Uncovering the Facts: The Six Salutations at Dawat-e-Islami’s Weekly Gatherings
In Pakistan, there is a sectarian organization known as “Dawat-e-Islami,” which operates a channel called Madani Channel and has a website of the same name. Through these platforms, they are propagating innovations and superstitions worldwide. It should be noted that these people claim to love the Prophet ﷺ, but in reality, they deceive the Ummah with innovations and false practices. If they truly loved the Prophet, they would not engage in or promote shirk (polytheism) and bid’ah (innovation), nor would they turn away from authentic hadith in favor of weak or fabricated narrations. However, we want to highlight an important reality about this sect: they seek to present themselves as true lovers of the Prophet ﷺ by promoting salawat (blessings upon the Prophet) that are neither taught by the Prophet ﷺ nor practiced in the prescribed manner.
On the Dawat-e-Islami website, there is a book titled “The Miracles of Ghous-e-Pak,” which includes a section titled: “The Six Salutations and Two Supplications Recited at the Weekly Gathering of Dawat-e-Islami.” Let us briefly examine the truth of these six salutations mentioned under this heading.
(1) First Salutation: Salutation of Friday Night:
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ وَبَارِكْ عَلٰی سَیِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدِ النَّبِیِّ الْاُمِّیِّ الْحَبِیْبِ الْعَالِی الْقَدْرِ الْعَظِیْمِ الْجَاہِ وَعَلٰی اٰلِہٖ وَصَحْبِہٖ وَسَلِّمْ
It is claimed by the elders that anyone who recites this salutation every Friday night (the night between Thursday and Friday) at least once, will see the Prophet ﷺ at the time of death and even when entering the grave, and he will see the Prophet ﷺ receiving him with mercy in the grave. (Afzal Al-Salawat Ala Sayyid Al-Sadat, Salat Al-Sadisah Wal-Khamsoun, p. 151, summarized)
Truth of the Salutation: It should be noted that there is no evidence from hadith supporting this salutation, nor is its virtue established. The book “Afzal Al-Salawat” mentioned here is authored by Yusuf Nabhani, a Sufi, innovator, and promoter of shirk and kufr (disbelief). Hence, this book and its innovator should be approached with caution.
(2) Second Salutation: Forgiveness of All Sins:
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰی سَیِّدِ نَا وَمَوْلَانَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰی اٰلِہٖ وَسَلِّمْ
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas (رضي الله عنه) that the Prophet ﷺ said: Whoever recites this salutation while standing will have his sins forgiven before sitting down, and if he is sitting, his sins will be forgiven before standing up. (Afzal Al-Salawat Ala Sayyid Al-Sadat, Salat Al-Hadiya Ashara, p. 65)
Truth of the Salutation: The reference provided is from the previous innovator’s book, and there is no authentic hadith supporting this salutation or the mentioned virtue. Sufis have various fabricated salutations like Salat-e-Kamaliya, Salat-e-Munjiyah, Salat-e-Abdul Qadir Jilani, etc., including the long fabricated Salat of Ahmad Badawi.
(3) Third Salutation: Seventy Gates of Mercy:
صَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلٰی مُحَمَّد
It is claimed that reciting this salutation opens seventy doors of mercy for the person. (Al-Qawl Al-Badi’, Al-Bab Al-Thani, p. 277)
Truth of the Salutation: There is no harm in reciting this salutation, but the virtue mentioned is unreliable. Imam Sakhawi himself stated in the same book that this hadith is not trustworthy. (See: Al-Qawl Al-Badi’: 194)
(4) Fourth Salutation: Reward of Six Hundred Thousand Salutations:
اَللّٰھُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰی سَیِّدِنَامُحَمَّدٍ عَدَدَ مَا فِیْ عِلْمِ اللّٰہِ صَلَاتًۭا دَآئِمَۃً بِدَوَامِ مُلْکِ اللّٰہ
It is narrated from Ahmad Saawi that some elders have reported: Reciting this salutation once is equivalent to the reward of reciting six hundred thousand salutations. (Afzal Al-Salawat Ala Sayyid Al-Sadat, Salat Al-Thaniyah Wal-Khamsoun, p. 149)
Truth of the Salutation: Among Sufis, this salutation is known as Salat Al-Saadah, but the words of this salutation are not supported by authentic hadith. The attribution to Ahmad Saawi and some elders as well as the virtue mentioned is fabricated and derived from the book of an innovator.
