Solving Problems: the Spiritual Way

Read Durood with Love

Our Leader and wellwisher of mankind Rasoolullah صلي الله عليه وسلم loves every ummati,  this compassionate relationship is stated in Quran Al Kareem :

[Taubah 9:128] Indeed there has come to you a Noble Messenger from among you - your falling into hardship aggrieves him, most concerned for your well being, for the Muslims most compassionate, most merciful.

[Taubah 9:129] Then if they turn away, say (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him), "Allah suffices me; there is no worship except for Him; only Him have I trusted, and He is the Lord Of The Great Throne."

There are numerous Ahadees which further talk of this compassionate relationship. Therefore, it is recomended that while reading durood shareef/Salawat one must feel (or try to inculcate) deepest feelings of respect, compassion, warmth and love for his Noble Loving Leader Rasoolullah  صلي الله عليه وسلم.

Reading Durood In Times of Trouble

Hazrat Syed ibn Abideen (Rehmatullahi Ta'ala Aleih) narrates that "I read this at a time when a great upheaval and chaos began in Damascus, I hadn't finished reading 200 times when a person informed me that this trouble had been overcome الحمدلله . (An excerpt from Afdulussalawat ala Sayyedis Saadat pg. 154)

Durood e Hazarah /Alfi with English Translation

{O Allah, bestow your blessings on Our Master Muhummad (Peace be upon him) and his family for every atom thousand thousand times and give blessings and send peace.}

Popular amongst the Chishti circle, this durood is a source of immense spiritual blessings. It is documented that reciting this once gives the reader blessings (sawaab) worth thousand good deeds. Hence the name Hazari. Also, 100 needs of the reciter will be met. For worldly benefits, reading 11 times after every salah is recommended.

Those who have read this in Ramadan at the time of Tahajjud for 1000 times have been blessed with the vision of Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alehi Wasallam) in dream.

For easing difficulties it is advisable to read 100 times after Fajr. 

For payment of debts and increase in sustenance, it should be recited 313 times after Isha everyday and if read 1000 times every friday, reciter goes to Jannah.

Qasida Al Burdah by Imam Sharafuddin Boseiri

Qaseedah refers to poem written in praise while burdah is a shawl/mantle. This poem was written by Sheikh Sharafuddin Abu Abdullah Muhammad Bin Saeed Bin Hammad Al Boseiri of Egypt (1212-1296 AD). When Imam Boseiri was suddenly affected by paralysis, friends and relatives left his company. Medicines by doctors turned ineffective, his condition weakened and the disease increased to half his body. He sought help for his condition by Dua and engaged himself by composing couplets in love and praise of  RasoolAllah (SallAllahu Aleihi Wasallam).

A seasoned poet, he composed a poem with 160 couplets. He recited it regularly with hope until one day he fell asleep crying. In his dream, he saw himself reciting this Qaseedah in the august presence of RasoolAllah (SallAllahu Aleihi Wasallam) - who was pleased by the recital and upon reaching a couplet (kam abra'at...) swept His Blessed Hand over the disease inflicted body and bestowed upon him a yemeni shawl. When he woke up, he found himself perfectly healthy with no sign of disease, and the shawl given to him was on his body. The Sheikh thanked Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) for His Blessing.

In the morning as Sheikh was passing through the market, a pious elderly man met him and requested him for the permission to copy the Qaseedah. Sheikh Boseiri inquired, which Qaseedah? (as he had written many poems) He said the one that begins with "Amin Tazakkuri...". Astonished, the Sheikh said, I haven't informed anybody about this Qaseedah, how did you come to know? The elderly man replied, that he too, was in the presence of RasoolAllah (SallAllahu Aleihi Wasallam) last night, while the Sheikh was reciting it and narrated the Sheikh's dream exactly. Hence, the Sheikh (Rehmatullahi Ta'ala Aleih) gave him a copy of the Qaseedah Burdah and its blessings and popularity spread far and wide. 

A verse of Qasida Burdah (regarding intercession) on the door lock is still present inside Masjid un Nabwi. Many other couplets that previously adorned the masjid have been removed during renovation.

This poem can be divided into 10 chapters based on content:

1. Love of RasoolAllah (SallAllahu Aleihi Wasallam)  
2. Evils of Self (Nafs)
3. Praise of  RasoolAllah (SallAllahu Aleihi Wasallam) 
4. Events occuring upon birth of  RasoolAllah (SallAllahu Aleihi Wasallam) 
5. Miracles of  RasoolAllah (SallAllahu Aleihi Wasallam) 
6. In the Honor of Quran Al Kareem
7. Isra and Mi'raj
8. Battles involving RasoolAllah (SallAllahu Aleihi Wasallam)
9. Repentance for sins and pleading for intercession
10. Supplication (Dua)

Faithful and loving reciters over the world have experienced and documented various blessings and benefits spiritual and material -  such as the vision of RasoolAllah (Sall Allahu Aleihi Wasallam), fulfillment of wishes (rightful), improvement in health, solving of problems and easing of difficulties. 

