THE MOST FAMOUS SALAAT OF THE IMAM

The most popular salaat from Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah is:

Allahumma Salli wa Sallim billisaani'l jaami'ahFi'l hadhrati'l waasi'ah'Alaa 'Abdika'l jaami'i li'lkamaalaati'l insaaniyyahAl waasi'i fi'l mashaahidi'r roohiyyah'Adada'l harakaati wa's sakanaatWa'l khataraati wallahadhaatWa 'adada'l musalleena 'alaihWa 'adada salawaatihim Wa 'adada'z zaakireena lahuWa 'adada azkaarihimSalaatan yaqirru nuruhaa fee udhunee falaa ta'seeWa yaqirru nuruhaa fee 'aynee falaa ta'seeWa yaqirru nuruhaa fee lisaanee falaa ya'seeWa yaqirru nuruhaa fee qalbee falaa ya'seeWa yaqirru nuruhaa fee jasadee kullihi falaa ya'see

Allahumma awsilnee ilaa haalatinLaa ya'malu feehaa qalbee bimukhaalafahWa laa yahummu bihaaWa laa tuqaarifu feehaa jawaarihee ma'siyahWa ballighnee ilaa maqaaminLaa yafturu feehi qalbee 'an taa'atin lakMardhiyyatin ladayk maqboolatan 'indakWa laa tanfakku jawaarihee feehe'An 'amalin saalihin khaalisin liwajhika maqboolin ladaykYaa Arhama'r Raahimeen

O Allah! Bestow blessings and peacethat are invoked by all tongues in a vast gatheringon Your servant (the noble Prophet),who combined in himself all admirable human qualities:such extensive blessings as are witnessed in the realm of souls;

in every situation, in every thought, in every moment;as many times as the number of those who invoke blessings on himand the number of such invocations, and as many times as the number of those who remember himand the number of such rememberances,such blessings whose spiritual lightmay abide in my ears, in my eye, on my tongue,in my heart and indeed in my whole bodyso that neither my body nor these its parts disobey Allah.

O Allah! Let me reach to the situationwhere my heart does not act contrary to Your Wishes,does not cause me any anxiety,and does not temp my limbs to disobedience;and let me reach a positionin which my heart does not slacken in Your obedience,is pleasing in Your Presence, acceptable before You;and let my limbs not separate from good deedsdone sincerely to please You,that are acceptable in Your Presence,O The Most Merciful of those who show mercy.

As can be seen, this salaat is in two parts. The first part is the salaat itself which is there in Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah. The second part is dua (invocation). Although it is not in Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah, it is generally recited after this salaat and is contained in many other kutub (books) such as Azkaar wa'l Awraad (Regular Voluntary Invocations) compiled by Shaykh Muhyuddin bin AbdulRahman bin Muhammad of Zanzibar.

This salaat has become so famous that it is recited at the end of every gathering of ilm (learning), zikr (rememberance of Allah), and mawlid (birth) celebration of the beloved Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam by the muhibbeen (loving disciples). One reason

perhaps why this salaat has taken such a hold is that it is one of the easier salawaat of Imam al-Habshi to recite and understand! And of course, its spiritual benefits are all too obvious for everyone to witness. Indeed, Al-Habib al-Qutb Ahmad bin Abibakar bin Sumeit Naf'an Allahu Bih (1277-1343 A.H) who was the Chief Kadhi of Zanzibar took this salaat so much to heart that he wrote a sharh (appreciation) on it in Arabic.

PRAISE WITH EACH LETTER OF HIS NAMEIt has become traditional for Muslims to praise the beloved Prophet Muhammad al-Mustafa Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam in association with each letter of his name and Imam al-Jazuli Rahmatullahi 'alaih offers it to us in salawaat. The word Muhammad means "the praised one" and is formed using the letters "meem", "haa" and "daal". The following salaat uses these letters in the order "haa", "meem" and "daal" which forms the word "hamd", again meaning "praise". We also notice that this salaat has sprinklings from parts of the salawaat by Imam Shafi'i Rahmatullahi 'alaih and Gauth u'l A'zam Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani QaddasAllahu Sirrahu'l 'Azeez.

Allahumma Salli 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-inHaa i'r Rahmati wa Meem i'l Mulki wa Daal i'd DawaamiAs-Sayyid i'l Kaamil i'l Fatih i'l Khaatimi'Adada maa fee 'Ilmika kaainun au qad kaanaKullamaa Zakaraka wa Zakara hu'z ZaakiroonWa kullamaa ghafala 'an Zikrika wa Zikri hi'l ghaafiloonSalaatan daaimatan bi-Diwaamika baaqiyatan bi-BaqaaikaLaa muntahaa lahaa doona 'IlmikaInnaka 'alaa kulli shay'in Qadeer

O Allah! Bestow blessings on Sayyidina Muhammad,the letter "Haa" in whose name is for mercy,the letter "Meem" is for the Kingdomand the letter "Daal" denotes everlastingness;who is an accomplished perfect master,the opener (of doors of mercy), the Seal (of the Prophets),as many times as is in Your Knowledgeof what will happen and what has happened,whenever You are remembered and he is rememberedby those who rememberand whenever you are not remembered and he is not rememberedby the negligent,such blessings as are perpetual with Your Everlastingness,preserved with Your Eternity,that don't end at all without Your Knowledge,

(as nothing happens without your Knowledge, O Allah).Truly, You are Powerful over all things.

The first major book of salawaat The importance of salawaat

The Niyyah (intention)

Salawaat taught by the beloved Prophet

Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik

The salawaat that existed in his time

Countable and uncountable blessings

Salawaat with praise of the Holy Prophet

Praise with each letter of his name

Dua

SALAAMS IN MAWLID U'N NABI OF IMAM BARZANJI

The mawlid eulogy by Imam as-Sayyid Ja'far ibn Hasan ibn 'Abdal Karim al-Barzanji (1690-1766 C.E) Rahmatullahi 'alaih is popular Muslim poetry in praise of the Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam, universally recited to celebrate his birth (mawlid) on twelfth Rabi' u'l Awwal. It is a poetic biography of the Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam with his birth as its main theme. And when a Muslim says 'mawlid', every other Muslim knows it is the birth of the sweet beloved Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam that is being referred to. This mawlid eulogy, just like dozens of others, is based on the Holy Qur'an Kareem, Hadith Shareef and books of seerah (history). It is in two parts. The first is Mawlid Barzanji Nathr, a 19 fasl (chapter) history of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam in poetic prose with 355 verses while the second is Mawlid Barzanji Nazm, a similar 16 chapter history in poetic form with 205 verses all of which rhyme with the letter 'noon'.

