Histopathology image classification: Highlighting the gap between manual analysis and AI automation

Salawat (Arabic: صَلَوَات, romanized: ṣalawāt; sg. صَلَاة, ṣalāh) or durood (Urdu: دُرُوْد, romanized: durūd) is an Islamic complimentary Arabic phrase which contains veneration for Muhammad. This phrase is usually expressed by Muslims as part of their five daily prayers (usually during the tashahhud) and also when Muhammad's name is mentioned.^[1][2][3] Salawat is a plural form of salat (Arabic: صَلَاة) and from the triliteral root of ṣ-l-w (the letters ṣād-lām-wā, ص ل و) which literally means 'prayer' or 'send blessings upon'.^[4][5] Some Arabic philologists suggest that the meaning of the word "Salawat" varies depending on who uses the word and to whom it is used for.^[6]

The suffix «صَلَوَاتُ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِه», meaning "May God's peace be upon him and his household", is a respectful Arabic term used in Arabic and Persian Islamic texts to respect the prophet of Islam, Muhammad when his name mentioned. Of course, this term can be used for the Fourteen Infallibles or any great person.^[7] This phrase is most often used after the name Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam. This Arabic phrase may also come after the names of special and holy people. All of these phrases mean "asking for divine favor for a special and holy person."^[8][9] On the other hand, in Islamic sources, "Salawat" may also be seen in other forms, including «صَلَی اللهُ عَلَیه و آلِه و سَلَّم» (translation: May God grant him and his family mercy and peace), «صَلَی اللهُ عَلَیه و سَلَّم» (translation: May God send his mercy and blessings upon him), «صَلَی اللهُ عَلَیه و آلِه» (translation: May God's blessings be upon him and his household), «صَلَی اللهُ عَلَیه» (translation: May God's blessings be upon him), «صَلَوَاتُ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ» (translation: May the peace of Allah be upon him) or «صَلَواتُ ﷲِ وَ سَلامِه عَلَیه» (translation: May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).^[10] According to some researchers, "Salawat" is expressed in more than 210 different Arabic phrases in Islamic sources.^[11]

"Salawat" with the text «اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّد», meaning "O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and his family", or with the text «اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّد و عَجِّل فَرَجَهُم», meaning "O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and his family and hasten their attainment", is an Islamic invocation used to honor the Islam Prophet Muhammad and his family.^[12] The most famous form of "Salawat" throughout history and according to the sources, has been to say it in the form of «اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّد», meaning "O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and his household".^[13] In Islamic circles, especially in the Twelver Shia school of thought, when the name of the Prophet Muhammad is mentioned, it is customary to send blessings upon him to respect his high position.^[14][15] Also, the recitation of "Salawat" is used in worship because of its virtue and reward, and sometimes people even vow to recite a specific number of it (for example, 100, 200, or 1000) in order to have their heartfelt desires (called "Haajat" in Islamic thoughts),^[16] so that through this, they may receive God's grace and their problems may be resolved.^{[17][18][19][20]}

In Islam, when a Muslim or Islamic angels (malā'ikah) recite salawat, it means they are sending it to the prophet and are showing Allah their respect for Muhammad, while when the same is sending upon prophet by Allah himself, it means he is blessed by Allah (name of God in Islam).^[1] "When Muhammad sends Salawat upon the believers, it indicates his prayer for their welfare, blessing and salvation."^[21]

Muhammad was also reported saying: "The meanest person is he who does not invoke Salawat upon me when my name is mentioned in his presence."^[22][23]

Ibn Asakri transmitted from al-Hasan bin Ali that Muhammad said: "Invoke more Salawat upon me, for your invocation is conducive to your sins being forgiven. And pray for me a high status and intercession, for surely my intercession will plead in your favour before Allah."^[6]

According to Ja'far al-Sadiq, Muhammad said: "All supplications to Allah will remain in a veil from the sky until a Salawat is sent to Mohammad PBUH and his Household."^[24] In another tradition, Ja'far al-Sadiq was quoted that: "Whoever sends Salawat on the Prophet PBH and his Household means 'I am standing on the promise that I gave when Allah asked me, 'Am I not your lord? And I answered yes you are.'"^[25]