Links for Qaseedah Al Burdah with English Commentary and translation:

http://www.alahazrat.net/library/englisharticles/qasida/

Dalail ul Khayrat Shareef

Dalail ul Khairat means ' Waymarks to Benefits'. It is a revered book of Durood shareef from early 15th century, written and put together by Hazrat Muhammad ibn Sulaiman Al Juzuli - a Moroccan Aalim e Deen, Sufi and Wali. It is a collection of various already known durood shareefs including, Durood e Ibrahimi, Durood e Tunajjina, Durood e Juma'a and many other durood shareef along with those lovingly composed by Hazrat Muhammad Al Juzuli (Alaihir Rahmah). The book gained popularity in islamic countries from North Africa to Southeast Asia. It was commonly read on daily basis , carried to Hajj by piligrims and its copies were made and sold in Makkah and Madinah Al Munawwarah.

The book commences with a description of Rawdatul Mubarak ( Masjid un Nabwi Shareef). Next is a chapter on the excellence of durood shareef detailing various Ahadith on the topic. However, these parts are not included in daily recitation. The recitation part (includes, dua iftitah, Names of Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala, Names of Rasoolullah SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam) is practiced as follows:

• Monday: (The birthday of Holy Prophet Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam)  : Recitation of Dua e Iftitah, Names of Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala, Names of Rasoolullah SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam and Chapter 1. 
• Tuesday, Wednesday,Thursday,Friday and Saturday: Names of Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala, Names of Rasoolullah SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam and Chapter 2,3,4,5 and 6 respectively.
• Sunday: Names of Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala, Names of Rasoolullah SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam and Chapter 7,  and Dua e ikhtetam (This dua was added later by Allama Sheikh Ahmed Nakhli  Alaihir Rahmah.) 

It is recommended practice to seek permission (ijazah) from a Sheikh once before beginning the first time. Regular recitation of this book is a source of immense blessings in this world and hereafter. Many reciters have been blessed with the vision of Blessed RasoolAllah (SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam) in their dream. 

A 15th Century copy of Dalail ul Khayrat depicting pictures of Haramayn Wal Shareefain.

Dalail ul Khayrat can be read/downloaded from

http://www.rehmani.net/library/Dalail-ul-Khairat/index.php

Reading Durood Shareef on Thursday and Friday

 According to Ahadith if anybody reads Durood Shareef on Thursday evening 100 times then 70 needs will be met in this life and 30 in the Hereafter. On every Thursday Allah Almighty sends Angels to the earth in the afternoon. They have silver leaves and golden pens which they use to record the Durood Shareef of the reciter from that afternoon of Thursday till the sunset of Friday. The Beloved Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam) informed the Ummah, that reading Durood Shareef on Thursday night and Friday is presented to him.  The Beloved Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam) has also informed us the best way to have our prayers answered, and that is to start with and end with Durood Shareef. (As taken from The Power of Durood Shareef , 2006)

It has been narrated by Hazrat Sahl Bin Abdullah (Radi Allahu Anhu) that Rasool Allah SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam has said that  reciting the following durood sharif 80 times after Asr prayer on Juma'ah (Friday), erases 80 years of sins.

Manners and Respect for the recitation of Durood Shareef

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: "Without doubt, there is an Angel of Almighty Allah whom Allah has given power to listen to the voices of all the people. Whenever any person reads the Durood Shareef, this Angel delivers the Durood Shareef to me. I then plead to Almighty Allah for the person to receive ten blessings for reading a single Durood Shareef". (Jami'us Sagheer)

According to raza.org.za,  the following should be considered while reciting Durood Shareef:-

1. It should be read with utmost humility and respect.
2. The clothes of the reciter should be clean and free from all impurity.
3. The place where the Durood Shareef is to be read should be clean.
4. It is more superior to be in a state of Wudhu while reciting the Durood Shareef.
5. It is better to sit in the Tashahudd position as you would sit when in Salaah and recite the Durood Shareef with concentration and the respect due to it.
6. It is preferable to face Madinatul Munawwarah.
7. If possible, one should have sweet fragrance around the place.
8. The reciter should try and understand the meaning of the Durood Shareef.
9. One should possess a clean and untainted intention. One should read with the sole intention of pleasing Almighty Allah and Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam).
10. The person should not be involved in worldly talks.
11. A person should try his level best to follow the example or Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam).
12. When reading Durood Shareef, you should try and imagine that you are sitting in the august presence of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). Utmost respect and reverence should be displayed.
13. Whenever one hears or recites the Durood Shareef, it should be read and written in full. It is also preferable to kiss one's thumb and rub them over one's eyes when hearing the name of the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). This is the blessed practice of Hazrat Sayyiduna AbuBakr Siddique (radi Allahu Ta'ala anhu)
14. When the reading of the Durood Shareef is completed one should praise Allah Ta'ala that he has given you the opportunity of reading such a great Zikr as the Durood Shareef.
15. Whenever one takes the name of the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), one should use titles of respect and reverence.
16. As an advantage one should count on one's fingers as Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) often encouraged this practice because on the Day of Qiyamah those same fingers will bear witness at the time when they are questioned.
17. Recite Durood Shareef wherever you are (not in the bathroom or toilet) and during any occasion.