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Loving him, sending salawat, following him

Salawat & love of the Prophet ﷺ

Children can love someone they have never met — they do it with grandparents overseas and with heroes in stories. Love of the Prophet ﷺ is different because it is part of iman: he ﷺ said no one truly believes until he is more beloved to him than his own family. These five lessons build that love in the way the sunnah builds it: knowing him, sending salawat on him, copying him in small daily things, seeing his gentleness, and hoping to be gathered with the ones we love. Every point below carries its ayah or hadith reference so a parent or teacher can check it.

A cream clay heart with a gold clay eight-point star resting at its centre on a sage clay platform
A gold clay balance scale with a cream clay heart outweighing tiny clay houses and toys

Lesson 1 · Mahabbah · ages 8-11

Loving him more than anyone

The Prophet ﷺ taught that real iman includes loving him more than your own father, children and everyone else — and love grows by getting to know him.

  1. Part of believing

    The Prophet ﷺ said none of us believes until he is dearer to us than our father, our children and all people.

  2. Allah asks for it in the Qur'an

    Allah tells the believers that the Messenger is closer to them than their own selves.

  3. Love follows knowing

    You cannot love someone you know nothing about — reading his seerah is how children start to love him.

  4. Love is not only feeling

    Feelings come and go; love of the Prophet ﷺ is proven by what we choose to copy.

  5. Sadness and joy for his sake

    Being happy when his sunnah is honoured and sad when it is mocked is a sign that the love is real.

Surah Al-Ahzaab · 33:6

ٱلنَّبِىُّ أَوْلَىٰ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ وَأَزْوَٰجُهُۥٓ أُمَّهَٰتُهُمْ ۗ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِبَعْضٍۢ فِى كِتَٰبِ ٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُهَٰجِرِينَ إِلَّآ أَن تَفْعَلُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَوْلِيَآئِكُم مَّعْرُوفًۭا ۚ كَانَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ مَسْطُورًۭا

An-Nabiyyu awlaa bil mu'mineena min anfusihim wa azwaajuhoo ummahatuhum wa ulul arbaami ba'duhum awlaa biba'din fee Kitaabil laahi minal mu'meneena wal Muhaajireena illaaa an taf'alooo ilaaa awliyaaa'ikum ma'roofaa; kaana zaalika fil kitaabi mastooraa

“The Prophet is more worthy of the believers than themselves, and his wives are [in the position of] their mothers. And those of [blood] relationship are more entitled [to inheritance] in the decree of Allah than the [other] believers and the emigrants, except that you may do to your close associates a kindness [through bequest]. That was in the Book inscribed.”

Surah At-Tawba · 9:24

قُلْ إِن كَانَ ءَابَآؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَآؤُكُمْ وَإِخْوَٰنُكُمْ وَأَزْوَٰجُكُمْ وَعَشِيرَتُكُمْ وَأَمْوَٰلٌ ٱقْتَرَفْتُمُوهَا وَتِجَٰرَةٌۭ تَخْشَوْنَ كَسَادَهَا وَمَسَٰكِنُ تَرْضَوْنَهَآ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَجِهَادٍۢ فِى سَبِيلِهِۦ فَتَرَبَّصُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِىَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَمْرِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْفَٰسِقِينَ

Qul in kaana aabaaa'ukum wa abnaaa'ukum wa ikhwaanukum wa azwaajukum wa 'asheeratukum wa amwaaluniq taraftumoohaa wa tijaaratun takhshawna kasaadahaa wa masaakinu tardawnahaaa ahabba ilaikum minal laahi wa Rasoolihee wa Jihaadin fee Sabeelihee fatarabbasoo hattaa yaatiyallaahu bi amrih; wallaahu laa yahdil qawmal faasiqeen

“Say, [O Muhammad], "If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your relatives, wealth which you have obtained, commerce wherein you fear decline, and dwellings with which you are pleased are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and jihad in His cause, then wait until Allah executes His command. And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people."”

Surah Aal-i-Imraan · 3:31

قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

Qul in kuntum tuhibboonal laaha fattabi' oonee yuhbibkumul laahu wa yaghfir lakum zunoobakum; wallaahu Ghafoorur Raheem

“Say, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."”