After the recitation of each verse in this mawlid eulogy as in all mawlid eulogies, the congregation responds:

Sallallahu 'AlaihAllah's blessings be upon him

or

Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'AlaihAllah's blessings and peace be upon him.

The spiritual benefits of reciting these salawaat are obviously immeasurable.

Mawlid Barzanji is in 'Arbi, it has been translated into Kiswahili by Mzee bin Ali Muhammad from the Comoro Islands of Africa, it is printed in Singapore, its introduction is in the Indonesian language in the Java dialect, it has been transcribed by Mawlana Uthman Abdulkarim Nasserpuri Rahmatullahi 'alaih of Kenya, it has been applauded in Zikr-e-Habib (Rememberance of the Beloved Prophet) by Ad-Daa'ee al-Kaamil Mawlana Abdul 'Aleem Siddiqi, Rahmatullahi 'alaih who incidentally composed salaams in Urdu, it has been reproduced in countless other kutub (books) including Baaqatun 'Atirah (A Perfumed Bouquet) of Imam as-Sayyid Muhammad 'Alawi al-Maliki of Makkah, and it is recited from Makkah to Mombasa, from Madina to Singapore, from Arafat to Jakarta and from Mina to Toronto, that is throughout the world by Muslims of all the four Madh'habs and all Tariqas.

When the munshid (reciter) reaches the narration of the actual birth of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam, all rise with respect and devotion in a standing ovation to the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam and they all offer him salaams from the depths of their hearts with deep love and affection in a resounding chorus which practically all Muslims know by heart, and indeed many other salaams whether in Arabic, Urdu or English have adopted this very same chorus.

Yaa Nabi Salaam 'alaikaYaa Rasul Salaam 'alaikaYaa Habib Salaam 'alaikaSalawaatu'llah 'alaika

Salutations on you, O ProphetSalutations on you, O Messenger of AllahSalutations on you, O BelovedBlessings of Allah be upon you.

Although this Qiyam (standing ovation) is normally printed together with the Mawlid-u'n-Nabi Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam composed by Imam Barzanji, it cannot yet be established who actually composed it because it is also reproduced in the Mawlid-u'n-Nabi Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam titled Sharaf al-Anaam (Noble In The Whole World) composed by al-'Allamah Shaykh Ahmad bin Qasim Rahmatu'llahi 'alaih, as well as the one composed by al-Hafiz Shaykh Abdirrahman ibn Ali ad-Dayba'ee Rahmatu'llahi 'alaih. Interestingly, Shaykh ad-Dayba'ee is called al-Hafiz because he knew more than 100,000 Hadith Shareef of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam by heart. Such is the stature of the ulama who have composed Mawlid-u'n-Nabi Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam.

Of the 35 verses in this qiyam following the chorus, the ones that are normally recited are:

Ashraqa'l Badru 'alainaFakhtafat Minhu'l BuduruMithla Husnika Maa Ra'ainaQattu Yaa Wajhas-Suroori

Anta Shamsun Anta BadrunAnta Noorun Fawqa NooriAnta Ikseerun wa GhaaliAnta Misbaahu's-Sudoori

Yaa Habibee Yaa MuhammadYaa 'Arusa'l KhaafiqayniYaa Muayyad Yaa MumajjadYaa Imama'l Qiblataini

Man-ra'aa Wajhaaka Yas'adYaa Kareem al-WaalidainiHawdhuka's-Saafi'l MubarradWirdunaa Yawm an Nushoori

A full moon rises over usThe other moon disappearsWe never saw the like of your beautyO face of gladness

You are the sun, you are the moonYou are light upon lightsYou are gold and even more pricelessYou are the light of hearts

O my beloved, O MuhammadO star of east and westO supporter, O praised oneO leader of both Qiblas

Whoever sees your face, gets happinessO the kind one to both parentsYour clear and cool fountainIs our goal on the Day of Reckoning

It ends with the following dua (prayer):

'Aalim-us-Sirri wa AkhfaaMustajeeb-ud-Da'awaatiRabbi Farhamnaa Jamee'aBijamee-'is-Saalihaati

The Knower of the secret and even more hiddenOne who accepts supplicationsO Lord forgive us allFor the sake of all the good deeds.

The munshideen (reciters) love to add to the qiyam these verses of the qasida that the children of Madina recited on daf in greeting the beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam and his noble companions when they entered that blessed city, as narrated by Imam al-Ghazali Rahmatullahi 'alaih in his Ihya 'Ulum al-Deen (Revival of the Religious Sciences).

Tala'al Badru 'AlaynaMin Thaniyyaatil Wadaa'

Wajabah Shukru 'AlaynaMaada'a Lillahi Daa'

The full moon rises on us.From Thaniyyatil Wadaa'

And it is abiligatory on us to express thanksWhenever called upon by a summoner for the sake of Allah

Muslims never tire of sending salaams on the beloved Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam and they keep on finding novel and more interesting ways of sending salaams. An alternative resounding chorus for this salaam is:

Marhaban Yaa Nura 'Ainee Yaa Nura 'AineeMarhaban Jadda'l HusainiMarhaban Ahlan wa Sahlan Ahlan wa SahlanMarhaban Yaa Khaira Daa'ee

Welcome! O the light of my eyes, O the light of my eyesWelcome! The grandfather of Imam HusainWelcome! Greetings! Greetings!Welcome! O the best caller and inviter to Islam.

A variation to this chorus is:

Yaa Habibee Marhaba Yaa Nura 'Ainee MarhabaYaa Habibee Marhaba Jadda'l Husaini Marhaba

O my beloved: Welcome! O the light of my eyes: Welcome!O my beloved: Welcome! The grandfather of Imam Husain: Welcome!

Yet another variation that forms a preliminary before the start of the "salaam" proper is:

Marhaba Yaa Marhaba Yaa MarhabaRahmatullil 'Aalameena Marhaba.

Welcome! O Welcome! O Welcome!Welcome the mercy for all the worlds.

Yet another way of offering salaams in this mawlid eulogy is to recite the second part of its fourth chapter in which the verses end in the letter "Hamza". All stand and the munshid (reciter) leads in rapturous resonance:

Wa Muhayyan Kash-shamsi Minka MudeeunAsfarat 'Anhu Laylatun Garraau

Lailatu'l Mawlidilladhee Kaana LiddeeniSuroorun Biyaumihi Wazdihaau

Yauma Naalat Biwad'ihibnatu WahbinMin Fakhaarin Maa Lam Tanalhu'nnisaau

Wa Atat Qaumahaa Bi-Afdali MimmaaHamalat Qablu Maryamu'l 'Adhraau

Mawlidun Kaana Minhu Fee Taali'il KufriWabaalun 'Alaihimoo wa Wabaau

Wa Tawaalat Bushra'l Hawaatifi an qadWulida'l Mustafa wa Haqqa'l Hanaau

And your face that shines like the sunHas been unveiled on the finest night

The night of your birth bestowed happiness on religionAnd splendour on its day

The day the daughter of Wahb succeeded in gettingOf prestige what other women never succeeded in attaining

She came to her people with a pregnancySuperior than that of the blessed virgin Mary before her

A birth that resulted for the disbelieversIn nothing but woes and epidemics

And the glad tidings of rejoicers came one after anotherThat the chosen one was born and happiness was a must.

After each verse, the congregation responds:

Rabbi Salli 'ala'l Habibi MuhammadWa 'Ala'l Aali Man Humu'l Kuramau

O Lord bless the beloved MuhammadAnd his family members who were (all) benevolent people

Imam Barzanji Rahmatu'llahi 'alaih has borrowed these verses from the "Hamziyya" of the universally acclaimed Imam Sharafuddin Muhammad al-Busiri Rahmatu'llahi 'alaih (608-695 A.H., 1212-1296 C.E) of Egypt. The "Hamziyyah" is a qasida in praise of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam with 456 verses, all of which rhyme in the letter "Hamza", hence the title "Hamziyyah". Then came Imam Yusuf Ibn Ismail an-Nab'haani Rahmatu'llahi 'alaih of Lebanon who tried to emulate Imam al-Busiri Rahmatu'llahi 'alaih and composed a "Hamziyyah Alfiyyah" in praise of the beloved Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam, with almost 1000 verses (987 to be exact), all rhyming in the letter "Hamza"! You begin to wonder whether miracles will ever cease! And you begin to understand what is meant by the phrase "love for the Prophet", Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. And you surely realise that the mashaaikh (spiritual masters) are madly in love with their very own Muhammad-e-'Arabi, Rasuli Rabbi'l 'Aalameen, Rahmatullil 'Aalameen, Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam.

Sallu ala'r RasulAllahumma Salli wa Sallim 'Alaih.

Salawaat by Sufi MashaaikhChapter 1: SALAWAAT

Of: GAUTH U'L A'ZAM MUHYUDDEENShaykh 'ABDUL QADIR JILANI

An Appreciation by Siddiq Osman Noormuhammad

KIBRITI'L AHMARKibritil Ahmar which means "the Philosopher's Stone" is also included in many kutub some of which are:

1. Fuyudhaat u'r Rabbaniyyah, compiled by al-Hajj Ismail ibn as-Sayyid Muhammad Sa'eed al-Qadiri.

2. Awraad u'l Qaadiriyyah Rahmaniyyah, compiled by Hadhrat al-'Allamah as-Sayyid Muhammad Tayyib Shah.

3. Awraad u'l Qaadiriyyah, compiled by Muhammad Salim Bawwab.

4. Mishkaat u's Salawaat (A Niche For Lit-Up Blessings) of Mawlana Muhammad Ilyas Burney.

5. Majmu'ah Wazaaif Ma' Dalaail u'l Khairaat (Compilation of Regular Voluntary Invocations Together With Dalaail u'l Khairaat), translated into Urdu and compiled by Pir Muhammad Karam Shah.

Kibriti'l Ahmar is truly magnificent. It weaves verses of the Holy Qur'an Kareem together with Asma-u'n-Nabi Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam (his attributive names of praise), dua (invocation), and five salawaat, three of which are famous. These are:

(a) As-Salaatu Kanzi'l A'zam, the salaat with which Kibriti'l Ahmar begins and which will be observed in more detail later,

(b) As-Salaatu'l Gauthiyyah, which we have already looked at, and

(c) As-Salaatu'l In'aam, which is now presented.

As-Salaatu'l In'aamAllahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaihi wa 'alaa aalihi'Adada na'maaillahi wa ifdhaalihi

O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on him and on his familyAs many times as Allah's bounties and Grace.

Kibriti'l Ahmar ends with the following verses of the Holy Qur'an Kareem.

Sub'haana Rabbika Rabbi'l 'Izzati 'Amma YasifunWa Salaamun 'ala'l MursaleenWa'l Hamdu Lillaahi Rabbi'l 'Aalameen

Glory to your Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power(He is free) from what they ascribe to HimAnd peace be on the Messengers.And praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds (37:180-182).

 

His Most Well-Know Salawaat As-Salaatu'l Gauthiyyah

Kibriti'l Ahmar

As-Salaat U'l Kubra

Kanzi'l A'zam

Huruf U'l Muqatta'at

Salaams On The Beloved Prophet

A Blessed Son Of The Blessed Prophet

S-SALAATU'L GAUTHIYYAH This salaat of the Gauth u'l A'zam is so famous that many mashaaikh (spiritual masters) choose to include it in their kutub (books) as part of the awraad and azkaar (regular voluntary invocations). Some of the kutub that contain this salaat are:

1. Dalaail u'l Khairaat (Proofs of Goodness) of Imam Muhammad bin Sulayman al-Jazuli.

2. Hizb u'l A'zam (The Great Supplication) of Hadhrat Mulla 'Ali al-Qaari.

3. Majmu'ah Salawaat u'r Rasul (Compilation of Blessings On The Messenger, Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam) of Hadhrat Khwaja Shaykh Abdur Rahman Chohravi.

4. Afdhal u's Salawaat (The Best Blessings) of Imam Yusuf ibn Ismail an-Nab'haani.

5. Awraad u'l Qaadiriyyah (Regular Voluntary Invocations of the Qaadiriyyah), compiled by Muhammad Salim Bawwaab.

6. Durood Shareef (Noble Blessings) (in Urdu) by Khwaja Nithaar Ahmad.

7. Fazaaile Durood Shareef (The Benefits of The Noble Blessings) (in Urdu) by al-Allamah Habibu'l Bashar Khairi Rangooni.

Here then is As-Salaatu'l Gauthiyyah, shining as distinctly as the north star.

Allahumma Salli 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-inAs-Saabiqi li'lkhalqi nuruhuWa Rahmatullil 'aalameena dhuhuruhu'Adada man madhaa min khalqiqa wa man baqiyaWa man sa'ida minhum wa man shaqiyaSalaatan tastagriqu'l 'adda wa tuhitu bi'l haddiSalaatan laa gaayata lahaa wa laa muntahaa wa lanqidha'aSalaatan daaimatan bidawaamikaWa 'alaa aalihi wa sahbihi wa sallim tasleeman mithla dhaalik

O Allah! Bestow blessings on our master Muhammadwhose light was created first,and whose appearance is a mercy for all the worlds,

as many times as the number of Your creations past and yet to comeamong those that are blessed and those that are unfortunate;such blessings that are unlimited and unbounded,countless, endless, never finishing;such blessings as everlasting as You,and on his family and companions,and in the same manner complete salutations as well.

In this salaat, Shaykh 'Abdul Qadir Jilani Rady Allahu 'Anhu declares his aqeeda (belief) loud and clear that before Allah Sub'hanahu wa Ta'ala created anything else, He created Nur-e-Muhammadi, the Nur of Sayyidina Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam. Sub'hanAllah!

Salawaat by Sufi MashaaikhChapter Four: TANBEEHI'L ANAAM

Of: Shaykh 'ABDUL JALIL BIN 'AZOOM AL-MAGHRIBI An Appreciation by Siddiq Osman Noormuhammad

SALAWAAT WITH DUA AND ASMA U'L HUSNAThe final chapter Fee Itmaam i's Salawaat i'l Mukarramah wa'd Du'aai bi Asmaillahi Ta'aala'l-Mu'az-zamah (Completion of the Blessed Salawaat with Invocations Using the Most Beautiful Names of Allah Ta'ala) fills one's heart with joy on reciting 198 salawaat together with Asma u'l Husna. The most well-known Asma u'l Husna are 99, and in this instance, the salawaat that have been composed by Shaykh 'Azoom are exactly twice that number! Allahu Akbar! It is fitting to conclude with one of these salawaat.

Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina wa Mawlana MuhammadWa 'alaa aali Sayyidina MuhammadSalaatan tasturuna bihaa fi'l hayaati wa ba'da'l mamaat Yaa Saami'al aswaat

O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on our patron Sayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammad.With this salaat hide my shame in life as well as after death; O the Hearer of supplications.

May Allah Sub'hanahu wa Ta'ala give us the hidaya (guidance) to continue to offer salawaat on the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam in ever increasing profusion everyday, Aameen Yaa Rabba'l 'Aalameen.

Salawaat by Sufi MashaaikhChapter Four: TANBEEHI'L ANAAM

Of: Shaykh 'ABDUL JALIL BIN 'AZOOM AL-MAGHRIBI An Appreciation by Siddiq Osman Noormuhammad

THE SIFAAT OF THE HOLY PROPHETSallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam Consider what we learn from the following salawaat about the sifaat (qualities) of the noble Prophet Sayyidina Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam.

Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina wa Mawlana MuhammadWa 'alaa aali Sayyidina MuhammadAlladhee u'tiya khuluqa Adam wa ma'rifata Sheeth Wa shaja'ata Nuh wa shiddata Musa

Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina wa Mawlana MuhammadWa 'alaa aali Sayyidina MuhammadAlladhee u'tiya khullata Ibrahim wa lisaana 'Ismail Wa hubba Daaniyaal wa ridhaa Is'haaq wa zuhda 'Isa

O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on our patron Sayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammadwho was given the character of Prophet Adam Alayhissalaam, the gnostic knowledge of Prophet Sheeth Alayhissalaam, the valour of Prophet Nuh Alayhissalaam, and the strength of Prophet Musa Alayhissalaam.

O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on our patron Sayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammadwho was given the friendship of Prophet Ibrahim Alayhissalaam, the tongue of Prophet Ismail Alayhissalaam, the love of Prophet Daaniyaal Alayhissalaam, the contentment of Prophet Is'haaq Alayhissalaam and the abstinence of Prophet 'Isa Alayhissalaam.

Indeed, the beloved Prophet Muhammad al-Mustafa Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam combined in himself all the superlative qualities of all the previous Prophets 'alaihimussalaam.

To gain a flavour of some of the sifaat of the noble Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam, it suffices to recite the following four salawaat, cross referenced with (translations of) his blessed Hadith Shareef.

SalaatAllahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina wa Mawlana MuhammadWa 'alaa aali Sayyidina MuhammadAlladhee kaana khuluquhu'l Qur'an

O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on our patronSayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammadwhose character was the Qur'an

Hadith ShareefSa'd bin Hisham said: I went to 'Aisha Rady Allahu Anha and said, "Mother of the faithful, tell me about the nature of Allah's Messenger, Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam". She asked, "Do you not recite the Qur'an?" On my replying that I certainly did, she said, "The Prophet's nature was the Qur'an". (Muslim)

SalaatAllahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina wa Mawlana MuhammadWa 'alaa aali Sayyidina MuhammadAlladhee kaana yusallee wa li sadrihi azeezunKa azeezi'l mirjali mina'l bukaa

O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on our patronSayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammad

who when he prayed salah, his chest sounded like the sound of a boiling pot.

Hadith ShareefAbdullah ibn Shikh-khir, Rady Allahu Anhu relates, "Once I visited the Holy Prophet, Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam, when he was offering salah (prayers). I heard the sound of his weeping coming out of his chest which was like the sound of a boiling pot". (Tirmidhi)

SalaatAllahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina wa Mawlana MuhammadWa 'alaa aali Sayyidina MuhammadAlladhee kaana waj'huhu yatala'lau tala'lua'l qamari laylata'l badr

O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on our patronSayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammadwhose face shone like the full moon.

Hadith ShareefNarrated Abu Is'haq Rady Allahu Anhu: Al-Bara' Rady Allahu Anhu was asked, "Was the face of the Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam (as bright) as a sword?" He said, "No, but (as bright) as the moon". (Bukhari)

SalaatAllahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina wa Mawlana MuhammadWa 'alaa aali Sayyidina MuhammadAlladhee kaana laa ya'kul-u's-sadaqah

O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on our patronSayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammadwho did not eat of (what was given as) charity.

