The purpose of forty Durood and salaam is to establish special love and bond with our beloved Prophet (Pbuh). Forty Durood and salaam is a litany, which Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi Rahmatullahi-alaihi has compiled and from him Hazrat Shaykh Zakariya Rahmatullahi-alaihi narrates in 'Fazaail-e-durood Shareef''.
Hazrat writes ''his late eminence Hazrat Thanwi Rahmatullahi- alaihi has written in his book 'Zadu-saeed' forty Ahadith regarding the Durood and salaam which have also been referred in his other book 'Nashrut-Tib'. In order to get the blessings, which he has mentioned , I am including the forty Durood and salaam written by various Mashaaikh an example of which is the book 'Dalaa 'il-ul-Khairaat'. At this place only those sections are given which have been mentioned in Marfu' Ahaadith, whether Haqiqah (real) or hukmiah (imperative). Out of these, twenty-five are for Durood and fifteen for Salaam. In this way it is a collection of forty Ahadith about which the Holly Prophet (pbuh) has given a glad tiding :
''whosever conveys forty Ahadith, concerning any chapter of religion to my people, Allah will raise him with learned people and I will intercede for him.''
Being an order (of Allah) there is no doubt in the Durood being a chapter of religion. Therefore, I hope double blessings for this collection of forty Ahaadith, one for preaching the Ahaadith and the other for the Durood.
Whosoever recites these Durood daily then he shall receive all those blessings that have been promised for each Durood in the Ahaadith.
We would hope that each Muslim shall fix a time and make a habit of reading these Durood Shareef every day.
May the Almighty Allah grant us the the Tawfeeq, the ability and the strength to gather as many good deeds as possible and to create that special bond between ourselves and our beloved Holly Prophet (pbuh).
Salawat (Arabic: صَلَوَات, ṣalawāt sg. salat; also referred to as divine blessings on Muhammad, durood shareef or durood-e-Ibrahim) is an Islamic complimentary Arabic phrase, which contains the salutation upon Muhammad. This phrase is usually expressed by the Muslims as part of their five times daily prayers (usually during the tashahhud) and also when Muhammad's name is mentioned.
Salawat is a plural form of salat (Arabic: صَلَاة) and from the triliteral root of ṣ-l-w the letters "ṣād-lām-wāw" (ص ل و) which means "prayer" or "salutation".
Arabic philologists hold the view that the meaning of the word salawat would vary according to who has used the word, and to whom it is used for.
Quran 33:56 states:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَتَهُ ۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّۚ يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيۡهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمًا
"Truly God and His angels invoke blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe! Invoke blessings upon him, and greetings of peace!".
In Islamic context
"When Muhammad sends Salawat upon the believers, it indicates his prayer for their welfare, blessing and salvation."
In Islam, when a Muslim or Islamic angels (malā'ikah) recite salawat, it means they are sending it to the prophet and are showing Allah their respect for Muhammad, while when the same is sending upon prophet by Allah himself, it means he is blessed by Allah.
Muhammad was also reported saying: "The meanest person is he who does not invoke Salawat upon me when my name is mentioned in his presence."
"Blessings of Allah be upon him and his household and peace" (صَلَّىٰ ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ)
Ibn Asakri has transmitted from al-Hasan bin Ali that Muhammad said: "Invoke more Salawat upon me, for your invocation is conducive to your sins being forgiven. And pray for me a high status and intercession, for surely my intercession will plead in your favour before Allah."
There was a narration from Ja'far al-Sadiq from Muhammad. He said: "All supplications to Allah will remain in a veil from the sky until a Salawat is sent to Mohammad PBUH and his Household."
