During the concluding session of Jalsa Salana Qadian 2018, Hazrat Amirul Momineen, may Allah strengthen his hand, stressed the importance of invoking salutations upon the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, to end 2018 and begin the new year. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said:
“Spend these last few days reciting Durood and begin the new year with salutations and peace so that we can attain blessings attached to the personage of the Holy Prophetsa as soon as possible.”
Quoting the Promised Messiahas, Huzooraa gave the reason as to why we should recite Durood:
“Look at the truthfulness and purity of our master Hazrat Muhammadsa; he fought every kind of evil, endured continuous anguish and pain, but did not care. It was due to this truthfulness and purity that Allah graced the Holy Prophetsa and said:
اِنَّ اللّٰهَ وَ مَلٰٓئِكَتَهٗ يُصَلُّوۡنَ عَلَي النَّبِيِّ ؕ يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا صَلُّوۡا عَلَيۡهِ وَ سَلِّمُوۡا تَسۡلِيۡمًا
“Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! you also should invoke blessings on him and salute him with the salutation of peace.” (Surah al-Ahzab: Ch. 33: V. 57)
The Promised Messiahas has further explained this by saying:
“Allah the Almighty was so pleased with the deeds carried out by the Holy Prophetsa that Allah commanded people to invoke salutations upon the Holy Prophetsa until the end of time as a token of gratitude to the Holy Prophetsa” (Al Hakam, Vol. 7, no. 15, p. 2)
The manner in which Durood should be recited has been explained by the Promised Messiahas in the following words:
“You must not recite Durood Shareef as a mere ritual or habit. It should come from the fountain of love within your heart. For example, do not recite Durood as people do generally, like a parrots. They are not sincere towards the Holy Prophetsa … Before reciting Durood Shareef one must truly believe that there neither was, nor will there ever be – since the beginning of time until the end of time – anybody who is more saturated in the love of the Holy Prophetsa than himself.” (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, 15 April 1883)
Regarding what one should think whilst reciting Durood, the Promised Messiahas said:
“[…] that Allah the most Generous sends His complete blessings upon the Holy Prophetsa, makes him the fountain of blessings for the universe and that He shows the noble character and majesty of the Holy Prophetsa in both this world and the next. This prayer should occur with true fervency, like when one prays to God whilst experiencing a great calamity. Rather, one should recite Durood with greater passion and fervency than this.” (Ibid)
Further the Promised Messiahas states:
“One should not recite Durood whilst thinking of personal benefit; that they will gain blessings or that they will reach a certain rank. The only intention should be that the blessings of Allah descend upon the Holy Prophetsa and that his majesty shines in this world and the next.” (Ibid)
Advising his community, the Promised Messiahas said:
“You should recite Durood with great attention, like one who truly desires blessings for his loved one. In this same passion and sincerity, you should desire blessings for the Holy Prophetsa.” (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 1 p. 25)