The Short Answer
Absolutely not. Sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ (salawat) is a direct Quranic command. Allah Himself does it, the angels do it, and then Allah commands the believers to do it. Calling this a bid'a contradicts the Quran itself.
The Quranic Command
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 believe, send blessings upon him and greet him with peace.”
This verse is unique in the Quran — it is the only place where Allah describes Himself performing an action and then commands the believers to join Him in it. Allah sends blessings, the angels send blessings, and then you are commanded to send blessings. This is not a recommendation — it is a direct divine command (amr) in the imperative form.
The Prophetic Encouragement and Rewards
Ten-fold Return
مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيَّ صَلَاةً صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ بِهَا عَشْرًا
“Whoever sends one blessing upon me, Allah sends ten blessings upon him.”
Closest to the Prophet ﷺ on Judgment Day
أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَكْثَرُهُمْ عَلَيَّ صَلَاةً
“The closest of people to me on the Day of Judgment will be those who sent the most blessings upon me.”
Presented to the Prophet ﷺ on Fridays
أَكْثِرُوا عَلَيَّ مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ فِي يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَإِنَّ صَلَاةَ أُمَّتِي تُعْرَضُ عَلَيَّ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمِ جُمُعَةٍ
“Increase your sending of blessings upon me on Fridays, for the blessings of my umma are presented to me every Friday.”
The Du'a That Goes Nowhere Without Salawat
“Every du'a is held back (suspended between heaven and earth) until blessings are sent upon the Prophet ﷺ.”
This hadith indicates that salawat is not just rewarded — it is a condition for the acceptance of supplication.
The Miser Is the One Who Hears the Prophet's Name and Doesn't Send Salawat
الْبَخِيلُ مَنْ ذُكِرْتُ عِنْدَهُ فَلَمْ يُصَلِّ عَلَيَّ
“The miser is the one in whose presence I am mentioned and he does not send blessings upon me.”
The Prophet ﷺ called someone a miser for not saying salawat — this demonstrates how fundamental it is.
The Salawat al-Ibrahimiyya
The most well-known formula is recited in every single prayer by every Muslim:
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
“O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.”
This was taught by the Prophet ﷺ himself when the Companions asked him how to send blessings upon him. Every Muslim recites it in their daily prayers — proving salawat is woven into the most basic act of worship.
Scholarly Salawat Compilations
Throughout Islamic history, scholars have composed additional formulas of salawat, all as ways of fulfilling the Quranic command:
- Dala'il al-Khayrat by Imam al-Jazuli (d. 869 AH) — the most widely recited salawat collection in Islamic history, used across North Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia for over five centuries
- Salawat al-Fatih — widely used in the Shadhili and Tijani traditions
- The Wird al-Latif of Imam al-Haddad — includes extensive salawat as part of a daily devotional litany
These works simply provide structured ways to send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ — the act that Allah commands, that the Prophet ﷺ encouraged, and that is built into every prayer.
Common Claim
These elaborate salawat formulas are bid'a — just say 'sallallahu alayhi wa sallam' and leave it at that.
What Scholars Actually Say
The Quran commands sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ without restricting it to one formula. The Prophet ﷺ himself taught multiple formulas (the Ibrahimiyya, and others in different hadiths). Composing new expressions of blessing and praise that align with the Quran and Sunna is fulfilling the command, not innovating against it. If anything, limiting salawat to a single phrase contradicts the open-ended nature of the Quranic command.
For more on dhikr and its forms, see our detailed page on Dhikr.
The Virtues of Sending Blessings on the Prophet
SeekersGuidance
The evidence and rewards for regularly sending salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ.
How to Send Blessings on the Prophet ﷺ
SeekersGuidance
Different formulas and occasions for sending salawat.