Understanding the text
Darood E Taj Meaning: Word by Word
درود تاج کا مفہوم
The meaning of Darood E Taj verse by verse, with a word-by-word glossary of key Arabic terms: Taj, Mi’raj, Buraq, Sidrat al-Muntaha and more.
By the Darood E Taj project · Checked against printed sources · Last reviewed
Knowing what the words mean changes how they land. Below, each of the twelve verses is explained in plain language, followed by a glossary of the Arabic terms that appear in the text, from Taj (crown) and Mi’raj (ascension) to Qab-e-Qawsain (two bow-lengths).
These notes explain the words and images of the text. They are not a legal or theological ruling; for questions of belief or practice, ask a qualified scholar.
Meaning, verse by verse
Opens by asking Allah to send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ and names the titles that give this Durood its name: the Crown (Taj), the Ascension (Mi'raj), the Buraq and the Standard ('Alam). It ends by describing him as the one through whom calamity, plague, drought, illness and pain are repelled, by Allah's leave.
Speaks of the honour given to his name, described as written, raised, accepted and engraved upon the Preserved Tablet and the Pen.
Calls him the master of Arabs and non-Arabs, and describes his sacred body as fragrant, purified and radiant within the House of Allah and the Sacred Sanctuary.
A run of images of light: the morning sun, the full moon of the dark night, the light of guidance, the refuge of all creation and the lamp in the darkness.
Turns to his character: beautiful in manners, an intercessor for the nations, and a possessor of generosity and nobility.
Recalls the Night Journey and Ascension: Allah is his Protector, Jibril (Gabriel) his servant, the Buraq his mount, the Mi'raj his journey, Sidrat al-Muntaha his station, and Qab-e-Qawsain, the nearness of two bow-lengths, his desire.
Titles of mercy: master of all the messengers, Seal of the Prophets, intercessor for sinners, companion of the lonely and a mercy to all the worlds.
How the seekers describe him: the solace of those in love, the aim of those who long for him, the sun of the knowers of Allah, the lamp of the travellers on the spiritual path and the light of those brought near.
Names his love for the poor, the strangers and the needy, and calls him master of humans and jinn and Prophet of the two sanctuaries, Makkah and Madinah.
Calls him imam of the two Qiblas, our means in both worlds, owner of the station of Qab-e-Qawsain and the Beloved of the Lord of the two Easts and the two Wests.
Names him directly: grandfather of Hasan and Husayn, our master and master of humans and jinn, Abu'l-Qasim Muhammad ibn Abdullah ﷺ.
Closes with the phrase "a light from the light of Allah" and an invitation to every believer who longs for the light of his beauty: send blessings upon him, his family and his companions, and send peace in full.
Darood E Taj meaning, word by wordالفاظ کے معنی
- Darood / Durood
- درود
- Persian and Urdu word for Salawat: a prayer asking Allah to bless the Prophet ﷺ.
- Salawat
- صلوات
- Plural of salah in the sense of blessing: prayers of blessing and honour upon the Prophet ﷺ.
- Taj
- تاج
- Crown. In Darood E Taj it points to the Prophet’s ﷺ highest rank among creation.
- Mi'raj
- معراج
- The Ascension: his journey up through the heavens on the Night of Isra and Mi’raj.
- Buraq
- براق
- The white, winged steed on which the Prophet ﷺ travelled on the Night Journey.
- 'Alam
- علم
- A banner or standard; in this text, the Sacred Standard.
- Dafi'
- دافع
- One who repels or averts.
- Bala'
- بلاء
- Calamity, affliction, trial.
- Waba'
- وباء
- Epidemic or plague.
- Qaht
- قحط
- Drought and famine.
- Maradh
- مرض
- Illness.
- Alam
- ألم
- Pain or suffering (not to be confused with ‘alam, banner).
- Lawh
- لوح
- The Tablet; here, the Preserved Tablet (al-Lawh al-Mahfuz).
- Qalam
- قلم
- The Pen.
- Muqaddas
- مقدس
- Sacred, holy.
- Mu'attar
- معطر
- Perfumed, made fragrant.
- Mutahhar
- مطهر
- Purified, made clean.
- Munawwar
- منور
- Illuminated, radiant with light.
- Bayt and Haram
- بيت وحرم
- The House of Allah (the Ka‘bah) and the Sacred Sanctuary around it.
- Shams ad-Duha
- شمس الضحى
- The sun of the forenoon, the bright morning sun.
- Badr ad-Duja
- بدر الدجى
- The full moon of the dark night.
- Nur al-Huda
- نور الهدى
- The light of guidance.
- Kahf al-Wara
- كهف الورى
- The refuge (literally cave) of all creation.
- Misbah az-Zulam
- مصباح الظلم
- The lamp of the darknesses.
- Shafi'
- شفيع
- Intercessor: one who pleads on behalf of others, by Allah’s permission.
- Sidrat al-Muntaha
- سدرة المنتهى
- The Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary, mentioned in Surah an-Najm (53:14).
- Qab-e-Qawsain
- قاب قوسين
- The distance of two bow-lengths, mentioned in Surah an-Najm (53:9).
- Ashiqin / Mushtaqin
- العاشقين المشتاقين
- Those who love, and those who long.
- 'Arifin
- العارفين
- The knowers of Allah (gnostics).
- Salikin
- السالكين
- Wayfarers: those travelling on the spiritual path.
- Muqarrabin
- المقربين
- Those brought near to Allah.
- Thaqalayn
- الثقلين
- The two weighty creations: humans and jinn.
- Haramayn
- الحرمين
- The two sanctuaries: Makkah and Madinah.
- Qiblatayn
- القبلتين
- The two Qiblas: Masjid al-Aqsa and the Ka‘bah.
- Mashriqayn and Maghribayn
- المشرقين والمغربين
- The two Easts and two Wests (as in Surah ar-Rahman, 55:17).
- Abu'l-Qasim
- أبو القاسم
- A kunya (honorific name) of the Prophet ﷺ, “father of Qasim”.
- Taslim
- تسليم
- Greeting with peace; “sallimu taslima” means send peace in full.
Darood E Taj and Darood Ibrahim
| Aspect | Darood E Taj | Darood Ibrahim |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An extended Salawat composed by scholars | The Salawat taught by the Prophet ﷺ |
| Length | Twelve verses | Two short lines |
| Where it is recited | Daily devotion, after prayer, on Fridays | In the final sitting (Tashahhud) of every prayer |
| Its ruling | Voluntary | Described differently by the legal schools |
| Main focus | The titles, character and station of the Prophet ﷺ | Asking Allah to bless Muhammad ﷺ as He blessed Ibrahim |
Questions about meaning
What is the meaning of Darood E Taj?
Darood is the Urdu and Persian word for Salawat, meaning a prayer of blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ. Taj means Crown in Arabic. Darood E Taj therefore means The Salutation of the Crown, honoring the Prophet ﷺ as the crown of all creation. The text describes his sacred attributes, his night journey to Allah, and calls on believers to send blessings upon him.
Who wrote Darood E Taj?
Darood E Taj is traditionally attributed to Sayyid Abu Bakr ibn Salim (1513-1584 CE), a Hadhrami Sufi scholar, saint, and descendant of the Prophet ﷺ who was born in Inat, Yemen. It spread across the Muslim world through Sufi chains of transmission, reaching South Asia through the Qadiri and Chishti orders. Some details of its early history are passed down as traditional accounts, so treat the dates and chains as such.
Is Darood E Taj from the Quran or Hadith? Which para (juz) is it in?
Darood E Taj itself is not from the Quran or Hadith, and it is not a surah or part of any para (juz) of the Quran. It is a composed Salawat (supplication of blessings). However, sending Salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ is commanded in the Quran: 'O you who believe, send Salawat upon him and greet him with peace.' (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:56). Darood E Taj is one specific way of fulfilling that command.
What is the difference between Darood E Taj and Darood Ibrahim?
Darood Ibrahim is the Salawat taught by the Prophet ﷺ and recited in the final sitting (Tashahhud) of every prayer. It is short, and the legal schools describe its ruling in the prayer differently. Darood E Taj is a voluntary, extended Salawat composed by scholars that covers the attributes and spiritual station of the Prophet ﷺ in much greater depth. Both carry great reward, and many Muslims recite Darood E Taj in addition to their regular prayers.