Hawzah News Agency- Grand Ayatollah Abdullah Javadi Amoli, in an address devoted to the theme of “The Blessed Remembrance of Salawat,” emphasized the profound spiritual impact of invoking blessings upon the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and his purified progeny. He described salawat as one of the greatest divine gifts bestowed upon humanity and a key to the acceptance of prayers.
Salawat: A Divine Blessing of Extraordinary Reward
Ayatollah Javadi Amoli explained that the reward associated with salawat is unmatched. Citing Imam Sadiq (PBUH), he noted:
“When the name of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) passes your lips, send abundant salawat. For whoever sends one salawat upon the Prophet, a thousand ranks of angels send a thousand salawat upon him in return. Everything that God has created joins in sending blessings upon such a person. And whoever feels no desire to send salawat upon the Prophet is ignorant and arrogant; Allah, His Messenger, and the Ahlul Bayt disdain such a person.”
According to Ayatollah Javadi Amoli, this narration underscores the cosmic nature of salawat: it resonates through all realms of creation and returns multiplied to the believer who utters it with sincerity.
The Etiquette of Supplication: Beginning with Praise and Salawat
In discussing the proper method of du‘ā (Supplication), the Ayatollah stressed that supplication must begin with the remembrance and glorification of God, followed by sending blessings upon Prophet Muhammad and his pure family. Without this, supplication remains incomplete.
He referenced a teaching from Imam Sadiq (PBUH):
“Supplication remains veiled until blessings are sent upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad.”
Thus, beginning a prayer with salawat opens the gates of divine mercy, while ending it with salawat seals that mercy upon the supplicant. Imam Ali (PBUH) instructed believers to frame every request with blessings upon the Prophet, and Imam Sajjad (PBUH) repeatedly demonstrated this etiquette throughout the supplications of Sahifa Sajjadiyya.
Ayatollah Javadi Amoli explained that when a need is fulfilled without salawat, it may not be a true answer to prayer but rather a divine test or trial. Only when the supplication follows the proper spiritual method does its acceptance reflect divine favor.
The Spiritual Secret Behind the Acceptance of Salawat
To illuminate the inner mystery of this practice, Ayatollah Javadi Amoli quoted the renowned exegete Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabataba’i (RA). In one of his lectures, Allamah Tabataba’i remarked:
“When a believer sends blessings upon the infallible Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT), he is asking God to bestow His mercy upon them. This prayer is certainly answered. And when divine mercy descends upon them, it necessarily reaches their followers—among whom is the supplicant himself. In the radiance of this mercy, his needs are fulfilled.”
This explanation, Ayatollah Javadi Amoli said, reveals the metaphysical connection between the Ahlul Bayt and their true followers. Salawat becomes not just a verbal act but a bridge through which divine compassion flows from the people of infallibility to the hearts and lives of their devotees.
Salawat: A Comprehensive Act of Worship
Extending his remarks, the Ayatollah added that salawat is both an act of dhikr and an expression of allegiance. It affirms the believer’s connection to the chain of divine guidance and elevates the soul by aligning it with the Prophet’s mission. In Islamic spiritual tradition, no invocation is as widely accepted, deeply rooted, and universally recommended as “Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa Aali Muhammad.”
He emphasized that:
- Salawat purifies the heart, softening it for meaningful prayer.
- Salawat connects the believer to divine mercy, guaranteeing acceptance.
- Salawat repels arrogance and negligence, two major obstacles to spiritual growth.
- Salawat is a continuous charity, for its reward echoes through the heavens and earth.
Conclusion
Grand Ayatollah Javadi Amoli concluded that salawat is not merely an act of remembrance—it is the key to elevation, acceptance, and fulfillment. Whoever makes salawat a constant companion in their daily worship will witness its transformative effects in both their spiritual state and worldly affairs.
Reference: Ma‘refat wa Sheveyeh ‘Ebadat (Knowledge and Method of Worship), pp. 415–416.
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