Benefits and Virtues of Surah 33 Al-Ahzab

33. Al-‘Ahzab

33.1 ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Ata’ (رضي الله عنه) said,

“This ayat which is in the Qur’an,

﴾ يا أيها النبي إنا أرسلناك شاهدا ومبشرا ونذيرا ﴿

‘O Prophet, We have sent you as a witness, a bringer of good news and a warner’ (33:45)

is found in the Torah in a similar form.”

Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 247

33.2 Hafiz Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) related about

﴾ النبي أولى بالمؤمنين من أنفسهم ﴿

The Prophet has a greater claim on the faithful than they have on themselves (33:6)

In the Sahih it says: “By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, none of you truly believes until I am dearer to him than his own self, his wealth, his children and all the people.”

It was also reported in the Sahih that Umar (رضي الله عنه) said: “O Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم), by Allah, you are dearer to me than everything except myself.”He said, “No, O Umar, not until I am dearer to you than yourself.” Umar said: “O Messenger of Allah, by Allah, now you are dearer to me than everything, even myself.” He said,  “Now, O Umar (you have got it right).”

Concerning this Ayah, Al-Bukhari narrated from Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said:

“There is no believer except I am the closest of all people to him in this world and in the Hereafter. Recite, if you wish ‘The Prophet is closer to the believers than themselves’ (33:6)”.

“If any believer leaves behind any wealth, let his own relatives inherit it, but if he leaves behind any debt or orphans, bring them to me and I will take care of them.”

(Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

33.3 Narrated Anas (رضي الله عنه)

“My paternal uncle Anas bin An-Nadr – after whom I was named – did not participate in the battle of Badr with the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم). This distressed him and he said: ‘I was absent from the first battle which the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) attended. By Allah! If Allah gives me the opportunity to participate in another battle along with the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم), then Allah will see what I will do!'” He said: “He did not want to say more than that. A year later, he attended the battle of Uhud, where he saw Sa’d bin Mu’adh and said: ‘O Abu ‘Amr where are you going?’ He said: ‘I long for the fragrance of Paradise and I have found it near the mountains of Uhud.’ He fought them until he was killed. They found more than eighty wounds on his body, be they from blows of a sword, puncture wounds, or arrows. My paternal aunt Ar-Ruba’i bin An-Nadr said: ‘I could not recognize my brother except by his finger tips.’ And this Ayah was revealed:

من المؤمنين رجال صدقوا ما عاهدوا الله عليه ﴿

﴾ فمنهم من قضى نحبه ومنهم من ينتظر وما بدلوا تبديلا

‘Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah; of them some have fulfilled their vow, and some of them are still waiting, but they have never changed in the least (33:23).'”

Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3200

33.4 Narrated Musa bin Talhah (رضي الله عنه)

“I entered upon Mu’awiyah and he said: ‘Shall I not give you some good news?’ I said: ‘Of course!’ He said: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) saying: ‘Talhah is among those fulfilled their vow [referring to

من المؤمنين رجال صدقوا ما عاهدوا الله عليه ﴿

﴾ فمنهم من قضى نحبه ومنهم من ينتظر وما بدلوا تبديلا

Among the believers are men true to what they promised Allah . Among them is he who has fulfilled his vow (to the death), and among them is he who awaits (his chance). And they did not alter (the terms of their commitment) by any alteration (33:23).]'”

Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3741

33.5 Hafiz Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) related about

﴾ يا أيها الذين آمنوا اذكروا نعمة الله عليكم إذ جاءتكم جنود فأرسلنا عليهم ريحا وجنودا لم تروها ﴿

O you who have believed, remember the favor of Allah upon you when armies came to [attack] you and We sent upon them a wind and armies [of angels] you did not see (33:9)

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Abu Sa’id (رضي الله عنه) narrated that on the day of Al-Khandaq, we said: ‘O Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم), is there anything we should say, for our hearts have reached our throats.’ He said: Yes, say

اللهم استر عوراتنا وآمن روعاتنا

O Allah, cover our weak points and calm our fears

Then (Allah) struck the faces of the enemy with the wind, and defeated them with the wind. This was also recorded by Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal from Abu Amir Al-Aqadi.

(Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

33.6 Hafiz Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) related about

﴾ ورد الله الذين كفروا بغيظهم لم ينالوا خيرا وكفى الله المؤمنين القتال وكان الله قويّا عزيزا ﴿

And Allah repelled those who disbelieved, in their rage, not having obtained any good. And sufficient was Allah for the believers in battle, and ever is Allah Powerful and Exalted in Might (33:25)

The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) used to say,

لا إله إلا الله وحده ، صدق وعده ، ونصر عبده ، وأعز جنده ، وهزم الأحزاب وحده ، فلا شيء بعده

None has the right to be worshiped but Allah, Alone, He was true to His promise, and He helped His servant, and He gave might to His soldiers and defeated the Confederates alone and there is nothing after Him.

This was reported from a Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه).

In the Two Sahihs it was recorded that Abdullah bin Abi ‘Awfa (رضي الله عنه) said: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) invoked Allah against the Confederates and said:

اللهم منزل الكتاب سريع الحساب اهزم الأحزاب اللهم اهزمهم وزلزلهم

O Allah, Who revealed the Book and is swift in bringing to account, defeat the Confederates, O Allah defeat them and shake them.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Sulayman bin Surad (رضي الله عنه) said: On the day of Al-Ahzab, the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said:

الآن نغزوهم ولا يغزونا

Now we will attack them and they will not attack us.

This was also recorded by Al-Bukhari in his Sahih.

(Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

33.7 It was narrated from ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Sa’eed (رضي الله عنه)

That his father said: “On the day of Al-Khandaq the idolators kept us from praying Zuhr until the sun had gone down; that was before the revelation concerning fighting was revealed. Then Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, revealed:

﴾ وكفى الله المؤمنين القتال ﴿

Allah sufficed for the believers in the fighting (33:25).

The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) commanded Bilal to say the Iqamah for Zuhr prayer, and he offered it just as he used to offer it on time. Then he said the Iqamah for ‘Asr and he offered it just as he used to offer it on time. Then he called the Adhan for Maghrib and offered it on time.”

Sunan an-Nasa’I Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 662

33.8 It was narrated from ‘Isa bin Hafs bin ‘Asim bin ‘Umar bin Khattab (رضي الله عنه)

That his father told him:“We were with Ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنه) on a journey, and he led us in prayer. Then we finished with him and he finished turning around, and saw some people praying. He said: ‘What are these people doing?’ I said: ‘Glorifying Allah.’ He said: ‘If I wanted to glorify Allah (perform voluntary prayer) I would have completed my prayer. O son of my brother! I accompanied the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) and he never prayed more than two Rak’ah when he was traveling, until Allah took his soul. Then I accompanied Abu Bakr and he never prayed more than two Rak’ah (when he was traveling), until Allah took his soul. Then I accompanied ‘Umar and he never prayed more than two Rak’ah, until Allah took his soul. Then I accompanied ‘Uthman and he never prayed more than two Rak’ah, until Allah took his soul. Allah says:

﴾ لقد كان لكم في رسول الله أسوة حسنة ﴿

‘Indeed in the Messenger of Allah [Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم)] you have a good example to follow.’” (33:21)

Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1071

33.9 Narrated Umm ‘Umarah Al-Ansariyyah (رضي الله عنه)

That she came to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) and said: “I do not see but that everything is for the men, and I do not see anything being mentioned for the women.” So this Ayah was revealed:

﴾ إن المسلمين والمسلمات والمؤمنين والمؤمنات ﴿

‘Indeed the Muslim men and the Muslim women, the believing men and the believing women… (33:35)’

Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3211

33.10 Narrated Mujahid (رضي الله عنه)

From Umm Salamah (رضي الله عنها) that she said: “The men fight and the women do not fight, and we only get half the inheritance.’ So Allah, Blessed and Most High, revealed:

﴾ ولا تتمنوا ما فضل الله به بعضكم على بعض ﴿

‘And wish not for things in which Allah has made some of you excel over others… (4:32)’

Mujahid said:

“And the following was revealed about that:

﴾ إن المسلمين والمسلمات ﴿

‘Verily the Muslim men and the Muslim women… (33:35).

And Umm Salamah was the first camel-borne woman to arrive in Al-Madinah as an emigrant.

Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3022

33.11 Hafiz Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) related about

إن المسلمين والمسلمات والمؤمنين والمؤمنات والقانتين والقانتات والصادقين والصادقات والصابرين والصابرات والخاشعين والخاشعات والمتصدقين والمتصدقات والصائمين والصائمات والحافظين فروجهم والحافظات والذاكرين الله كثيرا والذاكرات أعد الله لهم مغفرة وأجرا عظيما

Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so – for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward. (33:35)

Abdullah bin Mas’ud (رضي الله عنه)narrated that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “Abide by truthfulness. For indeed truthfulness leads to righteousness. And indeed righteousness leads to Paradise. A man continues telling the truth and trying hard to tell the truth until he is recorded with Allah as a truthful person. Refrain from falsehood. For indeed falsehood leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire. A slave (of Allah) continues lying and trying hard to lie, until he is recorded with Allah as a liar.” Recorded by Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Bukhari.

Khushu` means serenity and tranquility, deliberation and dignity and humility. What motivates a person to be like this is the fear of Allah and the awareness that He is constantly watching, as mentioned in the Hadith: “Worship Allah as if you can see Him, for if you cannot see Him, He can see you.”

It was recorded in the Two Sahihs: “There are seven whom Allah will shade with His Shade on the Day when there will be no shade except His Shade -and among them he mentioned  ..a man who gave in charity and concealed it to the extent that his left hand did not know what his right hand was giving.”According to another Hadith: “Sadaqah extinguishes bad deeds just as water extinguishes fire.”

According to a Hadith narrated by Ibn Majah: “Fasting is the Zakah of the body.” Sa’id bin Jubayr said:”Whoever fasts Ramadan and three days of each month, is included in the Ayah, وَالصَّائِمِينَ وَالصَّائِمَاتِ (the men and the women who fast),”

The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “O young men! Whoever among you can afford to get married, let him do so, for it is most effective in lowering the gaze and protecting the chastity. And whoever cannot get married, then let him fast, for it will be a protection for him.”

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “If a man wakes his wife at night and they pray two Rak’ahs, they will recorded that night as being among the men and the women who remember Allah much.”

(Abridged from Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

33.12 Narrated ‘Umar bin Abi Salamah (رضي الله عنه)

“When these Ayat were revealed to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم):

﴾ إنما يريد الله ليذهب عنكم الرجس أهل البيت ويطهركم تطهيرا ﴿

‘Allah only wishes to remove the Rijs from you, O members of the family, and to purify you with a thorough purification (33:33)’

in the home of Umm Salamah, he called for Fatimah, Hasan, Husain, and wrapped him in the cloak, and ‘Ali was behind him, so he wrapped him in the cloak, then he said: ‘O Allah! These are the people of my house, so remove the Rijs from them, and purify them with a thorough purification.’ So Umm Salamah said: ‘And I, Prophet of Allah?’ He said: ‘You are in your place (meaning you are already a member of my household), and you are goodness.'”

Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3205

33.13 Narrated Anas bin Malik (رضي الله عنه)

“For six months, the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) would pass by the door of Fatimah when going to the Fajr prayer saying: ‘As-Salat O People of the house!

﴾ إنما يريد الله ليذهب عنكم الرجس أهل البيت ويطهركم تطهيرا ﴿

Allah only wishes to remove the Rijs from you, O members of the family, and to purify you with thorough purification (33:33).'”

Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3206

33.14 Hafiz Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) related about

﴾ إنما يريد الله ليذهب عنكم الرجس أهل البيت ويطهركم تطهيرا ﴿

And Allah only wishes to remove all abomination from you, ye members of the Family, and to make you pure and spotless (33:33)

Zayd bin Arqam (رضي الله عنه) said that one day, the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) stood up to address us by the well of Khumm, between Makkah and Al-Madinah, and he praised Allah and thanked Him, and he preached and reminded us. Then he said: “Thereafter! O people, I am merely a human being and soon the messenger of my Lord will come and I will answer him. I am leaving behind two things with you, the first of which is the Book of Allah in which is guidance and light, so seize the Book of Allah and hold fast to it.” He urged them to cling to the Book of Allah, then he said: “And the members of my family (Ahl Al-Bayt): Remember Allah with regard to the members of my family, remember Allah with regard to the members of my family.”

(Abridged from Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

33.15 Hafiz Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) related about

﴾ ما كان محمد أبا أحد من رجالكم ولكن رسول الله وخاتم النبيين وكان الله بكل شيء عليما ﴿

Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets. And ever is Allah , of all things, Knowing. (33:40)

Imam Ahmad recorded a narration from Ubayy bin Ka’b (رضي الله عنه), from his father that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “My parable among the Prophets is that of a man who built a house and did a good and complete job, apart from the space of one brick which he did not put in its place. The people started to walk around the building, admiring it and saying, “If only that brick were put in its place.”Among the Prophets, I am like that brick.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas bin Malik (رضي الله عنه) said that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “Messengership and Prophethood have come to an end, and there will be no more Messengers or Prophets.” This worried the people, then he said: “But there will be Al-Mubashshirat.” They said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what are Al-Mubashshirat?’ He said, “The dreams of a Muslim man, and they are one of the parts of Prophethood.”

Abu Dawud At-Tayalisi recorded that Jabir bin Abdullah (رضي الله عنه) said that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “The parable of myself and the Prophets is that of a man who built a house and did a complete and good job, except for the space of one brick. Whoever entered it would look at that space and say, how good it is, apart from the space of that brick. My position is like that of that brick, and the Prophets -blessings and peace be upon them – end with me.”

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) said that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “I have been given preference over the other Prophets in six ways: (i) I have been given the ability to speak concisely, (ii) I have been aided by fear (cast into the hearts of my enemies), (iii) the spoils of war have been made permissible for me, (iv) the entire earth has been made a Masjid and a means of purification for me, (v) I have been sent to all of mankind and (vi) the Prophets end with me.”

Jubayr bin Mut’im (رضي الله عنه) said that he heard the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) say: I have several names: I am Muhammad, and I am Ahmad. I am Al-Mahi (the eradicator) through whom Allah will erase disbelief. I am Al-Hashir (the gatherer) at whose feet mankind will gather and I am Al-‘Aqib (the final one) after whom there will be no Prophet.It was also recorded in the Two Sahihs.

(Abridged from Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

33.16 Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنه)

“We called Zaid bin Harithah (رضي الله عنه) nothing but ‘Zaid bin Muhammad’ until the Qur’an was revealed (ordering):

﴾ ادعوهم لآبائهم هو أقسط عند الله ﴿

Call them by their fathers, that is more just according to Allah (33:5).”

Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3814

33.17 Narrated Anas (رضي الله عنه)

“When this Ayah was revealed:

﴾ وتخفي في نفسك ما الله مبديه وتخشى الناس ﴿

‘But you did hide in yourself that which Allah will make manifest… (33:37)’

about Zainab bint Jahsh (رضي الله عنها), Zaid (رضي الله عنه) had come to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) complaining, and he wanted to divorce her, so he consulted with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم). The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said:

﴾ أمسك عليك زوجك واتق الله ﴿

‘Keep your wife to yourself, and have Taqwa of Allah (33:37).'”

Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3212

33.18 Narrated Anas (رضي الله عنه)

“When this Ayah was revealed about Zainab bint Jahsh (رضي الله عنها):

﴾ فلما قضى زيد منها وطرا زوجناكها ﴿

‘So when Zaid had completed his aim with her, We gave her to you in marriage (33:37)’

– he said: “She used to boast to the wives of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم): ‘Your families married you (to him) while Allah married me (to him) from above the Seven Heavens.'”

Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3213

33.19 Narrated Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه)

That the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “Verily Musa (عليه السلام) was a shy and modest man, who would never show anything of his skin out of modesty. Some of the Children of Isra’il annoyed him by saying: ‘He only keeps himself covered because of some defect in his skin, either leprosy, a scrotal hernia or some other defect.’ Allah [the Mighty and Sublime] wanted to free Musa from what they were saying about him. One day Musa, [peace be upon him], was alone. He took off his garment, and put it on a rock, then he took a bath. When he had finished, he turned back to pick up his garment, but the rock moved away, taking his garment with it. Musa picked up his staff, and chased the rock saying: ‘My garment, O you rock! My garment, O you rock!’ Until he reached a group of the Children of Isra’il who saw him naked, and discovered that he was the best of those whom Allah had created.” He said: “The rock stood still, he took his garment and put it on. He started striking the rock with his staff, and by Allah, the marks of that beating were left on the rock; three, four, or five. This is what is referred to in the Ayah:

﴾ يا أيها الذين آمنوا لا تكونوا كالذين آذوا موسى فبرأه الله مما قالوا وكان عند الله وجيها ﴿

‘O you who believe! Be not like those who annoyed Musa, but Allah freed him from what they had alleged, and he was honourable before Allah (33:69).'”

Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3221

33.20 Hafiz Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) related about

﴾ إن الله وملائكته يصلون على النبي يا أيها الذين آمنوا صلوا عليه وسلموا تسليما ﴿

Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [ Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [ Allah to grant him] peace. (33:56)

In his Tafsir of this Ayah, Al-Bukhari recorded that Ka’b bin Ujrah (رضي الله عنه)said, “It was said, ‘O Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم), with regard to sending Salam upon you, we know about this, but how about Salah!’ He replied Say:

،اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

O Allah, send Your Salah upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your Salah upon the family of Ibrahim, verily You are the Most Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.

اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد

O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your blessings upon the family of Ibrahim, verily You are Most Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.

Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (رضي الله عنه) said: “We said, ‘O Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم), this is the Salam upon you, but how do we send Salah upon you!’ He said Say:

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِكَ وَرَسُولِكَ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيم

O Allah, send Your Salah upon Muhammad, Your servant and Messenger, as You sent Your Salah upon the family of Ibrahim, and send Your blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your blessings upon the family of Ibrahim.

Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Humayd As-Sa’idi (رضي الله عنه) that they said: “O Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم), how can we send Salah upon you!” He said Say:

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَزْوَاجِهِ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَزْوَاجِهِ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد

O Allah, send Your Salah upon Muhammad and his wives and offspring, as You sent Your Salah upon Ibrahim, and send Your blessings upon Muhammad and his wives and offspring, as You sent Your blessings upon the family of Ibrahim, verily You are Most Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.

Muslim recorded that Abu Mas’ud Al-Ansari (رضي الله عنه) said: “We came to the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) and we were with Sa’d bin Ubadah. Bashir bin Sa’d said to him, ‘Allah has commanded us to send Salah upon you, O Messenger of Allah. How can we send Salah upon you!’ The Messenger of Allah remained quiet for so long that we wished that he had not asked him, then the Messenger of Allah said, Say:

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي الْعَالَمِينَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

O Allah, send Your Salah upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your Salah upon the family of Ibrahim, and send Your blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your blessings upon the family of Ibrahim among all people, verily You are Most Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.

An-Nasa’i, Ibn Khuzaymah and Ibn Hibban recorded in their Sahihs that Fadalah bin Ubayd (رضي الله عنه)  said: “The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) heard a man making supplication in his prayer when he had not praised Allah or said Salah upon the Prophet. The Messenger of Allah said: This man is rushing.Then he called him over and said, to him or to someone else, “When any one of you supplicates, let him start by praising and glorifying Allah, may He be exalted, then let him send Salah upon the Prophet, and after that let him make supplication as he wishes.”

Ubayy (رضي الله عنه) said, “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم), I send a lot of Salah upon you, how much of my prayer should be Salah upon you!’ He said, “Whatever you want”. I said, ‘A quarter.’ He said, “Whatever you want, but if you increase it, it will be better for you.” I said, ‘Half.’ He said, “Whatever you want, but if you increase it, it will be better for you.” I said, ‘Two thirds.’ He said, “Whatever you want, but if you increase it, it will be better for you.” I said, ‘Should I make my whole prayer for you!’ He said, “This would be sufficient to relieve your distress and earn you forgiveness of your sins.”

