Greetings & Salutations on Prophet Muhammad(s) Each & Every Second on Earth without any Pause!

Perpetual Nature of Salat and Salam

If one studies commands relating to worship it can be noted that they are mostly conditional and subject to rules and regulations. There are different conditions for all kinds of worship. Take the example of the Muslims’ prayer. It has the binding of time. If time elapses, the specific prayer is deferred. If someone wants to perform the night prayer (‘Isha’) the next day, he is not allowed to do so because the time has elapsed. In the same way the afternoon prayer (‘Asr) cannot be performed in the evening. Similarly if someone wants to perform his sunset prayer (Maghrib) before sunset, he cannot do so.

Moreover, the Muslims’ prayer has some external form to be followed, namely the way the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) performed it. Standing, bowing and prostration are required to be maintained in the prayer similar to the Prophet’s sunnah. The prayer will only be acceptable if all the parts of the prayer are executed as taught by Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم).

Fasting is also conditional and stipulated with time. The duration for the fast is from dawn to dusk. During this time, the observer of the fast abstains from eating, drinking and other religious prohibitions. If the observer of the fast does not abide by time, his fast will not be acceptable or if he eats during the fast, his fast will be futile. Since the fast warrants the observance of all its requisites it is also conditional in its apparent form.

All these examples indicate that the acts, which are the Prophet’s sunnah, have the binding of time and compliance with all its respective requisites. They are subject to the observance of forms and conditions of the acts because they belong to the sunnah of the creation. But salat and salam are the sunnah of the Creator, so they are free from all bindings of time and other subsidiary obligations.

A simple grammatical analysis of this verse helps elucidate this point further. In the Arabic language there are two types of sentences, jumlah fi‘liyyah — a verbal clause or sentence — and jumlah ismiyyah — a nominal clause or sentence. A verbal sentence is related to some specific time (past, present or future) and falls within the confines of any of the three specific times. Time is also temporal and transient. If it is present, it is about to elapse; if it is future, it is yet to come.

However, a nominal sentence is not related to time but spread over all times. It is lasting and abiding. After adhering to a name, it relates to all times; past, present and future. In this verse Allah the Almighty has opted to use a nominal sentence. Instead of using the past tense “…Allah and His Angels sent blessings…” or the future tense of “…Allah and His angels will send blessings…”, Allah has stated “Allah and his Angels send blessings…”. This is not a command or directive but a declaration and announcement of an event that is continuing to occur or news that is happening. As such blessings and salutations upon the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) is an ongoing process, an act for all times, securing its perpetual nature.

Extract from Book “Greetings and Salutations on the Prophet (SAW)” by Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr.Tahir-ul-Qadri