The reason behind appointing Spiritual Leaders in form of Prophets within different nations by Allah SWT has always been the same, i.e. to being people towards remembrance of One God and living a life of righteousness. All the previous Messengers were chosen for specific peoples, but Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ holds distinction in this regard to have been sent for the whole humankind. The Almighty Lord presented Him with the Holy Quran, which serves as a great source of enlightenment in every walk of life. As the entire world population is benefited through the Holy Prophet ﷺ that is why God, the Exalted says in Furqan e Hameed:
“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."
The above mentioned Ayah illustrates that the Most Merciful Himself bestows His favors upon Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and His Angels also constantly ask Him to so. In this way, Allah SWT urges and directs all the believers also to ask Him to award Rasulullah ﷺ from His Blessings and Tranquility.
This act of asking the Gracious God to grant the Apostle ﷺ with His Favor and Protection is commonly known as “Durood” (Persian) or “As-Salatu alan-n-Nabi” (Arabic), both of which literally mean “prayer”. So, it is basically a form of an entreaty, which all the Muslims are obligated to say on hearing, reading or speaking the name of the Holy Prophet ﷺ in order to pay Him homage in the most rightful manner. It is also the way of fulfilling one`s religious duty of adoring Rasulullah ﷺ as Anas (R.A) has narrated:
“None of you will have faith till he loves me more than his father, his children and all mankind.” (Bukhari)
As, Durood is a form of prayer to the Almighty Lord that is done for the sake of increase in Favors and Clemency on the Holy Prophet ﷺ, so it occupies a great place in the life of a Muslim.
