Salawat, in English
Salawat in English
Salawat on the Prophet ﷺ in English: the Arabic text, transliteration and meaning, with the Qur’anic command and the hadith.
By the Darood E Taj project · Arabic checked against several digital editions · Last updated
Salawat means sending blessings and peace upon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Many people know it by the Urdu word darood. This page is for readers who want it in English: the Arabic, a transliteration they can read aloud, and the meaning.
It starts with what the Qur’an says, then gives the Salawat the Prophet ﷺ taught, and the short phrase said after his name. The Arabic of each was compared across independent editions, letter by letter and vowel by vowel.
What the Qur’an says about Salawat
Surah al-Ahzab, 33:56
سورۃ الاحزاب، آیت ۵۶Quranic: The words of Allah.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا
Innallaha wa mala’ikatahu yusalluna ‘alan nabiyy. Ya ayyuhalladhina amanu sallu ‘alayhi wa sallimu taslima
خدا اور اس کے فرشتے پیغمبر پر درود بھیجتے ہیں۔ مومنو تم بھی ان پر دُرود اور سلام بھیجا کرو
Indeed, Allāh confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [Allāh to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allāh to grant him] peace.
The Salawat the Prophet ﷺ taught his Companions
When the Companions asked how to send blessings on him, the Prophet ﷺ taught them these words. They are read in the final sitting of the prayer.
Salawat Ibrahimiyyah, the Salawat the Prophet ﷺ taught
Prophetic: Taught by the Prophet ﷺ, with the hadith reference.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammad
اے اللہ! محمد ﷺ اور آلِ محمد ﷺ پر اپنی رحمت نازل فرما،
O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad,
كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid
جیسا کہ تو نے ابراہیم علیہ السلام اور آلِ ابراہیم پر رحمت نازل فرمائی۔ بے شک تو تعریف کیا ہوا، بڑی شان والا ہے۔
as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim. Truly, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammad
اے اللہ! محمد ﷺ اور آلِ محمد ﷺ پر برکت نازل فرما،
O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad,
كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid
جیسا کہ تو نے ابراہیم علیہ السلام اور آلِ ابراہیم پر برکت نازل فرمائی۔ بے شک تو تعریف کیا ہوا، بڑی شان والا ہے۔
as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Truly, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.
The phrase said after his name
Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam
صلی اللہ علیہ وسلمStandard phrase: The phrase said after the Prophet’s name.
صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
اللہ ان پر رحمت اور سلامتی نازل فرمائے۔
May Allah send blessings and peace upon him.
The reward of Salawat
Whoever sends blessings once
جس نے ایک بار درود بھیجاProphetic: Taught by the Prophet ﷺ, with the hadith reference.
مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيَّ وَاحِدَةً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ عَشْرًا
Man salla ‘alayya wahidatan sallallahu ‘alayhi ‘ashra
جس نے مجھ پر ایک بار درود بھیجا، اللہ اس پر دس رحمتیں نازل فرماتا ہے۔
Whoever sends blessings upon me once, Allah sends blessings upon him ten times.
Questions about salawat in english
What is Salawat in English?
Salawat means asking Allah to send blessings and peace upon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. In Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi it is called darood.
What is the English meaning of the Salawat the Prophet taught?
“O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim. Truly, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Truly, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.”
How do I say Salawat in English letters (transliteration)?
The transliteration of each line is on this page, beside the Arabic. For example, the first line is “Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammad”.
Can I send Salawat in English only?
The Salawat the Prophet ﷺ taught is in Arabic, and that is the form recited in the prayer. Saying your own words of blessing on him outside the prayer is also salawat, and understanding the meaning helps you mean what you say.
What do I say after the Prophet’s name?
“Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam”, meaning “May Allah send blessings and peace upon him”. It is on this page in Arabic, Roman and English.