Hadith ShareefHadhrat Buraidah Rady Allahu Anhu reports that when the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam emigrated to Madina, Hadhrat Salman Farsi Rady Allahu Anhu brought a tray full of fresh dates and offered it to him. He asked, "What is this"? Salman Rady Allahu Anhu said, "It is a sacrifice (sadaqah) for you and your companions." He said, "We do not eat sadaqah". On the second day too, Salman Rady Allahu Anhu came out with a tray of dates and said, "These dates are a gift". Then the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam and the companions ate of those dates. Thereafter, Salman Rady Allahu Anhu saw the Seal of Prophethood (in between his shoulders) and embraced Islam. (Tirmidhi)

AS-SALAWAAT U'L HURUFIYYAShaykh 'Abdul Jalil bin 'Azoom Rahmatullahi 'alaih has also composed salawaat with all the letters (huruf) of the Arabic alphabet from "Alif" to "Yaa", one salaat for each letter. Such salawaat can be referred to, for ease of understanding, as "As-salawaat u'l hurufiyyah". They begin as follows:

Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina wa Mawlana MuhammadWa 'alaa aali Sayyidina MuhammadAlif i'l ibtidaa'

Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina wa Mawlana MuhammadWa 'alaa aali Sayyidina MuhammadBaai bidaayati'l ikhtiraa'

Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina wa Mawlana MuhammadWa 'alaa aali Sayyidina MuhammadTaa'i tamaami'l fawaaid

Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina wa Mawlana Muhammadwa 'alaa aali Sayyidina MuhammadThaa'i thubuti'l aqaaid

O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on our patronSayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammad:The letter "Alif" is for the start.

O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on our patronSayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammad:The letter "Baa" is for the beginning of the discovery.

O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on our patronSayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammad:The letter "Taa" is for complete benefits.

O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on our patronSayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammad:The letter "Thaa" is for unshakeable tenets of belief.

Each of the letters of the alphabet is thus said to have a meaning and to stand for something.

AS-SALAWAAT U'L HURUFIYYAShaykh 'Abdul Jalil bin 'Azoom Rahmatullahi 'alaih has also composed salawaat with all the letters (huruf) of the Arabic alphabet from "Alif" to "Yaa", one salaat for each letter. Such salawaat can be referred to, for ease of understanding, as "As-salawaat u'l hurufiyyah". They begin as follows:

Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina wa Mawlana MuhammadWa 'alaa aali Sayyidina MuhammadAlif i'l ibtidaa'

Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina wa Mawlana MuhammadWa 'alaa aali Sayyidina MuhammadBaai bidaayati'l ikhtiraa'

Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina wa Mawlana MuhammadWa 'alaa aali Sayyidina MuhammadTaa'i tamaami'l fawaaid

Allahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina wa Mawlana Muhammadwa 'alaa aali Sayyidina MuhammadThaa'i thubuti'l aqaaid

O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on our patronSayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammad:The letter "Alif" is for the start.

O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on our patronSayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammad:The letter "Baa" is for the beginning of the discovery.

O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on our patronSayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammad:The letter "Taa" is for complete benefits.

O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on our patronSayyidina Muhammad and on the family of Sayyidina Muhammad:The letter "Thaa" is for unshakeable tenets of belief.

Each of the letters of the alphabet is thus said to have a meaning and to stand for something.

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Du'a

QASAAID

ASMA' ALLAH U'L HUSNA IN VERSE

By: Shaykh 'Abdul Qadir JilaniRady Allahu 'Anhu

Many mashaayikh (spiritual masters) and the awliya (saints) have composed poems in praising and invoking Allah with the tawassul (means) of Asma Allah ul Husna (the Most Beautiful Names of Allah). The 99 Asma' Allah appear in their poems in the sequence in which they appear in the Hadith Sharif. Gawth ul A'zam Shaykh 'Abdul Qadir Jilani Rady Allahu 'Anhu (470-561 A.H / 1077-1166 C.E) also composed one such beautiful poem (nazm) which is contained in Al-Fuyudaat ur-Rabbaniyya, a kitab (book) that has many of his azkaar and awraad (additional voluntary devotions), compiled by as-Sayyid al-Hajj Isma'il Muhammad Sa'id al-Qadiri.

It has been translated by Shaykh Muhtar Holland. It is a laamiyya: all its 63 verses end and rhyme in the letters "laam-alif". We are grateful to the publishers al-Baz, and especially to Brother Ruslan Moore for giving us permission to reproduce it here. May Allah, the Glorified and the Exalted, engrave the Asma' Allah in our hearts, Aameen.

A Noble Didactic Poem(Manzuma)

Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir (may Allah well be pleased with him) is also the author of this noble didactic poem (manzuma)

In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate

Bismi'llahi 'r-Rahman 'rRahim

I have begun with the affirmation of God's Oneness, invoking His Name.I shall end with the praiseworthy remembrance, in very fine style.

shara'tu bi-tawhidi 'l-Ilahi mubasmila

sa-akhtimu bi'dh-dhikri 'l-hamidi mujammila

I bear witness that Allah-there is no lord but He- transcends the comprehension of our minds, utterly and completely,

wa ashhadu anna 'llaha la rabba ghairu-hutanazzaha 'an hasri 'l-'uquli takammula

and that He sent among us Ahmad, committed to the Truth, a Prophet who came into being and has now passed away.

wa arsala fi-na Ahmada 'l-haqqi qayyada

Nabiyyan bi-hi qama 'l-wujudu wa qad khala

He taught us everything that is unquestionably good, and showed us tolerance and knowledge and fidelity.

fa-'allama-na min kulli khairin mu'ayyadinwa azhara fi-na 'l-hilma wa 'l-'ilma wa 'l-wala

O seeker of glory and treasure and exaltationfrom Allah, you must therefore appeal to Him by His Names Most High.

fa-ya taliban 'izzan wa kanzan wa rif'atanmina 'llahi fa-'d'u-hu bi-Asma'i-hi 'l-'ula

You must say with contrition, after purification and sacrifice:"I beseech You, O Allah, to grant immediate help,

fa-qul bi'nkisarin ba'da tuhrin wa qurbatin

fa-as'alu-ka 'llahumma nasran mu'ajjala

as You see fit, O Merciful One, by the mercy that embraces, and treat me, O Compassionate One, most handsomely.

bi-haqqi-ka ya Rahmanu bi'r-rahmati 'llatiahatat fa-kun li ya Rahimu mujammila

O Sovereign Most Holy, sanctify my innermost being, and keep my existence safe, O Source of Peace, from tribulation.

wa ya Malikun Quddusu qaddis sariratiwa sallim wujudi ya Salamu mina 'l-bala

O Guardian, grant me a guaranteed security, and a beautiful protective screen, O Protector.

wa ya Mu'minun hab li amanan muhaqqaqawa sitran jamilan ya Muhaiminu musbila

Almighty One, relieve my nature of abasement, and shield me with Your might, O All-Compelling One, from every difficult dilemma.

'Azizun azil 'an nafsiya 'dh-dhulla wa 'hmi-ni

bi-'izzi-ka ya Jabbaru min kulli mu'dila

Subdue all the foes, O Majestic One, and provide me, O Creator, with a refuge from evil.

wa da' jumlata 'l-a'da'i ya Mutakabbirun wa ya Khaliqun khudh li 'ani 'sh-sharri ma'zila

O Maker of benefits, increase the flow of benefit, which You bestowed on us, O Shaper, at the outset.

wa ya Bari'a 'n-na'ma'i zid faida ni'matinfadta 'alai-na ya Musawwiru awwala

I have pinned my hope on You, O All-Forgiving One, so accept my repentance.By Your prevailing force, O All-Prevailing One, make my devil suffer disappointment.

rajawtu-ka ya Ghaffaru fa-'qbal li-tawbati

bi-qahri-ka ya Qahharu shaitaniya 'khdhula

As befits You, O Ever-Giving One, in knowledge and wisdom, and for the sake of provision, O Provider, make things easy for me.

bi-haqqi-ka ya Wahhabu 'ilman wa hikmatan

wa li'r-rizqi ya Razzaqu kun li musahhila

By opening, O Opener, enlighten my perception, and by knowledge, O All-Knowing One, endow me with gracious favor.

wa bi'l-fathi ya Fattahu nawwir basiratiwa bi'l-'ilmi nil-ni ya 'Alimu tafaddula

O Constrictor, constrict the heart of every deviant, and O Expander, expand me with Your lofty secrets.

wa ya Qabidu 'qbid qalba kulli mu'anidin

wa ya Basitu 'bsut-ni bi-asrari-ka 'l-'ula

O Reducer, reduce the worth of every hypocrite, and O Exalter, exalt me and charge me with Your Spirit.

wa ya Khafidu 'khfid qadra kulli munafiqin

wa ya Rafi'u 'rfa'-ni bi-Ruhi-ka athqila

I beg You for glory, O Glorifier, for those who deserve it. O Abaser, abase the wrongdoers to teach them a lesson.

sa'altu-ka 'izzan ya Mu'izzu li-ahli-hi

Mudhillun fa-dhilla 'z-zalimina munakkila

Your knowledge is sufficient, O All-Hearing One, so beAttentive to my state, improving and accepting.

fa-'ilmu-ka kafin ya Sami'u fa-kun idhan

Basiran bi-hali muslihan mutaqabbila

O Arbitrator, Just and Gracious to His creatures, All-Aware of that which is concealed and what is evident!

fa-ya Hakamun 'Adlun Latifun bi-khalqi-hi

Khabirun bi-ma yakhfa wa ma huwa mujtala

Your forbearance is my object, O Forbearing One, and my support. You are Sublime, and exalted is the splendor of Your generosity.

fa-hilmu-ka qasdi ya Halimu wa 'umdati

wa Anta 'Azimun 'uzmu judi-ka qad 'ala

Forgiver and Pardoner of every sinner, One who appreciates His friends and establishes connection.

Ghafurun wa Sattarun 'ala kulli mudhnibinShakurun 'ala ahbabi-hi wa muwassila

One who is All-High, and has raised the station of His friend.Great, Bountiful in goodness and Munificent in generosity.

'Aliyyun wa qad a'la maqama habibi-hi

Kabirun Kathiru 'l-khairi wa 'l-judi Mujzila

A Preserver, for nothing escapes His knowledge; a Sustainer, Director of all creation, the highest and the lowest.

Hafizun fa-la shai'un yafutu li-'ilmi-hi

Muqitun Naqibu 'l-khalqi a'la wa asfala

Your judgment is enough for me, O Reckoner, so take control of me, and You are Majestic, so drive my grief away.

fa-hukmu-ka hasbi ya Hasibu tawalla-ni

wa Anta Jalilun kun li-ghammi munakkila

My God, You are Noble, so ennoble my talents, and cause my enemy, O Ever-Watchful One, to crash down on the rocks.

Ilahi Karimun Anta fa-akrim mawahibi

wa kun li-'aduwwi ya Raqibu mujandila

I have appealed to You, O Patron, Ever-Responsive to those who plead, Sempiternal Source of gifts and Bountiful Source of generosity in abundance.

da'awtu-ka ya Mawla Mujiban li-man da'a

Qadima 'l-'ataya wa Wasi'a 'l-judi fi 'l-mala

My God, All-Wise are You, so determine my traits of character, and may Your love, O Ever-Loving One, descend upon me steadily.

Ilahi Hakimun Anta fa-'hkum mashahidi

fa-wuddu-ka 'indi ya Wadudu tanazzala

Magnificent [are You], so grant me splendor, happiness and mutual affection, and, O Dispatcher, dispatch the victory of my army at high speed.

Majidun fa-hab li 'l-majda wa 's-sa'da wa 'l-wila

wa ya Ba'ithu 'b'ath nasra jaishi muharwila

[You are] Witness to all things, so improve my traits of character, and grant me real access to the truth of spiritual experiences.

Shahidun 'ala 'l-ashya'i tayyib mashahidi

wa haqqiq li haqqa 'l-mawaridi manhala

My God, a Trustee are You, so satisfy my needs and fulfill them, since the Strong is responsible.

Ilahi Wakilun Anta fa-'qdi hawa'iji

wa yakfi idha kana 'l-Qawiyyu muwakkala

[You are] Firm, so make firm the weakness of my power and my strength. Help, O Protecting Friend, a servant who has piously appealed to You.

Matinun fa-mattin da'fa hawli wa quwwati

aghith ya Wali 'abdan da'a-ka tabattula

I have praised You, affirming Your Oneness, O Praiseworthy Patron and Reckoner and Rectifier of the errors of humanity.

hamadtu-ka ya Mawla Hamidan muwahhidan

wa Muhsiya zillati 'l-wara wa Mu'addila

My God, You are the Initiator of opening for me, and guidance, Restorer of everything in the universe, whether it is obvious or withdrawn.

Ilahi Mubdi'a 'l-fatha li Anta wa 'l-huda

Mu'idun li-ma fi 'l-kawni in bada aw khala

I have asked You, O Giver of Life, to grant me a happy life. Cause the enemies of my religion, O Cause of Death, to die immediately.

sa'altu-ka ya Muhyi hayatan hani'atan

amit ya Mumitu a'da'a dini mu'ajjila

O Ever-Living, revive the corpse of my heart with Your remembrance that is sempiternal, and be the Sustainer of my innermost being, providing access.

wa ya Hayyu ahyi maita qalbi bi-dhikri-ka 'l-

qadimi fa-kun Qayyuma sirri muwassila

O Source of the lights, bring my joy into being,and, O Splendor of the lights, be supportive of me.

wa ya Wajida 'l-anwari awjid masarrati

wa ya Majida 'l-anwari kun li mu'awwila

O Unique One- there is no existence but His- and O Eternal One, by Whom existence is raised high.

wa ya Wahidun ma thamma illa wujudu-hu

wa ya Samadun qama 'l-wujudu bi-hi 'ala

O Powerful Lord of compelling force, destroy our enemy, and Omnipotent One, decree affliction for our enviers.

wa ya Qadirun Dha 'l-batshi ahlik 'aduwwa-na

wa Muqtadirun qaddir li-hussadi-na 'l-bala

Send forward to my innermost being, O Advancer, and protect me graciously from harm, O Postponer,

wa qaddim li-sirri ya Muqaddimu 'afi-ni

mina 'd-durri fadlan ya Mu'akhkhiru Dhu 'l-'ula

Lord of Exaltation.

Grant us the good things first, O First, and let me die, O Last, as one affirming Your Uniqueness.

wa asbiq la-na 'l-khairati Awwala awwalanwa ya Akhiru 'khtim li amutu muhallila

O Outwardly Apparent, show me Your stores of knowledge that are in the inside of the mystery of the unseen, O Inwardly Concealed, benevolently.

wa ya Zahiru 'zhir li ma'arifa-ka 'llati

bi-batini ghaibi 'l-ghaibi ya Batinan wala

O Manager, entrust our business to every sincere adviser, and, O Most Exalted One, direct and improve his management.

wa ya Wali awli amra-na kulla nasihin

wa ya Muta'ali 'rshid wa aslih la-hu 'l-wala

O Benign One, O Lord of all creatures and Giver of gifts, and O Ever-Relenting One, relent and accept our repentance.

wa ya Barru ya Rabba 'l-baraya wa Muhiba 'l-

'ataya wa ya Tawwabu tub wa taqabbala

Taker of Vengeance on those who wrong themselves, and likewise All-Pardoning are You, so treat me with gracious kindness.

wa Muntaqimun min zalimiyya nufusi-him

wa ka-dhalika 'Afuwwun Anta fa-''tif tafaddula

Gentle, Kind to the servants, and Supportive of those who appeal, O Master of Sovereignty, for refuge.

'Atufun Ra'ufun bi'l-'ibadi wa Mus'ifun

li-man qad da'a ya Malika 'l-mulki ma'qila

Clothe me, O Lord of Majesty, in majestic attire, for Your Generosity and Honor never cease to flow in torrents.

fa-albis la-na ya Dha 'l-Jalali jalalatanfa-judu-ka wa 'l-ikramu ma zala muhtila

O Just One, establish my inner core firmly in the truth, and, O Gatherer, gather perfections for me in abundance.

wa ya Muqsitu thabbit 'ala 'l-haqqi muhjati

wa ya Jami'u 'jma' li 'l-kamalati fi 'l-mala

My God, Self-Sufficient are You, so remove my poverty. O Enricher, relieve my nature of the needfor what is lacking.

Ilahi Ghaniyyun Anta fa-'dhhab li-faqatiwa Mughni fa-'ghni faqra nafsi li-ma khala

O Preventer, prevent me from sinning, and cure me of the evil results

wa ya Mani'u 'mna'-ni mina 'dh-dhanbi fa-'shfi-ni

'ani 's-su'i mim-ma qad janaitu ta'ammula

of what I have committed in affectation.

O Injurer, subject our enviers to stern rebuke, and, O Benefactor, grant us the benefit of spiritual attainment.

wa ya Darru kun li'l-hasidina muwabbikhan wa ya Nafi'u 'nfa'-ni bi-ruhin muhassala

O Light- You are the Light in everything that is apparent- and O Guide, cause the light in the heart to be ignited.

wa ya Nuru Anta 'n-Nuru fi kulli ma bada

wa ya Hadi kun li'n-nuri fi 'l-qalbi mush'ila

Originator of all creatures, from the flow of Whose grace I hope to benefit, while continuity remains with none but You.

Badi'a 'l-baraya arju min faidi lutfi-hi

wa lam yabqa illa Anta Baqin la-hu 'l-wila

O Inheritor, make me an heir to Your knowledge, and grant me right direction, O Director, in fine form.

wa ya Warithu 'j'al-ni li-'ilmi-ka warithanwa rushdan anil-ni ya Rashidu tajammula

[You are] Ever-Patient and Ever-Pardoning, so assist my dedication to patience, and grant me discreet discrimination.

Saburun wa Sattarun fa-waffiq 'azimati

'ala 's-sabri wa 'j'al li 'khtiyaran muzammila

I have appealed to You, my Master, by Your Most Beautiful Names,and by Your Most Glorious Signs I have humbly petitioned You.

bi-Asma'i-ka 'l-Husna da'awtu-ka Sayyidi

wa Ayati-ka 'l-'Uzma 'btahaltu tawassula

I therefore beseech You, O Allah, my Lord, by their grace, to favor us by perfecting perfection for us from You.

fa-as'alu-ka 'llahumma Rabbi bi-fadli-ha

fa-hayyi' la-na min-ka 'l-kamala mukammila

Receive my request with good pleasure from You, and protect me from the disasters of a time in which I shall become transformed.

wa qabil raja'i bi'r-rida 'an-ka wa 'kfi-ni

surufa zamanin sirtu fi-hi muhawwala

Help me, cure me of the sickness of my lower self, and guide me to what is best, and correct what has been disordered by my mind.

aghith wa 'shfi-ni min da'i nafsi wa 'hdi-ni

ila 'l-khairi wa 'slih ma bi-'aqli takhallala

My God, have mercy on my parents and my brethren, and let them invoke these Names

Ilahi fa-'rham walidayya wa ikhwati

wa min hadhihi 'l-Asma'i yad'u murattila

in eloquent supplication.

