Friday is not only the day of Jumuʿah. It is also a day in which Muslims are encouraged to increase their remembrance of Allah and send abundant blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Among the practices associated with Friday is increasing our salawat upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, a simple act that carries deep spiritual meaning.
Allah Himself mentions sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ in the Qur’an. He says:
“Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O believers, invoke blessings upon him and greet him with peace.” (Qur’an 33:56)
This command reminds the believer that salawat is not merely a cultural expression of love for the Prophet ﷺ. It is an act of worship and a way of expressing respect, gratitude and love for the Messenger through whom Allah conveyed the final revelation.
The Prophet ﷺ also specifically encouraged sending abundant blessings upon him on Friday. He said that Friday is among the best of days and instructed his companions to increase their blessings upon him on that day because their blessings are presented to him. This narration is reported by Abu Dawud.
For a Muslim, this gives Friday another dimension. The day becomes an opportunity to deliberately increase an act that connects the heart to the Prophet ﷺ.
Salawat does not require a special place or a complicated routine. A Muslim can send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ while sitting at home, travelling to the mosque, walking, working or spending quiet moments alone. One of the well-known forms taught by the Prophet ﷺ is the Salat Ibrahimiyyah, which Muslims recite during Salah.
A simple expression such as “Allahumma salli wa sallim ʿala Muhammad” is also a form of sending blessings and peace upon the Prophet ﷺ.
The importance of salawat, however, is not simply about repeating words. It is about remembering the person to whom those words are connected. When a Muslim sends salawat upon Muhammad ﷺ, it should also remind him of the life, character and teachings of the Messenger.
We cannot genuinely claim to love the Prophet ﷺ while remaining indifferent to his Sunnah. Love should produce a desire to learn from him, follow his guidance and imitate his noble character according to our ability.
This is one reason Friday provides a valuable opportunity for reflection. As we increase our salawat, we can also ask ourselves how closely our lives resemble the teachings of the Prophet ﷺ.
How do we treat our parents? How do we speak to our spouses? How do we deal with people who disagree with us? How honest are we in business? How do we treat the poor and vulnerable? How quickly do we forgive? How carefully do we guard our tongues?
The Prophet ﷺ did not teach Islam only through words. His life demonstrated mercy, patience, honesty, humility, justice and excellent character.
Therefore, increasing salawat on Friday can become more meaningful when it leads us to study and practise his Sunnah.
There is also a beautiful reward mentioned in an authentic hadith. The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever sends one blessing upon him, Allah sends ten blessings upon that person. This is reported in Sahih Muslim.
That should make the believer appreciate the value of an act that requires so little effort. A few moments spent sending salawat can become a means of receiving Allah’s mercy and reward.
Yet Friday should not become a day where we simply count how many times we have said salawat. Islam is not about turning every act of worship into a competition of numbers while forgetting its meaning. What matters is sincerity, consistency and the effect that worship has on the heart.
If saying salawat makes us remember the Prophet ﷺ, that remembrance should encourage us to live according to his guidance. If it increases our love for him, that love should encourage us to learn his Sunnah. If it softens the heart, that softness should become visible in how we treat other people.
Friday therefore gives Muslims an opportunity to combine remembrance with reflection.
Before Jumuʿah, during the journey to the mosque, after the prayer and throughout the rest of the day, a believer can make salawat part of the Friday routine. It can be done quietly and sincerely without turning the act into a performance for others.
In a world where people are constantly surrounded by distractions, Friday gives us an opportunity to reconnect with something deeper. We remember Allah, attend Jumuʿah, listen to reminders and send blessings upon the Messenger ﷺ.
These practices help keep the heart connected to the faith beyond the walls of the mosque.
The Prophet ﷺ spent his life teaching people how to worship Allah, how to treat one another and how to live with purpose. Sending salawat upon him is therefore more than repeating a phrase. It is an expression of gratitude for the Messenger who delivered Allah’s message and an opportunity to renew our relationship with his example.
As another Friday arrives, do not allow the day to pass as an ordinary day.
Increase your salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ. Remember his Sunnah. Learn something about his character. Practise something he taught. And allow your love for him to become visible not only in what you say, but also in how you live.
Friday gives us another opportunity to remember the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Let that remembrance bring us closer to Allah and closer to the character and guidance of His Prophet.
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