SALLALLAHO ALAIHE WA SALLAM

Brother Khalid Baig

They were circumam-bulating the Ka’bah (House of God in MAkkah al Mukarramah), when Hadhrat Ka’ab bin Ujrah asked Hadhrat Abdul Rahman ibn Abi Lailah:

“Shall I not give you a precious gift?”

A gift in the middle of that act of intense devotion? Hadhrat Abdul Rahman was a prominent Taaba,ee, i.e. from the generation that came after the generation of the Sahaabah (Companions). Hadhrat Ka’ab was one of the 1400 Companions who were part of the Covenant of al Ridwaan, a covenant to live or fall together to avenge the blood of Hadhrat Uthman bin Affan who had been feared to have been murdered by the Kuffar (Infidel) of Quraish residing in Makkah al Mukarramah. To know this background is to get a clue to the special gift.

While Muslims were stationed at Hudaybiyah, where the covenant took place, many delegations of Quraish had visited them. Among them was Urwah ibn Mas’ud al Thaqafi. It was he who reported the extra-ordinary relationship of the Sahaabah with the Prophet, (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam):

“I have seen Caesar and Chosroes in their pomp, but never have I seen a man honored as Muhammad is honored by his comrades.”

The gift that Ka’ab gave to Hadhrat ibn Abi Lailah was the Hadeeth that gives us the Salawaat (benediction) that we use in regular Salaah (Prayers). The Sahaabah asked the proper way of sending the blessings, when the verse requiring them to do so was revealed.



“Lo Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation.” (Al-Ahzaab, 33:56)

Then the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam), taught them the exact words, as they themselves were revealed to him by Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa).

A prophet of God is a unique person. He acts as the link between the people and their Creator. He is a human being, yet he speaks for God. The most difficult task for followers of a prophet has always been that of dealing with the prophet as a prophet. It is so easy to go to extremes. Make him divine, God-incarnate, Son of God. Or make him just another man, attributing all human weaknesses and sins to him. Religious literature of major religions in the world is testimony to these tendencies. It is a story of abject human failure in this matter. 

One must contrast that with the beautiful and delicate balance presented by Islam. Here the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) is the perfect human being, but he is not Divine. He speaks for God but he is not God. He is the object of our gratitude, ardent love and devotion, unswerving allegiance, and deference. But he is not the object of our worship. We ask Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) to send His blessings on him which at once makes two very important statements.

First, he needs Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa)’s blessings.

Second, we cannot bless him, only Allah can.

It is not possible for those who always invoke Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa)’s blessings for the Prophet, to degrade him to the level of other human beings, or to elevate him to the level of divinity. The benediction, SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam, is a wonderful formula that fights both tendencies equally effectively. It also strikes at the roots of Shirk (Polytheism), the tendency to associate partners with Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa). For we have met the perfect human being, the example to follow. And we found him to be a servant of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa).

For centuries Muslims lovingly added the benediction, whenever they mentioned the name of the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam). The Hadeeth literature is a good example of this labor of love. For here the name of the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam), is mentioned repeatedly. Yet the Muhaditheen never tired of writing the benediction. That was at a time when every book was written by hand, and all its copies were also made by hand. It was never considered a burden or an unnecessary interruption. A brief recent statement from a professor of Hadeeth at one Islamic Religious Educational Institute captures the spirit. “The merits of studying Hadeeth are innumerable and those interested can read Ibne Abdul Bar’s book on the subject,” he said. “But it is sufficient to note that through this study we get plenty of opportunities for saying the benediction, (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam).”

And so for centuries this practice has continued unabated throughout the Muslim world. Also, realizing the importance of a “worthy benediction” Muslims always used the Arabic expression in other languages, be they Urdu, Farsi, Bangla, or others. For the first time in history, we find a break from this practice, and this spirit, when reviewing the Islamic literature in English. 

Initially some one substituted “peace be upon him” for “SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam”. But it is not even a proper translation. Then some one thought of abbreviating it to pbuh. It, of course, did not improve the translation or the readability. Others came up with innovations of their own. One Islamic text book in English notes in the beginning: “After using the name of the Prophet Muhammad, Muslims should write or say the honorific phrase, SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam...Due to limited space this honorific phrase has been omitted.. but should be inserted when reading the book.” Another book goes a little further by acknowledging the “long established and cherished tradition”, but then announces bluntly: “To avoid interrupting the flow of ideas, especially for non-Muslim readers, I have not followed the customary practice.” A majority of recent Islamic books published in the U.S. and U.K. by reputable Muslim organizations, though, do not feel the need for any excuse or explanation, whatsoever. They simply mention the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam), as they would any ordinary person. 

It is time we moved beyond our hesitations, confusions, or inferiority complexes. This is the Ummah of the Last Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam). In every language of the world, our Prophet is Muhammad (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam).