M6:3256 — زین سبب فرمود حق صلوا علیه / که محمد بود محتال الیه

Translation: For this reason, God commanded, "Send blessings upon him," for Muhammad was the means unto Him. Meaning: In this verse, Rumi interprets sending blessings (Salawat) upon the Prophet Muhammad as an act of profound gratitude and thanks for the immense gift of guidance he brought to humanity.

Rumi, in this profound verse, imbues the act of sending blessings (Salawat) upon the Prophet Muhammad with a rich, new layer of meaning, transcending a mere formal greeting. For Rumi, Salawat is the very embodiment of “shukr-i mun'im,” or gratitude to the benefactor. This understanding is best appreciated against the backdrop of an ancient theological debate between the Ash'arites and the Mu'tazilites.

The Ash'arites posited that gratitude to a benefactor is not an intellectual or rational obligation; rather, it becomes mandatory only if commanded by religious law. The Mu'tazilites, on the other hand, held that human intellect inherently recognizes the goodness and necessity of showing gratitude to a benefactor, a duty preceding any scriptural injunction. Rumi, without a doubt, implicitly aligns with the Mu'tazilite position, emphatically asserting the necessity of gratitude. He declares that we must be thankful: thankful to the master, and thankful to the Master of masters. This particular couplet offers a beautiful illustration of this principle:

For this reason, God commanded, "Send blessings upon him," for Muhammad was the means unto Him.

God Himself commanded that blessings be sent upon the Prophet (صلوا علیه), not as a mere courtesy or expression of devotion, but because Muhammad (PBUH) was the "mehtāl ilayh." This phrase signifies a means or instrument that one employs to reach a desired end. The Prophet Muhammad was, in essence, the means through which humanity was guided towards God, bringing forth the immense blessing of divine guidance. Just as a mother is the means of our birth and nurturing, and we instinctively and rationally express our gratitude and respect for her, so too is the Prophet the means of our connection to Absolute Truth, and thus profoundly deserving of our deepest thanks.

Therefore, Rumi teaches us that whenever we send blessings upon the Prophet, we must infuse that act with the meaning of heartfelt gratitude and thanksgiving. This Salawat is no longer a mere linguistic repetition; it is an affirmation from the depths of the soul, acknowledging a great blessing received through the noble Messenger. This perspective imbues all our acts of worship with new depth and meaning, transforming them from dry, lifeless forms into profound and rich experiences. Just as even a simple greeting to others should be filled with intentions of goodwill and security, so too should blessings upon the Prophet, who is the manifestation of divine guidance, be overflowing with gratitude and appreciation.

Key takeaways

• Sending blessings (Salawat) upon the Prophet should signify heartfelt gratitude for the gift of divine guidance.
• Rumi, aligning with the Mu'tazilites, considers gratitude to the benefactor a rational and innate obligation.
• The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the "mehtāl ilayh," the primary means and instrument for humanity to reach God.
• Gratitude to the Prophet for his role in guidance parallels gratitude to a mother for her role in giving life.
• Infusing acts of worship with profound gratitude transforms them from mere external forms into deep, meaningful inner experiences.