I am the Qadiri, the Hasani, 'Abd al-Qadir, called Muhyi 'd-Din [Reviver of the Religion] in the loftiest family tree.

ana 'l-Qadiriyyu 'l-Hasaniyyu 'Abdu 'l-Qadiridu'itu bi-Muhyi 'd-Dini fi dawhati 'l-'ula

So pray that my beloved forefather, Muhammad, may enjoy the sweetest peace in all existence, and something more perfect still,

fa-salli 'ala jaddi 'l-habibi Muhammadin bi-ahla salamin fi 'l-wujudi wa akmala

together with the family and Companions, acknowledging them all.Then comes the praise of Allah, both finally and first of all.

ma'a 'l-ali wa 'l-ashabi jam'an mu'ayyadan

wa ba'du fa-hamdu 'llahi khatman wa awwala.

Source: As-Sayyid al-Hajj Muhammad Sa'id al-Qadiri, Al-Fuyudaat ur-Rabbaniyya (Emanations of Lordly Grace), A Treasury of Qadiri Prayers and Wisdom, translated from the Arabic by Muhtar Holland, Al-Baz Publishing, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 1421/2000, p.85-95

Related Web Pages:

Asma Allah ul Husna Al-Baz Publishing Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani

Reproduce with permission and acknowledgmentsReturn to Top

HIS DUA

It is fitting to conclude with the dua at the end of Chapter 15 in Volume 1 which combines dua with Asma u'l Husna, verses of the Holy Qur'an and salaat in a style that is unique to Shaykh 'Abdur Rahman Chohravi Rahmatullahi 'alaih.

Allahumma Yaa Hayyu Yaa Qayyoomu Yaa Hannaanu Yaa MannaanuYaa Dayyaanu Yaa Sultaanu Yaa Sub'haanuLaa Ilaaha Illa Anta Sub'haanaka Innee Kuntu MinazzalimeenFastajabnaa Lahoo Wa Najjaynaahu Minal GhammiWa Kadhaalika Nunjil Mu'mineen Wa Zakariyyaa idh Naadaa RabbahooRabbi laa Tadharnee Fardan wa Anta Khayrul WaritheenAllahumma Salli wa Sallim 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-inWa 'alaa aali Sayyidina Muhammad-in Madh-hari'l Ahadiyyati wa Majlaa Hadhra-ti't-Tajalliyaa-ti'l Qudsiyya-ti'l Waahidiyyati Wa Hudhoori Hadharaa-ti'l Muqaddasa-ti'l Wahdaaniyyati Qul Huwallahu Ahad Allahussamad Lam Yalid Wa Lam Yoolad Wa Lam Yakullahoo Kufuwan Ahad.

O Allah! O The Ever-Living, O The Self-Subsisting, O The Merciful , O The Ever-Giving,O The Giver of Religion, O The Ruler, O The GlorifiedNone is to be worshipped but You. Glory be to You. Truly, I was one of the unjust.Then We responded to him and delivered him from griefand thus do We deliver the believers.And Zakaria when he called his Lord:O my Lord! Leave me not alone and You are the best of inheritors (21:87-89)O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on Sayyidina Muhammadand on the family of Sayyidina Muhammad,who is clear in (his declaration of) Divine Unity, andwho is manifestly present in the Sacred Manifestation of the Oneness of Allahand present in the Sacred Presence of the One and Only.Say: He is Allah, The One. Allah is He on whom all depend.He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is none like Him. (112:1-4)

RECITE IT IN MASJID NABAWI

Once you have formed the habit of reciting Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah, you feel like reciting it in Masjid Nabawi in Madina. Those who go for Hajj inevitably make the intention of praying forty salaah in Masjid Nabawi, as is recommended. So they stay in Madina for at least eight days to pray the five times daily obligatory salaah for a total of forty salaah and to complete the recitation of the whole Qur'an Kareem (and more if possible) in the very presence of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. The muhibbeen (loving disciples) would be well advised to seize the opportunity to complete the recitation of Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah as well in those eight days. Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah is in seven parts, one part for each day of the week beginning from Friday. So you can finish Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah in seven days and start all over again with the first part on the eighth day to set the seal of continuity. In the process, you will have prayed forty salaah (prayer of worship of Allah Ta'ala) in Masjid Nabawi as well as the Qur'an Kareem and the salawaat (invocations of blessings on the noble Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam).

It is no surprise to find that the famous translator of the kutub of Mawlana al-Haddad Rady Allahu 'Anhu, Dr. Mostafa al-Badawi has included eleven of the salawaat from Lataail i'l 'Arshiyyah in his kitab titled Ziyara Sayyidi'l Kawnain Sallallahu 'alaihi wa aalihi wa Sallam (Visit To The Leader of Both The Worlds) to be recited at the Rawda of Rasulullah, Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. If the pilgrim does not have time enough to recite Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah in full, he should not become despondent. Perhaps, the recitation of a smaller, yet spiritually rich kitab compiled by Dr. Mostafa al-Badawi, would also yield complete blessings, InshaAllah.

Here is Imam al-Habshi who is saturated with the love of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam and here we are who aspire to attain his love. We would naturally want to recite these salawaat in the very presence of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam in Masjid Nabawi: as we enter Baab u's Salaam, at the Rawda, at the Qubba,

behind the august pillars of the masjid, in the precincts of the original masjid where the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam himself prayed, in the place where the Ashaab u's Suffa Rady Allahu 'Anhum used to stay; in fact, in every blessed spot in Masjid Nabawi, but above all as part of the salawaat and salaams on the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam as we stand before him and cry our hearts out to him in loving agony.

Assalaatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa Rasul'AllahAssalaatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa Nabiyy'AllahAssalaatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa Habib'AllahAssalaatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa Khaira Khalqi'llahAssalaatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa Nura 'Arshi'llah

Blessings and salutations on you, O Messenger of Allah.Blessings and salutations on you, O The Prophet sent by Allah.Blessings and salutations on you, O The Beloved of Allah.Blessings and salutations on you, O The Best Creation of Allah.Blessings and salutations on you, O Light of Allah's Throne.

At this time, the Nur (light) of Allah's 'Arsh (Throne) is descending upon you as you begin your recitation from Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah.

In fact, the very first salaat in Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah has been composed to be recited on the occassion of the Ziyara (visit) of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. It is included in the kitab of Dr. Mostafa al-Badawi just referred to, as well as in Mukhul Ibada (The Essence of Worship) whose compiler is anonymous. It begins as follows:

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-RaheemAllahumma Salli wa Sallim wa Baarik 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-inAwwali mutalaqqi li-faydhika'l awwal

In the Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful.O Allah! Shower Your Blessings, Peace and Grace on Sayyidina Muhammadwho is the first person to receive the first blessing from You.

Imagine your thrill as you sense seventy thousand angels reciting salawaat and salaams along with you!