The Mahdi Times April 2012 | Page 26

to Allah (swt), unlike any other rank. However his rank is permanently the highest and is also the one that Allah (swt) mentioned in the Qur’an “And was a distance of two bows or nearer (53:9)”. So asking with a need from Allah by the Salat on Muhammad (s.a.w) so he can raise the rank of Muhammad (s.a.w) and make it high to the people, where the people will recognize the great status of Muhammad (s.a.w) and that will only happen during the appearance of Imam Mahdi (as.). And when Imam Mahdi (a.s) appears he shall spread 25 letters from his knowledge so he can teach the people about tawheed (monotheism), the messengers, books of Allah (swt), angels and the creation of Allah (swt) and also teach them about who Muhammad (s.a.w) really is. So when we say “Allah humma sale ala Muhammad wa Ale Muhammad”, we are actually saying ‘O Allah reveal the truth of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and reveal for us the greatest rank of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad’ –as if we are saying ‘O Allah hasten the appearance of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad and O Allah reveal the justice, truth, tranquility and eliminate inequity, corruption and oppression." And what I have learned from Imam Al-Mahdi (a.s) is "In the Name of Allah, the Merciful and the Beneficent, there is no power around us except with Allah, the High, the Great, Allah humma salle ala Muhammad wa Ale Muhammad (wa Salam Tasleema) greet him with a thorough greeting”. And whoever says it 50 times, he shall not be recorded as someone who is absentminded on that day, and whoever says it 100 times it will be recorded that he shall be one of the “Thakireen (in the day of judgement) who mention Allah (swt) many times.” And whoever says it 1000 times he shall be amongst the winners with Allah (swt) and with Imam Al-Mahdi (a.s) The Holy Qur’an (33:56) "Allah and the angels send salat on the (Nabi) Prophet (s.a.w), O You who believe! Send your salat on him and greet him with a thorough greeting." So this means that true believers ask for a need from Allah (swt) so that he can Sali (raise the rank of Muhammad (sawas) and say Allah humma salle ala Muhammad wa Ale Muhammad wa salam tasleema. And the meaning salam tasleema means to give them security and safety. And the security of it, is pledging allegiance to the Qa’im Mahdi (a.s), and the safety is the nation of the Qa’im a.s. The Holy Qur’an (3:97) “And whoever enters it, becomes secure”. The Holy Qur’an (34:18) “And travel within it day and night safely”. Another Question after this was asked in response to this meaning and is as follows: “Allah humma salle ala Muhammad wa Ale Muhammad kama salait ala Ibrahim wa ala ale Ibrahim”. It is known that Muhammad (s.a.w) and his Ahlul Bayt (a.s) are better than Ibrahim (a.s) and the Family of Ibrahim (a.s), so how can it be asking for a need from Allah that he raised the rank of Muhammad (s.a.w) and the family of Muhammad (a.s) like how He raised the rank of Ibrahim (a.s) and the family of Ibrahim (a.s). Should not they (Muhammad (s.a.w) and his Ahlul Bayt a.s)) be better than Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim (a.s)? Answer given by Ahmad Al-Hassan (a.s) “Salat on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad means to ask Allah (swt) to hasten the appearance of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad (a.s), so that their Qa