Salawat and Durood — Meaning and How to Recite Them
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad
O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad.
When to recite it
- Whenever the Prophet, peace be upon him, is mentioned.
- On Friday, and as a daily counted practice.
- Inside the prayer, in the tashahhud, in the fuller form taught when the companions asked how to send blessings.
Meaning and practice
Salawat, often called durood in South Asian usage, is the act of asking Allah to bless the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. The Quran tells those who believe to do this in Surah al-Ahzab, verse 56.
The short phrase on the counter, Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad, is a clear and valid way to begin. The Ibrahimic formula used in the prayer is longer and is the one the Prophet taught when he was asked how to send blessings upon him. Use the short form for a counted session. Learn the longer form for the prayer.
A round of ten is easy to keep after salah. A round of one hundred suits a dedicated salawat sitting. Neither number is a tax. They are targets you can finish.
Source note: The command to send blessings upon the Prophet, Quran 33:56. Recommended count: 10.
Related dhikr
Frequently asked questions
Are durood and salawat the same?
In practice, yes. Durood is the common Urdu and Hindi name for salawat, the blessings sent upon the Prophet.
Which wording should I count?
The counter uses Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad. You may recite a fuller durood you already know and tap once for each complete recitation.