Question

Is the following correct and what is the reference?

‘Allamah Sakhawi (rahimahullah) has written: “Abundance of durud (salutations) upon Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) stops a plague”

Answer

‘Allamah Sakhawi (rahimahullah) has included a sub heading in his famous ‘Salawat manual’ (his book on salutations upon Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) wherein he discusses sending salutations upon Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) at the time of a plague.

‘Allamah Sakhawi (rahimahullah) then mentions that Ibn Abi Hajalah has reported from Ibn Khatib Yabrudh that a pious person informed him that sending abundant salutations upon Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) repels a plague. Ibn Abi Hajalah further states that this has been widely accepted and he would make it a point of reciting the following durud:

اللهم صل على محمد وعلى آل محمد صلاة تعصمنا بها من الأهوال والآفات وتطهّرنا بها من جميع السيئات

Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala ali Muhammad salatan ta’simuna biha minal ahwali wal afaati wa tutahhiruna biha min jami’is sayyi-at

(Al Qawlul Badi, pg. 436-437)

You could recite the above salutation without deeming it a Sunnah form of salutation.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar