Darood Sharif (Salawat): 6 Authentic Forms, Benefits & How to Recite

Darood Sharif also known as Durood Shareef means to praise and honor the holy prophet Mohammad (ﷺ) with great love and compassion Which is the same as Salawat.

Darood is a type of prayer and blessing that we send to Prophet Muhammed (ﷺ). In the Quran, Allah says that he and his angels sent the Darood to his Prophet (ﷺ) and orders us to send Durood to our Holy Prophet (ﷺ).

Durood Shareef comes in many forms but Durood e Ibrahim is the most authentic and prominent and Reciting any of Durood is one of the greatest acts of worship in Islam. It is the best way to express your love towards our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).

Durood Shareef Meaning

Darood is a Persian word that means praising and Sharif is an Arabic word that means elevated or honored. The two words combined form a Darood Sharif. It means to praise and honor the holy prophet Mohammad (ﷺ) with great love and compassion.

Durood Shareef refers to the same as The Arabic word Salawat (صلاوات) yet the Literal meaning of Salawat is Prayers coming from Salah which is a singular form of Salwat.

Quranic & Hadith Foundation

Sending Darood Sharif (Salawat) on the Prophet (ﷺ) is not optional — it is a direct command from Allah in the Quran and a recurring instruction in the authentic Hadith collections.

The Quranic Command (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:56)

إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا

“Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who have believed, send blessings upon him and greet him with peace.”
— Surah Al-Ahzab 33:56

Hadith on Sending Salawat

• Ten blessings for one: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whoever sends one Salawat upon me, Allah will send ten Salawat upon him, erase ten of his sins, and raise him by ten degrees.” (Sunan al-Nasa’i 1297, graded sahih)
• Closest on the Day of Judgment: “The people closest to me on the Day of Resurrection will be those who send the most Salawat upon me.” (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 484)
• Friday emphasis: “Increase your Salawat upon me on Friday, for it is a witnessed day attended by the angels.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 1637)
• Stinginess of not reciting: “The miser is the one in whose presence I am mentioned and he does not send Salawat upon me.” (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 3546)

6 Authentic Darood Sharif Variants

Below are six forms of Darood Sharif narrated in the most authentic Hadith collections (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, and Sunan an-Nasa’i). Each is presented with the Arabic text, transliteration, and English meaning.

1. Durood-e-Ibrahim (The Most Authentic)

Durood Ibrahim is considered the most authentic and prominent Darood Shareef. It is the form taught by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) himself when his companions asked how to send Salawat upon him. It is recited in the final sitting (Tashahhud) of every Salah. (Sahih al-Bukhari 3370)

Arabic

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ،
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

Transliteration

Allaahumma salli ‘alaa Muhammadinw wa ‘alaa ‘aali Muhammad; kamaa sallayta ‘alaa ‘Ibraaheema wa ‘alaa ‘aali ‘Ibraaheem, ‘innaka Hameedun Majeed.
Allaahumma baarik ‘alaa Muhammadinw wa ‘alaa ‘aali Muhammad; kamaa baarakta ‘alaa ‘Ibraaheema wa ‘alaa ‘aali ‘Ibraaheem, ‘innaka Hameedun Majeed.

Meaning

O Allah, bestow Your favor on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad as You have bestowed Your favor on Ibrahim and on the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.
O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You have blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.

2. Shortest Darood Sharif

Arabic

ٱللَّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ

Transliteration

Allahumma Salli wa Sallim ‘Ala Muhammad wa ‘Ala Ali Muhammad

Meaning

O Allah, send blessings and peace upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad.

3. Darood from Sahih Muslim (Narrated by Abu Mas‘ud al-Ansari)

This form was given when Abu Mas‘ud asked the Prophet (ﷺ) how to send Salawat upon him. (Sahih Muslim 405)

Arabic

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، فِي الْعَالَمِينَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

Transliteration

Allaahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin, kama sallayta ‘ala aali Ibraaheema, wa baarik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin, kama baarakta ‘ala aali Ibraaheema, fil ‘aalameena innaka Hameedun Majeed.

Meaning

O Allah, send Your Salah upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You sent it upon the family of Ibrahim, and bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed the family of Ibrahim — in all the worlds, indeed You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.

4. Darood Including the Prophet’s Wives & Offspring

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA), this version explicitly includes the Prophet’s wives and descendants. (Sahih Muslim 407)

Arabic

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى أَزْوَاجِهِ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى أَزْوَاجِهِ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

Transliteration

Allaahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala azwaajihi wa dhurriyyatihi, kama sallayta ‘ala aali Ibraaheema, wa baarik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala azwaajihi wa dhurriyyatihi, kama baarakta ‘ala aali Ibraaheema, innaka Hameedun Majeed.

Meaning

O Allah, send Your Salah upon Muhammad and upon his wives and offspring as You sent it upon the family of Ibrahim, and bless Muhammad and his wives and offspring as You blessed the family of Ibrahim — indeed You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.

5. Darood with ‘Abdika wa Rasulika’ (Your Servant and Messenger)

Narrated by Abu Sa‘eed al-Khudri (RA), this version emphasizes the Prophet’s status as both servant and messenger of Allah. (Sahih al-Bukhari 6357)

Arabic

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِكَ وَرَسُولِكَ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَآلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ

Transliteration

Allaahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin ‘abdika wa rasoolika, kama sallayta ‘ala Ibraaheema, wa baarik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin, kama baarakta ‘ala Ibraaheema wa aali Ibraaheem.

Meaning

O Allah, send Your Salah upon Muhammad, Your servant and Messenger, as You sent it upon Ibrahim; and bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim.

6. Salli wa Sallim Short Form

The simplest form, derived directly from the wording of the Quranic command in Surah Al-Ahzab 33:56. Suitable for frequent recitation throughout the day.

Arabic

صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

Transliteration

Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam

Meaning

May the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him.

Best Times to Recite Darood Sharif

While Darood Sharif can be recited at any moment, the Sunnah highlights specific times when its reward and impact are multiplied:

• On Friday (Yawm al-Jumu‘ah): The Prophet (ﷺ) instructed believers to increase Salawat on Friday and Friday night. (Sunan Abu Dawud 1047)
• After the Adhan (call to prayer): Recite Salawat upon the Prophet (ﷺ) immediately after the Mu’adhin finishes the call. (Sahih Muslim 384)
• In the final sitting of every Salah (Tashahhud) before saying Salaam — this is when Durood-e-Ibrahim is recited daily.
• At the start and end of every Du‘a: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Every du‘a is suspended until Salawat is sent upon the Prophet.” (al-Mu‘jam al-Awsat by Tabarani)
• Morning and evening: Reciting at least 10 times in the morning and 10 times in the evening is reported to bring the Prophet’s intercession.
• When the Prophet’s name is mentioned: It is the right of every Muslim to send Salawat whenever the name of Muhammad (ﷺ) is heard or read.

How to Recite Darood Sharif

1. Begin with intention (niyyah) — sincerely seeking Allah’s pleasure and expressing love for the Prophet (ﷺ).
2. Be in a state of cleanliness where possible. Wudu is recommended but not required for Salawat outside of Salah.
3. Recite slowly with full presence of heart — quality of Salawat outweighs quantity recited carelessly.
4. Use the authentic forms above, especially Durood-e-Ibrahim, which is the wording the Prophet (ﷺ) himself taught.
5. Make it a daily habit — even setting a target of 100 Salawat per day, distributed across morning and evening, is an established practice of the righteous.

Darood Sharif Benefits

Each benefit below is backed by an explicit hadith from the most authentic collections. The Prophet ﷺ did not promise these rewards in general terms — he tied each one to a specific narration:

1. Ten blessings, ten sins erased, ten ranks raised — for every single Salawat. (Sunan an-Nasa’i 1297, sahih)
2. Closest to the Prophet ﷺ on the Day of Judgment — reserved for those who send the most Salawat upon him. (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 484)
3. The Prophet’s ﷺ intercession (shafa‘ah) on the Day of Resurrection — promised to whoever sends Salawat upon him after the adhan. (Sahih al-Bukhari 614)
4. Du‘a is suspended until you send Salawat — meaning your supplication ascends only after Salawat opens the door. (al-Mu‘jam al-Awsat by Tabarani; classed hasan by al-Albani in al-Silsila al-Sahiha 2035)
5. Friday recitation reaches the Prophet ﷺ directly — angels present every Salawat sent on Friday and Friday night. (Sunan Ibn Majah 1637; Sunan Abi Dawud 1047)
6. Sufficiency in worldly worry and forgiveness for sins — a man asked the Prophet ﷺ how much of his du‘a he should devote to Salawat. He replied, “If you devote it all, then your worries will be relieved and your sins forgiven.” (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 2457, hasan)

Frequently Asked Questions