RECITE IT IN MASJID NABAWI

Once you have formed the habit of reciting Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah, you feel like reciting it in Masjid Nabawi in Madina. Those who go for Hajj inevitably make the intention of praying forty salaah in Masjid Nabawi, as is recommended. So they stay in Madina for at least eight days to pray the five times daily obligatory salaah for a total of forty salaah and to complete the recitation of the whole Qur'an Kareem (and more if possible) in the very presence of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. The muhibbeen (loving disciples) would be well advised to seize the opportunity to complete the recitation of Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah as well in those eight days. Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah is in seven parts, one part for each day of the week beginning from Friday. So you can finish Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah in seven days and start all over again with the first part on the eighth day to set the seal of continuity. In the process, you will have prayed forty salaah (prayer of worship of Allah Ta'ala) in Masjid Nabawi as well as the Qur'an Kareem and the salawaat (invocations of blessings on the noble Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam).

It is no surprise to find that the famous translator of the kutub of Mawlana al-Haddad Rady Allahu 'Anhu, Dr. Mostafa al-Badawi has included eleven of the salawaat from Lataail i'l 'Arshiyyah in his kitab titled Ziyara Sayyidi'l Kawnain Sallallahu 'alaihi wa aalihi wa Sallam (Visit To The Leader of Both The Worlds) to be recited at the Rawda of Rasulullah, Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. If the pilgrim does not have time enough to recite Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah in full, he should not become despondent. Perhaps, the recitation of a smaller, yet spiritually rich kitab compiled by Dr. Mostafa al-Badawi, would also yield complete blessings, InshaAllah.

Here is Imam al-Habshi who is saturated with the love of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam and here we are who aspire to attain his love. We would naturally want to recite these salawaat in the very presence of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam in Masjid Nabawi: as we enter Baab u's Salaam, at the Rawda, at the Qubba, behind the august pillars of the masjid, in the precincts of the original masjid where the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam himself prayed, in the place where the Ashaab u's Suffa Rady Allahu 'Anhum used to stay; in fact, in every blessed spot in Masjid Nabawi, but above all as part of the salawaat and salaams on the Holy Prophet Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam as we stand before him and cry our hearts out to him in loving agony.

Assalaatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa Rasul'Allah
Assalaatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa Nabiyy'Allah
Assalaatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa Habib'Allah
Assalaatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa Khaira Khalqi'llah
Assalaatu wa's Salaamu 'alaika Yaa Nura 'Arshi'llah

Blessings and salutations on you, O Messenger of Allah.
Blessings and salutations on you, O The Prophet sent by Allah.
Blessings and salutations on you, O The Beloved of Allah.
Blessings and salutations on you, O The Best Creation of Allah.
Blessings and salutations on you, O Light of Allah's Throne.

At this time, the Nur (light) of Allah's 'Arsh (Throne) is descending upon you as you begin your recitation from Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah.

In fact, the very first salaat in Lataaif i'l 'Arshiyyah has been composed to be recited on the occassion of the Ziyara (visit) of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam. It is included in the kitab of Dr. Mostafa al-Badawi just referred to, as well as in Mukhul Ibada (The Essence of Worship) whose compiler is anonymous. It begins as follows:

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem
Allahumma Salli wa Sallim wa Baarik 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad-in
Awwali mutalaqqi li-faydhika'l awwal

In the Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful.
O Allah! Shower Your Blessings, Peace and Grace on Sayyidina Muhammad
who is the first person to receive the first blessing from You.

Imagine your thrill as you sense seventy thousand angels reciting salawaat and salaams along with you!

• Fount of Salsabil
• The most famous Salaat of the Imam
• Recite it in Masjid Nabawi
• Nujum
• Rich Sufi Vocabulary
• Al-Insaan Al-Kaamil
• The Rhyming Pattern Manifests Love