Part of a series on
Islam
Beliefs Oneness of God Angels Revealed Books Prophets Day of Resurrection Predestination
Practices Profession of Faith Prayer Almsgiving Fasting Pilgrimage
Texts Foundations Quran Sunnah (Hadith, Sirah) Tafsir (exegesis) Aqidah (creed) Qisas al-Anbiya ("Stories of the Prophets") Mathnawi (Poems) Fiqh (jurisprudence) Sharia (law)
History Timeline Muhammad Ahl al-Bayt Sahabah Rashidun Caliphate Imamate Medieval Islamic science Spread of Islam Succession to Muhammad
Culture and society Academics Animals Art Association football Calendar Children Circumcision Demographics Diaspora Denominations Sunni Shia Economics Education Ethics Exorcism Feminism Festivals Finance Madrasa Moral teachings Mosque Music Mysticism Philosophy Poetry Politics Proselytizing Science Sexuality LGBTQ Slavery Concubinage Social welfare Women
Related topics Apostasy Criticism Muhammad Quran Hadith Arabic language Other religions Islamism Violence terrorism war Islamophobia Jihad Jihadism Salafi jihadism Deobandi jihadism Military laws Glossary
Islam portal

One salawat recommended by Muhammad is:

ʾAllāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā ʾāli Muḥammadin kamā ṣallayta ʿalā ʾIbrāhīma wa ʿalā ʾāli ʾIbrāhīma ʾinnaka Ḥamīdun Majīdun ʾAllāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā ʾāli Muḥammadin kamā bārakta ʿalā ʾIbrāhīma wa ʿalā ʾāli ʾIbrāhīma ʾinnaka Ḥamīdun Majīdun

Muhammad was also reported to have said: "Do not invoke incomplete salawat upon me". His sahabah asked him: "What is incomplete salawat?" He replied them: "When you say: 'O God, send blessing to Muhammad' and then stop on that. Rather say: ٱللَّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ 'Allahumma! send Your blessing to Muhammad and the progeny of Muhammad."^[27]

Several variant phrases of salawat may be used. The most common phrases are:

It is said that whoever sends 10 salawat upon Muhammad and his household will be sent a thousand salawat by God and his angels, and whoever sends 1,000 salawat upon Muhammad and his household will not be affected by the fire of hell.^[28][29]

Sending salawat upon Muhammad and his progeny is said to pave the way for his intercession on the day of judgement,^[30] serve as a compensation for sins,^[29] and to be the most weighty deed on the scale of deeds.^[31] Salawat upon Muhammad and his households is said to lead to the affection of God and his messenger,^[32] to purify deeds,^[33] and to serve as the light in the grave, As-Sirāt bridge and Paradise.^[34]

Salawat is said to be one of the best deeds on Friday,^[33] and is said to lighten and open the heart.^[35]

Reciting salawat aloud is said to vanish hypocrisy,^[36] and continuous recitation of salawat is said to fulfil one's worldly and heavenly wants (supplication).^[37]

It is mentioned in verse 56 of Surah Al-Ahzab: «اِنَّ اللهَ وَ مَلائِکَتَهُ یُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِىِّ یا اَیُّهَا الَّذینَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَیْهِ وَ سَلِّمُوا تَسْلیما»,^[38] meaning “Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace.”^[39] There are numerous narrations and discussions in the Islamic world about the reason of sending blessings (Salawat) upon the Prophet. The first reason of sending blessings upon Muhammad is that the prophet and his status among people should not be forgotten. In this way, sending blessings upon the Prophet helps in some way to preserve Islam and the name of the Prophet of Islam.^[40] In some books dedicated to Islamic worship instructions, it is mentioned that sending blessings upon Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, causes the person sending the blessings to become good-natured and well-minded, and the sins of the person sending the blessings to be forgiven.^[41] As it is mentioned in the pilgrimage of Jami'ah Kabirah:^[42]

«وَ جَعَلَ صَلاَتَنَا عَلَيْكُمْ وَ مَا خَصَّنَا بِهِ مِنْ وِلاَيَتِكُمْ طِيباً لِخُلْقِنَا وَ طَهَارَةً لاَِنْفُسِنَا وَ تَزْكِيَةً لَنَا وَ كَفَّارَةً لِذُنُوبِنَا»

"God has made our prayers upon you (the Prophet and his family) and your guardianship over us the cause of moral purity, purity of minds, spiritual growth and progress, and atonement for our sins."^[43]