(5) Fifth Salutation: Nearness to the Prophet ﷺ:
اَللّٰہُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰی مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا تُحِبُّ وَتَرْضٰی لَہُ
It is narrated that a person once came, and the Prophet ﷺ placed him between himself and Siddiq-e-Akbar (رضي الله عنه). The companions were amazed by his status. When he left, the Prophet ﷺ explained that he recites this salutation in a specific manner. (Al-Qawl Al-Badi’, Al-Bab Al-Awwal, p. 125)
Truth of the Salutation: This salutation is also not supported by any authentic hadith, and the incident mentioned regarding its virtue is fabricated.
(6) Sixth Salutation: Salutation of Intercession:
اَللّٰہُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰی مُحَمَّدٍ وَّاَنزِلْہُ المَقْعَدَ المُقَرَّبَ عِندَکَ یَوْمَ القِیَامَۃِ
The Prophet ﷺ said: Whoever recites this salutation, my intercession will become obligatory for him. (Al-Targhib Wa Al-Tarhib, Kitab Al-Dhikr Wal-Dua, 2/329, Hadith: 30)
Truth of the Salutation: Sheikh Albani has classified this hadith as weak in his various works including “Silsilat Al-Dhaifah”, “Fadl Al-Salat Ala Al-Nabi ﷺ”, “Takhrij Mishkat”, and “Dhaif Al-Targhib”.
Now let us examine the two supplications also recited at the Dawat-e-Islami gatherings.
First Supplication: One Thousand Days of Good Deeds:
جَزَی اللّٰہُ عَنَّا مُحَمَّدًا مَّا ھُوَ اَھْلُہٗ
It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنهما) that the Prophet ﷺ said: Whoever recites this supplication, seventy angels will write good deeds for him for one thousand days. (Majma’ Al-Zawaid, Kitab Al-Ad’iya, Bab Fi Kayfiyat Al-Salat)
Truth of the Supplication: This hadith is weak, and Sheikh Albani has classified it as fabricated in “Silsilat Al-Dhaifah” (5109).
Second Supplication: Equivalent to the Night of Decree:
فرمانِ مُصْطَفٰے صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ واٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ :جس نے اس دعا کو 3 مرتبہ پڑھا تو گویا اُس نے شبِ قدر حاصل کرلی۔ (تاریخ ابنِ عساکر،۱۹/۱۵۵،حدیث:۴۴۱۵)
لَآ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ الْحَلِیْمُ الْـکَرِیْمُ، سُبْحَانَ اللّٰہِ رَبِّ السَّمٰوٰتِ السَّبْعِ وَرَبِّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِیْم
Truth of the Supplication: This narration is also found in Kanz al-Ummal and has been classified by Mahmood Omar Dammati as a weak narration. It is a weak narration because the Mursal (interrupted) narrations and the reports by Zahri are weak.
In conclusion, the most preferred way to send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ is the one that he taught his companions, and this is the method followed by those who truly love him. As reported by Ka’ab bin Ujrah (رضي الله عنه), when the Prophet ﷺ came to us, we asked:
يا رَسولَ اللَّهِ، قدْ عَلِمْنَا كيفَ نُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْكَ، فَكيفَ نُصَلِّي عَلَيْكَ؟ قالَ: فَقُولوا: اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وعلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كما صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إبْرَاهِيمَ، إنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وعلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كما بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إبْرَاهِيمَ، إنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ. (صحيح البخاري:6357)
Translation: “O Messenger of Allah! We have learned how to send greetings upon you, but how should we send blessings upon you?” The Prophet ﷺ replied: “Say: اللهم صل على محمد، وعلى آل محمد، كما صليت على آل إبراهيم، إنك حميد مجيد، اللهم بارك على محمد، وعلى آل محمد، كما باركت على آل إبراهيم، إنك حميد مجيد.” “O Allah, send Your mercy upon Muhammad (ﷺ) and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent mercy 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.”
Decide for yourself whether someone who truly loves the Prophet would abandon the method taught by him and adopt another one. If the Barelvis truly loved the Prophet, they would not recite artificial salutations, follow weak and fabricated Hadiths, or create a different method for sending blessings. Their shortcomings clearly indicate that they do not truly love the Prophet but rather deceive the public in the name of loving the Prophet.
✅ Written by: Sheikh Maqbool Ahmad Salafi Hafizahullah
❪Jeddah Dawah Center, Hayy Al-Salamah – Saudi Arabia❫