by Dr. Mateen Khan (Trenton, New Jersey)

“I’ve heard so much about you!” Most of us have had this experience. You meet someone for the first time. He or she instantly smiles with outstretched hands upon hearing your name. You know they only say this when they’ve heard something good about you. Let’s be honest. It makes us feel good. Even more so if the person is someone we respect, look up to and even, admire.

For every Muslim, there is no one we respect, look up to and admire more than our Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless and give him peace). Allah has recruited angels to mention your name to him. To tell him, “O Messenger of Allah, Joe Muslim in America is remembering you.” You didn’t know that??

There are angels that roam the earth seeking out people like you reciting salāh¹ on the Prophet (Allah bless and give him peace) so that they can approach him with your name. An angel sits by his resting place, who has the ability to hear the speech of every human. He, too, conveys your name and salāh to the Prophet (Allah bless and give him peace).

It’s no wonder dark forces today want to distance you from your Prophet (Allah bless and give him peace). Ideally, they don’t want you to even think about him. The next best thing for them is to defame, disparage and tell outright lies about him hoping that your love for him is lessened.

However, you know better. You know his character, his compassion and his endless concern for mankind’s relationship with its Creator. This is why you consistently ask Allah to bless and give him peace.

Our Prophet (Allah bless and give him peace) said, “Increase your salāh for me.”² He knew days like this would come. When his name would be forgotten or disparaged. He repeatedly reminded his ummah³ to recite salāh for him as a way to become closer to him in this world and the next. So keep reciting salāh for him (Allah bless and give him peace).

Imagine it: On the day of Judgment, most people will be in an indescribable state. You, however, are standing by our Prophet’s fountain as he (Allah bless and give him peace) walks up to you smiling with outstretched hands saying, “I’ve heard so much about you!”⁴

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1 Sending sālah is to ask Allah to bless and give our Prophet peace. It is also commonly known as darūd. There are numerous ways to do it, but a simple way in Arabic is to say:

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ

2 The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless and give him peace) said, “Increase your salāh for me. For your salāh is presented to me.” The Companions asked, “O Messenger of Allah, how is our salāh presented to you once you have passed away?” He replied, “Allah has forbidden the earth from degrading the bodies of the prophets.” (al-Dārqutnī)

3 Ummah– An Arabic word referring to the followers of Muhammad (Allah bless and give him peace).

4 In this blog alone, you’ve asked for blessings and peace ten times. With that, you’ve received at least ten rewards, erased ten sins, raised your rank by ten and are that much closer to our Prophet (Allah bless and give him peace.) Now, that’s eleven times. Nice job. Keep it up. You can’t do too much!