Part 2: The meaning of "Salaah upon the Prophet" - Shaikh al-`Uthaymeen

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

As for the meaning of: السلام عليه “as-Salaamu `alaih” (Salaam upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم), it is du`aa for the Safety of the physical self of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم while he was alive; and Safety for his صلى الله عليه وسلم religion; and the Safety for his body in his grave; and his Safety on the Day of Judgment.

Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Saaleh al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

The author’s saying: السلام عليك (as-Salaamu `alaik): by the word السلام (as-Salaam), it is said that it refers to the Name of Allaah, because the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ السَّلاَمُ

“Allaah Himself is as-Salaam.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (831, 835, 6230, 6328, 7381) and Saheeh Muslim (402)]

And as Allaah تعالى said in His Book:

﴿الْمَلِكُ الْقُدُّوسُ السَّلَامُ﴾

{al-Malik (the King), al-Quddoos (the Holy), al-Salaam (the Source of Peace and Perfection)} [Surah al-Hashr (59): 23]

So based on this, the meaning would become that, Allaah تعالى be with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم protecting him, guarding him and taking care of him. Like how we say: الله عليك (Allaah be with you), meaning Allaah is watching over you, protecting and taking care of you.

And it is said that the verbal noun of السلام is سلّم (Sallim – to greet) with the meaning of التّـسـليم (Tasleem – greeting) as Allaah تعالى said:

﴿ا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا﴾

{O you who have believed, ask [Allaah to confer] blessing upon him (Prophet Muhammad) and ask [Allaah to grant him] peace.} [Surah al-Ahzaab (33): 56]

So التسليم upon the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم means: that we should supplicate to Allaah for his safety from all harm.

If someone says: Supplicating for his Safety is understood when he صلى الله عليه وسلم was alive, but after his death, how can we supplicate for his Safety when he صلى الله عليه وسلم is already dead?

The response: The supplication for Safety is not limited for those who are alive only, for there will be horrors on the Day of Judgment (which are yet to come). That is why, when the people will be crossing the bridge (over the Hellfire), the supplication of the Messengers will be:

اللَّهُمَّ سَلِّمْ سَلِّمْ

“O Allaah! Save us. O Allaah! Save us.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (806, 6573, 7437) and Saheeh Muslim (349, 352)]

So the danger and the harm do not end with one’s death.

Therefore, we should supplicate to Allaah for the Messenger’s صلى الله عليه وسلم Safety from the horror of the standing (on the Day of Judgment).

We say: The meaning could be more general; i.e. that the Salaam upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم could consist of praying for the Safety for his Sharee`ah and his Sunnah, and their Safety from falling in the hands of those who would tamper them. This is similar to what the scholars have said regarding the saying of Allaah تعالى:

﴿فردوه إلى الله والرسول﴾

{refer it to Allaah and the Messenger} [Surah al-Nisaa’ (4): 59] They said: referring it back to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم while he was alive and referring back to his Sunnah after his death.

And the phrase: “السلام عليك” is this “statement” or “supplication”? Meaning: Are you saying that the Messenger is protected or are you supplicating that Allaah تعالى protects him?

The Answer: It is a supplication by which one supplicates that Allaah تعالى protects him. So it is a statement that serves as a supplication.

So addressing the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم in this way, is it similar to the way that people address one another?

The answer: No! If this was the case then the Salaah (prayer) would have become invalid due to this; because this is Salaah and human speech is not acceptable in it. If it was permissible to have a conversation, the Companions would have raised their voice (in the Salaah) till the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم could hear their Salaam. And he صلى الله عليه وسلم would have replied back to them, as they used to do when they would meet and greet him. But as Shaikh al-Islaam, Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said in his Book “Iqtidhaa’ al-Siraat al-Mustaqeem”: “Because you think so much about the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم when you send Salaam upon him, it is as if he is in front of you and you are addressing him.”

Hence the Companions used to say “al-Salaamu `alaika” although he could not hear them, and they would say “al-Salaamu `alaika” when they were in one land and he was in another, and we say “al-Salaamu `alaika” although we are in a land other than his, and in a time other than his.

[Sharh al-Mumti`u (3/149-150)]