Sulavat

Sulavat, also spelled salawat, is a form of supplication in Islam that asks God to bless and grant peace upon the Prophet Muhammad. The term derives from the Arabic root salat, meaning prayer or blessing, and in practice refers to the blessings Muslims invoke on the Prophet. The concept is found across many Muslim languages and is often referred to as durood in South Asian contexts.

Common formulas include “Allahumma salli ala Muhammad” (O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad) and “Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam” (peace be upon him). These blessings may be recited individually or as part of daily prayers, sermons, and devotional gatherings, and they appear in various contexts such as during Friday prayers, Ramadan activities, and personal supplication. In some traditions, longer forms—such as blessings that also include the Prophet’s family—are used and integrated into liturgical practices.

Religious significance varies by tradition but is generally seen as a recommended act rather than obligatory. Reciting sulavat is described in Islamic sources as an expression of love, gratitude, and reverence for the Prophet, with believed spiritual rewards for the one who recites. The emphasis and recommended frequency or wording differ among Sunni and Shia communities and across regions; some groups promote frequent recitation, while others place emphasis on it as part of broader remembrance of God (dhikr) and moral conduct.

Cultural practices surrounding sulavat reflect regional languages and devotional styles. In many communities it is taught to recite certain formulas regularly and to incorporate durood into prayers, sermons, and personal devotion as a shared expression of reverence for the Prophet Muhammad.