Salah upon the Prophet — The Quranic Command and Its Linguistic and Legal Meaning
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Level: basic
ulum-quran
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إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِيِّۚ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيۡهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمٗا
— الأحزاب 56
The verse:
"Indeed Allah and His angels send salah upon the Prophet. O you who believe, send salah upon him and salute him with peace." (Al-Ahzab 33:56)
Salah linguistically:
The root meaning is supplication (dua). Al-Khalil said: "Every dua is salah" — hence "pray for them" in At-Tawbah 9:103.
Allah sending salah upon the Prophet:
His praise of the Prophet in the highest assembly (al-Mala al-Ala) — narrated by Abu al-Aliyah in Al-Bukhari. Some said: His mercy and care — "salah from Allah is mercy" (Ibn al-Qayyim).
The angels sending salah:
Their supplication for mercy and elevation of his rank.
The believers sending salah:
Asking Allah to praise, honor, and elevate the mention of His Prophet — an act of obedience and an expression of love.
Al-taslim (peace greeting):
The special salutation — "Al-salam alayka ayyuha al-nabi" — encompassing protection from every deficiency.
Source: Ibn al-Qayyim, Jala al-Afham (pp.1–30); Ibn Kathir, Tafsir (6/425); Al-Tabari, Tafsir (22/34); Ibn Hajar, Fath al-Bari (11/155)
Question: What does Allah sending salah upon His Prophet mean in Al-Ahzab 33:56? What is the difference between the salah of Allah, the salah of the angels, and the salah of the believers?
Answer: Salah of Allah: His praise of the Prophet in the highest assembly, or His mercy. Salah of the angels: their supplication for him. Salah of the believers: asking Allah to praise and honor him.