Answered by Shaykh Abdullah Anik Misra
Question
I understand it is good to do 100 dhikr of durood to send peace and blessings on our beloved Prophet, peace be upon him. Which is the shortest durood to read? Is it ok just to read “sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam,” or is there a particular one that is more advisable?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate
Any form of the prayers of blessing on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) would suffice. Allah Most High says, “Verily, Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet! O believers, send blessings upon him and prayers of peace in full submission!” [Quran, 33:56]
Therefore the command is general, and outside of the prayer itself, one can use any form, whether long or short. The shortest complete form combining both the blessings (salawat) and the peace (salam) would be “sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam,” as you mentioned.
Wassalam,
[Shaykh] Abdullah Anik Misra
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Shaykh Abdullah Misra was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1983. His family hails from India, and he was raised in the Hindu tradition. He embraced Islam in 2001 while at the University of Toronto, from where he completed a Bachelor of Business Administration. He then traveled overseas in 2005 to study the Arabic language and Islamic sciences in Tarim, Yemen, for some time, as well as Darul Uloom in Trinidad, West Indies. He spent 12 years in Amman, Jordan, where he focused on Islamic Law, Theology, Hadith Sciences, Prophetic Biography, and Islamic Spirituality while also working at the Qasid Arabic Institute as Director of Programs. He holds a BA in Islamic Studies (Alimiyya, Darul Uloom) and authorization in the six authentic books of Hadith and is currently pursuing specialized training in issuing Islamic legal verdicts (ifta’). He holds a certificate in Counselling and often works with new Muslims and those struggling with religious OCD. He is an instructor and researcher in Sacred Law and Theology with the SeekersGuidance The Global Islamic Seminary. Currently, He resides in the Greater Toronto Area with his wife and children. His personal interests include Indian history, comparative religion, English singing, and poetry.