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Talhah (رضي الله عنه) said that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) came one day looking happy. They said,”O Messenger of Allah, we see that you look happy.”He said, “The angel came to me and told me, “O Muhammad, would it not please you if your Lord, may He be glorified, says: ‘No member of your Ummah sends Salah upon you but I send Salah upon him tenfold, and no member of your Ummah sends greetings of Salam upon you but I send greetings of Salam upon him tenfold’.” I said, “Of course.”

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Talhah Al-Ansari (رضي الله عنه) said: “One morning the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) was in a cheerful mood and looked happy. They said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, this morning you are in a cheerful mood and look happy.’ He said, “Of course just now someone (an angel) came to me from my Lord and said, ‘Whoever among your Ummah sends Salah upon you, Allah will record for him ten good deeds and will erase for him ten evil deeds, and will raise his status by ten degrees, and will return his greeting with something similar to it’.”

Muslim, Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa’i recorded that Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) said: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “Whoever sends one Salah upon me, Allah will send ten upon him.”

Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “Send Salah upon me, for this is Zakah for you, and ask Allah to grant me Al-Wasilah, for it is a position in the highest part of Paradise which only one man will attain, and I hope that I will be the one.”

Imam Ahmad recorded that Al-Husayn bin Ali (رضي الله عنه) said that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “The miser is the one in whose presence I am mentioned, then he does not send Salah upon me.”

At-Tirmidhi recorded that Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) said that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “May he be humiliated, the man in whose presence I am mentioned and he does not send Salah upon me. May he be humiliated, the man who sees the month of Ramadan come and go, and he is not forgiven. May he be humiliated, the man whose parents live to old age and they do not cause him to be granted admittance to Paradise.”

In the Hadith recorded by Imam Ahmad from Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-‘As (رضي الله عنه) who said that he heard the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) say: “When you hear the Mu’adhdhin, repeat what he says, then send Salah upon me, for whoever sends Salah upon me, Allah will send Salah upon him tenfold. Then ask Allah to grant me Al-Wasilah, which is a status in Paradise to which only one of the servants of Allah will be entitled, and I hope that I will be the one. Whoever asks Allah for Al-Wasilah for me, it will be permitted for me to intercede for him.”

Other occasions when we should send Salah upon the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) include when entering or exiting the Masjid. We should also send Salah upon him during the Funeral prayer. Sending Salah upon the Prophet is even more strongly encouraged in the Qunut supplication.

At-Tirmidhi recorded that Umar bin Al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) said:”A supplication remains suspended between heaven and earth and does not ascend any further until you send Salah upon your Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) .”

It was also recorded by Razin bin Mu’awiyah in his book, where he also attributed it to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) reporting that he said: “A supplication remains suspended between heaven and earth and does not ascend any further until a person sends Salah on me. Do not treat me like a spare water container, send Salah upon me at the beginning of your supplication, at the end and in the middle.”

The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “One of the best of your days is Friday; on this day Adam was created and died, on this day the Trumpet (Sur) will be blown and all will have swoon away. So on this day send plenty of Salah upon me, for your Salah will be presented to me.”This was also recorded by Abu Dawud, An-Nasa’i and Ibn Majah.

(Abridged from Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

33.21 Imam Sadiq (عليه السلام) in a tradition said

Whoever recites Surah Al-Ahzab frequently, on the Hereafter Day, will be in the neighborhood of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) and his Ahl Al-Bayt (عليهم السلام).

(Majma-ul-Bayan)

33.22 Duas and Invocations

﴾ وتوكل على الله وكفى بالله وكيلا ﴿

And rely upon Allah ; and sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs (33:3, 33:48)

﴾ وكفى الله المؤمنين القتال وكان الله قويّا عزيزا ﴿

And sufficient was Allah for the believers in battle, and ever is Allah Powerful and Exalted in Might (33:25)