[Q 369] Reciting Salawat When Prophet’s Name is Repeated

Question

When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم’s name is mentioned in a gathering, for example, 20 times, is one sinful if he only says “Sallallahu alaihi wasallam” once or five times rather than the whole 20 times?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

If the blessed name of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم is mentioned multiple times in one gathering (Majlis) and a person recites durood once instead of each and every time, he will not be sinful. However, it is better to recite durood each time the blessed name is mentioned.

The brief summary of this Masalah is as follows:

The scholars have differed on how many times durood is Waajib, if the blessed name is mentioned multiple times in one gathering. According to one view, reciting durood each time is Waajib (in one majlis). Another view is that it is Waajib only once, with the reciting of durood each time being recommended (mustahab) and reward worthy.

Hence, according to the first opinion, if a person recite durood once then omits it for any of the other times the blessed name is mentioned, then he would be considered sinful, and he will not be a sinner according to the second. However, there is no difference of opinion in that to recite it each time is a means for reward, blessings, and mercy. Likewise, it is the means of attaining the virtues and excellences mentioned in the ahadith. Therefore, one should make effort to recite durood every time the name of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم is mentioned in one gathering.

Note: If our noble master’s صلى الله عليه وسلم name is mentioned in separate gatherings, durood is Waajib each time, and omitting it would be sinful.

One virtue of durood is described in a hadith, wherein the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

“من صلى علي صلاة واحدة صلى الله عليه عشر صلوات، وحطت عنه عشر خطيئات، ورفعت له عشر درجات”

Translation: “Whoever sends one Durood upon me, Allah sends ten blessings upon him, removes ten sins, and raises him ten degrees.”

(Sunan al-Nasa’i, Hadith no. 1297)

One warning for not reciting Durood is given in another hadith:

“من ذكرت عنده فخطئ الصلاة علي خطئ طريق الجنة”

Translation: “Whoever hears my name and does not send Salat upon me has missed the path to Paradise.”

(Fayd ul-Qadir, Hadith no. 8679)

Sayyidi Imam Ahl al-Sunnat رحمه الله تعالى states:

“In separate gatherings, whenever the blessed name of the master of both worlds صلى الله عليه وسلم is said or heard, it is Waajib to recite durood every time. If omitted, one is sinful and subject to the stern warnings. Yes, Scholars do have a difference of opinion upon the following scenario: that is if the blessed name is said or heard multiple times in one gathering (majlis) then is it Waajib recite Durood each, or is it Waajib to recite once and subsequent recitations are Mustahab? Many scholars favour the first opinion, stating that even if he recites the Kamilma a thousand times, one must recite durood each time, and omitting it even once would be sinful. Mujtahab and Durr ul-Muhtaar and others have preferred this opinion declaring it as the most apparent and the preferred. Other scholars, considering ease for the Ummah, view that one durood in a gathering suffices for the Wajib, with no sin for additional omissions, though there is a great loss of reward and virtues, al-Kafi and Quniyah and others have preferred this opinion. Either way it is still appropriate and better to recite ‘Sallallahu alaihi wasallam’ each time, as this is such a thing which is agreed upon by all that there are vast blessings, mercy for doing so and there is definitely great loss for not doing so, and a sin according to one strong opinion (within our school), it is not for the intelligent to leave this.”

(Fatawa Ridawiyyah Sharif, Vol.6, p. 222)

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 11th November 2024