What Is The Meaning And The Place Of Sala In Islam?

What is the meaning and the place of sala in Islam?

The meaning of sala (salawat), which is recited as, “Assalatu wa as-salamu alayka ya Rasul Allah, assalatu wa as-salamu alayka ya Habib Allah, assalatu wa as-salamu alayka ya sayyid al-awwalina wal akhirin, wa salamun alal-mursalin, wal hamdu lillahi Rabbil alamin”, in mosques before the adhan on some special days or to announce a funeral prayer that will be performed, is as follows: “Salat and salam (mercy and peace of Allah) be upon you O, Messenger of Allah, His beloved servant, the best among the past and future people! Salat and salam be upon all prophets. Praise and gratitude be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.”

Sala consists of the words of greetings (salam) and praise to Prophet Muhammad (saw). Although it is advised in the Holy Qur’an and hadiths to recite salat and salam for Prophet Muhammad (saw) on several occasions (Ahzab, 33/56; Tirmidhi, Da’awat, 66; Abu Dawud, Witr, 23), sala was recited in mosques neither in the ‘Asr al-Sa’adah nor in the early periods of Islam. However, there has been many sala texts in different wordings in our tradition based on the examples of reciting salat to Prophet Muhammad (saw) and other prophets in the Qur’an and sunnahs.

Consequently, reciting sala may be accepted as a beautiful practice to remember the days and nights that are special in religious terms, and to announce a death or a funeral prayer to be established. It can be said that it is permissible in religious terms.

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWAS