REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Much wisdom gained when a Muslim often utters the prayer. This was explained by the Mufti of Egypt Sheikh Shayuqi Alam about the primacy behind the shalawat to the Prophet Muhammad. The phrase of shalawat is various. One of them, the simple one, is

اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلٰى اٰلِهٖ وَصَحْبِهٖ اَجْمَعِيْنَ

Allahumma sholli ala Sayyidina Muhammad wa ala alihi washohbihi ajma’in.

Oh Allah save dan protect our prophet Muhammad, his family, companion, and his descendant.

Sheikh Alam quotes a hadith that tells of a person who survived an incident who was able to cut off his hand. Then a friend asked him, “How can you survive?”

The man replied, “By praying to the Prophet Muhammad 100 times. Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to the man:

نَجَوْتَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَة

“You have survived the torment of the world and the afterlife.”

Against the story, the Mufti of Egypt Sheikh Alam revealed that the story was a text explaining the primacy of shalawat. In addition, Shaykh Alam also recited a hadith narrated by Anas ibn Malik RA.

When a Muslim or Islamic angels 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. "When Muhammad sends Salawat upon the believers, it indicates his prayer for their welfare, blessing and salvation."

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."

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."

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."[9] 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.'"