اگر کوئی اپنا بھلا چاہتا ہے     اسے چاہے جس کو خدا چاہتا ہے

درود ان پہ بھیجو سلام ان پہ بھیجو     یہی مومنوں سے خدا چاہتا ہے

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب              صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic brothers! It has been learnt that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has also commanded us to send Salat and Salam besides mentioning His act and His angels’ act of sending Salat. Here, keep in mind though the same word has been referred to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, angels and believers, meaning is different from the perspective of the one it has been referred to. Imam Baghawi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has said: The Salat of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is to extend mercy, whereas our Salat means to make Du’a for mercy. (Sharh-us-Sunnah lil Imam Baghawi, vol. 2, pp. 280)

Here a question arises when Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ Himself is extending mercy to His Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, so why have we been commanded to recite Salat-‘Alan-Nabi i.e. to make Du’a for mercy as that thing is asked for which does not exist before. Mercy is already being descended on the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, then why have we been commanded to ask for it?

Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has said by explaining it: O those who recite Salat and Salam! Do not even think about it at all that My mercy to   My Beloved صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is conditional to your asking for it and My Beloved صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is needy of your Salat and Salam. My mercy is being extended to him continuously whether you recite Salat or not. Your birth and your act of reciting Salat and Salam have started now. Mercy in abundance is being descended to the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم since there was no existence of when and then, where and there, etc. To make you recite Salat and Salam, that is, to enable you to make Du’a for the mercy of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is for your own benefit. If you recite Salat and Salam, you will get huge reward. (Shan-e-Habib-ur-Rahman, pp. 184; summarized)

کربلا والوں کا صدقہ یا نبی!       دور ہوں رنج و الم چشمِ کرم

وردِ لب ہر دم درود پاک ہو    یا شہ عرب و عجم! چشم کرم