“None of you will have faith till he loves me more than his father and his children.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 15

Do this before next time

Read one seerah story tonight and tell a parent one thing about the Prophet ﷺ you love from it.

A single gold clay droplet multiplying into ten smaller gold droplets above a cream clay bowl

Lesson 2 · Salawat · ages 5-7

One salawat, ten blessings

Whoever sends one salawat on the Prophet ﷺ, Allah sends ten blessings back on him — the easiest good deed a child can do all day.

  1. The promise

    The Prophet ﷺ said whoever sends one salawat upon him, Allah sends ten blessings upon that person.

  2. Allah commands it

    Allah tells the believers to send blessings and peace upon the Prophet ﷺ in the Qur'an itself.

  3. The short words

    Sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam — 'may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him' — said whenever his name is mentioned.

  4. The full salawat in salah

    The longer salawat Ibrahimiyyah is what we already say sitting in every salah.

  5. Easy times to remember

    When you hear his name, on Fridays, and while waiting — in a queue, in the car, before sleep.

Surah Al-Ahzaab · 33:56

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ ۚ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا

Innal laaha wa malaaa'i katahoo yusalloona 'alan Nabiyy; yaaa aiyuhal lazeena aamanoo salloo 'alaihi wa sallimoo tasleemaa

“Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace.”

“Whoever sends blessings upon me once, Allah will send blessings upon him tenfold.”

Sahih Muslim 408

“Say: O Allah, send Your mercy on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your mercy on Ibrahim and on the family of Ibrahim, for You are the Most Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 3370

Memorise this

صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

Sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam

May Allah's blessings and peace be upon him.

Said whenever the Prophet ﷺ is mentioned; cf. Qur'an 33:56

Do this before next time

Count ten salawat on your fingers before you sleep tonight and again after Fajr.

A winding sage clay path with gold clay footprints leading towards a small gold clay lamp

Lesson 3 · Sunnah · ages 8-11

Love means following

He ﷺ said whoever obeys him enters Paradise, and whoever disobeys him has refused — so love is measured by the sunnah we keep.

  1. The clear hadith

    The Prophet ﷺ said every one of his ummah will enter Paradise except the one who refuses — and refusing means disobeying him.

  2. Following is how you show love

    Allah says: if you love Allah, then follow the Messenger, and Allah will love you.

  3. Start with the small sunnahs

    Right hand for eating, saying bismillah, sitting to drink, sleeping on the right side, saying salam first.

  4. Sunnah is not extra decoration

    Copying him in small things trains the heart for the big things later.

  5. Pick one at a time

    Children keep a sunnah far better when they add one habit a week instead of many at once.

Surah Aal-i-Imraan · 3:31

قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

Qul in kuntum tuhibboonal laaha fattabi' oonee yuhbibkumul laahu wa yaghfir lakum zunoobakum; wallaahu Ghafoorur Raheem

“Say, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."”

Surah Al-Ahzaab · 33:21

لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌۭ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلْيَوْمَ ٱلْءَاخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًۭا

Laqad kaana lakum fee Rasoolil laahi uswatun hasanatul liman kaana yarjul laaha wal yawmal Aakhira wa azkaral laaha kaseeraa

“There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.”

Surah Al-Hashr · 59:7

مَّآ أَفَآءَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْقُرَىٰ فَلِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ كَىْ لَا يَكُونَ دُولَةًۢ بَيْنَ ٱلْأَغْنِيَآءِ مِنكُمْ ۚ وَمَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَىٰكُمْ عَنْهُ فَٱنتَهُوا۟ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ

Maaa afaaa'al laahu 'alaa Rasoolihee min ahlil quraa falillaahi wa lir Rasooli wa lizil qurbaa wal yataamaa walmasaakeeni wabnis sabeeli kai laa yakoona doolatam bainal aghniyaaa'i minkum; wa maaa aataakumur Rasoolu fakhuzoohu wa maa nahaakum 'anhu fantahoo; wattaqul laaha innal laaha shadeedul-'iqaab

“And what Allah restored to His Messenger from the people of the towns - it is for Allah and for the Messenger and for [his] near relatives and orphans and the [stranded] traveler - so that it will not be a perpetual distribution among the rich from among you. And whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.”

“All the people of my ummah would enter Paradise except those who refuse.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 7280

Do this before next time

Choose one small sunnah for this week and tick it off on a chart each day.

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Lesson 4 · Rifq · ages 12-15

He always chose the easier way

'A'ishah said that whenever he ﷺ had a choice between two things, he chose the easier — unless it was a sin, and then no one kept further from it.

  1. The narration

    'A'ishah reported that when the Prophet ﷺ was given a choice of two matters, he would choose the easier of the two, unless it was sinful.

  2. Never easier with sin

    The same hadith says that if it was sinful, he ﷺ was the furthest of people from it — easy does not mean careless.

  3. Religion is meant to be manageable

    He ﷺ taught that this religion is ease, and that whoever overburdens himself will be overcome.

  4. Gentleness with others

    Choosing the easier way included making things easier for people around him, not just for himself.

  5. How children copy this

    Choose the kinder option in an argument, the simpler way to help, the version that does not exhaust everyone.

Surah Al-Baqara · 2:185

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

Shahru Ramadaanallazeee unzila feehil Qur'aanu hudal linnaasi wa baiyinaatim minal hudaa wal furqaan; faman shahida minkumush shahra falyasumhu wa man kaana mareedan aw 'alaa safarin fa'iddatum min ayyaamin ukhar; yureedul laahu bikumul yusra wa laa yureedu bikumul 'usra wa litukmilul 'iddata wa litukabbirul laaha 'alaa maa hadaakum wa la'allakum tashkuroon

“The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.”

Surah Al-A'raaf · 7:199

خُذِ ٱلْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ بِٱلْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ ٱلْجَٰهِلِينَ

khuzil 'afwa waamur bil'urfi waa'rid 'anil jaahileen

“Take what is given freely, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the ignorant.”

“Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) was given a choice of one of two matters, he would choose the easier of the two, as long as it did not involve any sin.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 3560

Do this before next time

Find one thing this week you were making harder than it needed to be, and take the easier halal option.

A cream clay lamp drawn along a gold clay thread towards a warm glow at the horizon on a sage base

Lesson 5 · Hope · ages 8-11

You will be with the one you love

A man asked the Prophet ﷺ about loving people whose good deeds he could not match; the Prophet ﷺ told him: you will be with those you love.

  1. The hadith

    The Prophet ﷺ said: you will be with those whom you love.

  2. Love is a deed of the heart

    The Companions were overjoyed by this because loving the righteous is something anyone can do.

  3. It is not a shortcut

    In the same conversation he ﷺ asked the man what he had prepared — love and action go together.

  4. Choose who you love

    Loving the Prophet ﷺ and the righteous shapes who you copy, and who you copy shapes where you end up.

  5. Ask for it in dua

    Ask Allah for the love of the Prophet ﷺ and for the company of the righteous in the akhirah.

Surah An-Nisaa · 4:69

وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ وَٱلصِّدِّيقِينَ وَٱلشُّهَدَآءِ وَٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ ۚ وَحَسُنَ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ رَفِيقًۭا

Wa many-yuti'il laaha war Rasoola fa ulaaa'ika ma'al lazeena an'amal laahu 'alaihim minan nabiyyeena wassiddeeqeena washshuhadaaa'i wassaaliheen; wa hasuna ulaaa'ika rafeeqaa

“And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger - those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions.”

Surah Ash-Shu'araa · 26:83

رَبِّ هَبْ لِى حُكْمًۭا وَأَلْحِقْنِى بِٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ

Rabbi hab lee hukmanw wa alhiqnee bis saaliheen

“[And he said], "My Lord, grant me authority and join me with the righteous.”

“You will be with those whom you love.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 6169

Do this before next time

Write down two people you love for the sake of Allah and one habit of theirs you will copy.

Every ayah on this page comes from the Tanzil Uthmani text of the Qur'an with the Sahih International translation, and every hadith carries its collection and number so you can check it yourself. Back to the learning path

Next on this shelf: Musa and the way out — 6 lessons.

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