family and the family of Ibrahim.
The first account gives the words taught to the companions; the second explains their merit. Reading the meaning in English before memorising the Arabic helps distinguish the request for salat, the request for blessing and the praise of Allah.
Article contents
The salat Ibrahimiyyah: a taught formula
The context of the narration
‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abi Layla relates that Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah offered him a gift: to transmit an answer from the Prophet ﷺ. The companions knew how to greet him; they had asked him how to send blessings upon him. He taught them this wording:اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
“O Allah, bestow Your favour upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You bestowed Your favour upon the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.”
Understanding this hadith
The request begins with “Allahumma”: it is addressed to Allah. Sending salat upon the Prophet ﷺ here means asking Allah to honour him; it is not addressing a prayer to him as one worships Allah. The wording includes Muhammad with his family and recalls the family of Ibrahim.
The two requests are not simply a repetition: the second explicitly asks for blessing. The words “Praiseworthy, Glorious” praise Allah, towards whom the entire supplication is directed.
To learn this version, divide it into two parts: the request for salat, then the request for blessing. Compare each part with the Arabic text and have your pronunciation checked. The account reports a specific answer to a question; it allows you to memorise transmitted wording without reconstructing it from memory using several versions.
The merit of sending blessings upon the Prophet once
The context of the narration
Abu Hurayrah transmits this saying of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the merit of sending blessings upon him:“Whoever sends blessings upon me once, Allah blesses him ten times.”
Read the Arabic text
مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَىَّ وَاحِدَةً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ عَشْرًا
Understanding this hadith
The text announces a favour from Allah for someone who sends blessings upon His Messenger. The believer’s salat is a supplication; Allah’s salat upon His servant is a divine favour and does not mean the performance of a ritual prayer.
The stated reward already concerns a single salat. You can therefore learn the wording and say it attentively without waiting to master a long collection of supplications.
To understand the wording, notice “Allahumma”, which identifies Whom you address, then Muhammad ﷺ and his family, for whom you ask for honour and blessing.
Also read: understanding two short formulas of remembrance of Allah.
In practice
- You want to learn the wordingLearn one of the two parts, then reread its meaning before moving to the next.Read the Arabic wording
- You know the words but not their meaningIdentify the request addressed to Allah, the people mentioned and the words of praise.Understand the two requests
- You are looking for the merit of salawatReread the promise stated by the Prophet ﷺ.Read Muslim 408
Sources
- Sahih al-Bukhari · 6357The salat Ibrahimiyyah: a taught formula
- Sahih Muslim · 408The merit of sending blessings upon the Prophet once