Sayyiduna Abul Hasan ‘Ali Shaazili رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه was in a jungle, a beast appeared in front of him at once and his life was at risk. So, out of fear, he started reciting Salat and Salam upon the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. By the blessing of it, he رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه saved himself from the beast. (Sa’adat-ud-Daarayn, pp. 152)

In the Glorious Quran, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has ordered His bondsmen to act upon the different commandments but nowhere else has it been stated that My angels and I also perform this act, so you also perform it. However, sending Salat and Salam upon the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is such a blessed piece of act about which Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ said:

اِنَّ اللّٰهَ وَ مَلٰٓىٕكَتَهٗ یُصَلُّوْنَ عَلَى النَّبِیِّؕ-یٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا صَلُّوْا عَلَیْهِ وَ سَلِّمُوْا تَسْلِیْمًا

Indeed Allah and His angels send Durood on the Conveyor of the unseen (Prophet). O Believers! (You too) send blessings and abundant salutations upon him.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 22, Surah Al-Ahzaab, Ayah 56)

What does it mean by sending Salat

Sending Salat by Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ refers to bestowing mercy whereas sending Salat by the angels and the people refer to making Du’a of mercy. Following are some more virtues of reciting Salat and Salam:

1 One blessed Salat contains three benefits: Ten mercies, forgiveness of ten sins and elevation of ranks by ten times.

2 Du’a of Salat reciter is answered.

3 Sins of those fortunate people who recite Salat abundantly are forgiven.

4 The blessed act of reciting Salat removes worries and anxieties.

5 Intercession of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم becomes Wajib for him.

6 The ‘Salat reciter’ will get place beneath the shade of the Divine throne.

Devotion of pious predecessors to the blessed Salat

Shaykh Nooruddin Shawnee رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه would recite Salat 10000 times daily and Shaykh Ahmad Zawavi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه would recite Salat 40000 times daily. The last piece of writing of the Imam of devotees of Rasool, ‘Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه’ was:

صَلَّی اللہ عَلٰی سَیَّدِنَا وَ مَوْلَانَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَّ اٰلِەٖ وَ صَحْبِەٖ وَسَلَّمْ اَجْمَعِیْنَ

(Imam Ahmad Raza ka Dars-e-Adab, pp. 14)

How great is the ‘Ishq-e-Rasool of Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat, ‘Allamah Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qaadiri دَامَتْ بَرَكَاتُـهُمُ الْعَالِيَـه that Salat is recited loudly before every Dars and Bayan. Apart from this, to recall ‘Durood and Salam’ on different occasions, he دَامَتْ بَرَكَاتُـهُمُ الْعَالِيَـه has introduced in this society the calling out of ‘صَلُّوْا عَلَی الْحَبِیْب’ i.e., ‘recite Salat upon the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم’ and persuaded people to recite Salat at least 313 times daily through mentioning it in the booklet of Madani In’amaat.