Darood-e-Tanjeena

Arabic, Transliteration and Translation

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About Durood Tanjeena

The virtues of Durood Tanjeena, also known as Salat al-Tanjeena or Salat al-Munjiyya, have been mentioned by numerous scholars throughout Islamic history. One of the earliest accounts appears in Fajr al-Munir by Shaykh Umar ibn Ali ibn Salim al-Fakahani (d. 734 AH), who narrates directly from Shaykh Musa al-Darir the well-known account of how this blessed prayer was transmitted.

Shaykh Musa al-Darir

Shaykh Musa al-Darir said:

I was once travelling aboard a ship at sea when we were struck by a violent storm known as al-Iqlabiyya (“the Capsizer”), from which very few people were said to survive. As we struggled against the raging winds, I fell asleep.

In my dream I saw the Prophet ﷺ, who said to me: “Tell the passengers aboard the ship to recite the following prayer 1000 times: Allahumma ṣalli ʿalā sayyidinā Muḥammadin ṣalātan tunjīnā bihā…”

When I awoke, I informed the other passengers of what I had seen. By the time we had recited the prayer 300 times, the storm had subsided through the blessings of sending prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ.

The version of Durood Tanjeena presented above is the original wording transmitted to Shaykh Musa al-Darir. Over the centuries, slightly different versions containing additional phrases have also become widespread.

Later Additions

The hadith scholar Ahmad al-Utaridi, as reported by Sayyid Muhammad Effendi Abidin, relates that al-‘Arif al-Akbar added the following words to the end of the prayer:

يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ يَا الله

Yā Arḥama r-Rāḥimīn, Yā Allāh.

O Most Merciful of those who show mercy, O Allah.

The nineteenth-century Turkish scholar and gnostic Shaykh Muhammad Haqqi Effendi al-Nazili (d. 1301 AH/1884 CE), in Khazinat al-Asrar (“Treasure Trove of Secrets”), writes:

It is preferable to include blessings upon the Prophet’s family in this prayer by beginning with Allahumma ṣalli ʿalā sayyidinā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli sayyidinā Muḥammadin ṣalātan tunjīnā bihā…, because the Prophet ﷺ said that doing so makes the prayer more complete and more effective in obtaining a swift response.

The version recorded by Shaykh al-Akbar Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi likewise includes blessings upon the Prophet’s family ﷺ.

Imam al-Jazuli

Durood Tanjeena also appears in Dala’il al-Khayrat, the celebrated collection of prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ compiled by Imam al-Jazuli, where it is included in the third hizb, traditionally recited on Wednesdays.

In his commentary on Dala’il al-Khayrat, Shaykh Hasan ibn Ali al-Aswani writes:

Whoever recites this prayer 1000 times during a time of hardship or unexpected difficulty, Allah will deliver him from it and enable him to attain his wishes.

He also relates:

Whoever frequently recites this prayer during the outbreak of a plague will be protected from it, and whoever frequently recites it before travelling by sea will be protected from drowning.

Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi

Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi said:

It is among the treasures of the Divine Throne. Whoever recites this prayer 1000 times during the night for any need, whether concerning this world or the Hereafter, Allah will fulfil that need, and the answer will come more swiftly than the flash of lightning.

He further said:

Its secrets should remain concealed and not be disclosed to those who would not understand them.

Other Reported Benefits

One of the gnostics is also reported to have said:

Whoever recites this prayer 500 times will attain whatever lawful benefit and wealth he seeks, if Allah wills. It has been tried, tested, and found true in every such case.

Shaykh Muhammad Haqqi Effendi al-Nazili further writes:

This prayer has been recited in various numbers, up to 4000 times, and according to another narration, 12,000 times. Every group adopts the number they have found effective, and people have witnessed its blessings, experienced relief from hardships, and attained their goals accordingly.

Both Shaykh Ahmad al-Buni and Imam al-Jazuli mention the virtues and spiritual subtleties of this prayer, although neither disclosed its deeper secrets out of concern that they might fall into the hands of those who would not appreciate them.

Reported Virtues

According to Salawat literature, the regular recitation of Durood Tanjeena is associated with the following benefits:

• Deliverance from hardship, distress, and unexpected difficulties.
• Protection during sea travel and from drowning.
• Protection during times of plague.
• The fulfilment of lawful needs and wishes, by Allah’s permission.
• A swift response to supplications and the attainment of one’s goals.
• Blessings and relief through abundant recitation.
• The attainment of lawful benefit and wealth, if Allah wills.

Recommended Recitation

Scholars and spiritual masters have recommended the following recitations for particular purposes:

• During hardship or danger: Recite 300 times. It is reported that Shaykh Musa al-Darir and his companions recited the prayer during a violent storm at sea, after which the storm subsided by Allah’s permission.
• For lawful benefit and wealth: Recite 500 times.
• During hardship or unexpected difficulty: Recite 1000 times.
• For any lawful need relating to this world or the Hereafter: Recite 1000 times during the night.
• For relief from hardship and the fulfilment of important needs: Recite 4000 or 12,000 times. It is reported that different groups have adopted varying recitation counts according to their experience and have witnessed blessings, relief from hardship, and the fulfilment of their goals.