Basha’ir Khayrat
(Glad Tidings of Good Things)
In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate.
Praise be to Allah, who has graciously endowed us with faith. Blessings and peace be upon the master of the realms of being, and upon his Family and his Companions, at every moment and at all times.
It is related of the Shaykh of the Community, the Imam of the Imams, the chieftain of the nobles, the Cardinal Pole of the Cardinal Poles (Qutb al-Aqtab), the Supreme Helper (al-Ghawth al-A‘zam) and the most generous protector, my master, ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, that he said to one of his brethren in Allah (Exalted is He):
“Accept these invocations of blessings (salawat) from me, for I received them by way of inspiration (ilham) from Allah (Exalted is He), then I presented them to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). I intended to ask him about their special merit, but he answered me before I asked him, and he said to me:
“‘They have a special merit that is something too tremendous to be calculated. They raise those who adopt them to the highest degrees, and cause them to reach the farthest goals. If someone seeks to achieve some purpose by them, he will not be turned away disappointed. His idea will not be frustrated, and his supplication will not be rejected. If someone recites them, even one time only, or carries them with him, Allah will grant forgiveness to him and to those who are with him in his company.
“‘When his final moment is at hand, four of the angels of
mercy will be present beside him. The first will keep Satan away from him. The
second will inspire him to utter the profession of faith (kalimat
ash-shahada). The third will quench his thirst with a
cup from the
“‘He will enter his grave with a feeling of security, happy
and cheerful, and he will experience no loneliness and no confinement therein.
Forty doorways of mercy will be opened for him, and the like thereof of light.
When he is raised up on the Day of Resurrection, an angel will bring him good
news from his right, and an angel will reassure him from his left. He will be
dressed in two fine garments, and a well-bred steed will be guided to him for
him to ride. He will suffer no distress and no remorse, and he will be
subjected to an easy reckoning. When he passes across the
“‘He will enter the
“‘According to the report (khabar), on the night when the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was transported to his Lord (Almighty and Glorious is He), the Almighty One (Glorious and Exalted is He) said:
“‘To whom does the earth belong, O Muhammad?’ He replied: ‘To You, O my Lord,’ so He said to him: ‘To whom do the heavens belong, O Muhammad?’ Again he replied: ‘To You, O my Lord,’ so He said to him: ‘To whom do the veils belong?’ Again he replied: ‘To You, O my Lord,’ so He said to him: ‘To whom does the Pedestal (Kursi) belong, O Muhammad?’ Again he replied: ‘To You, O my Lord,’ so He said to him: ‘To whom do you belong, O Muhammad?’ At this point, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) bowed down in prostration, and the sense of shame prevented him from saying anything. The Almighty One (Glorious and Exalted is He) then said: ‘You belong to him who invokes blessing upon you, and who does so with profound respect and reverence.’”
My master, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, then went on to say:
“This invocation of blessing is the one that befits this
Prophetic tradition (hadith). It is the opening of
seventy doors of mercy, and it manifests marvels from the path of the
My master, the firm support of the religion, also said:
“This invocation of blessing is given to no one but the perfect righteous man, for it is perfect in its qualities, endowed with gracious favor. If some problem troubles its owner, every invocation of it will be a means of access for him in the presence of the noble Prophet, and every Qur’anic verse in it will be an intercession in the presence of the Almighty Patron. It is the invocation of blessing of those who perform the ritual prayer, the Qur’anic recitation of those who practice remembrance, the admonition of those who heed advice, and the means of access of those who seek access. It is the invocation of blessing of the glorious Qur’an, and I have called it:
Glad Tidings of
Good Things (Basha’ir al-Khayrat)
In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate.
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of All the Worlds.
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to the believers [al-mu’minīn],
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
And give glad tidings to the believers (2:223),
and that Allah does not waste
the wage of the believers (3:171).
O Allah, grant blessings and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to those who remember [al-dhākirīn],
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
So remember Me, and I will remember you (2:152).
Remember Allah with frequent remembrance,
and glorify Him at the dawn and in the evening.
He is the One who blesses you,
as do His angels, that He may bring you forth
from darkness into light;
and to the believers He is All-Compassionate.
Their salutation on the day
when they shall meet Him will be: “Peace!”
And He has prepared for them a goodly recompense (33:41-44).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to those who labor [al-‘āmilīn],
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
I do not waste the labor of any laborer
among you, whether male or female (3:195).
Whoever does right, whether male or female.
And is a believer,
such will enter the Garden,
where they will be nourished without stint (40:40).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to those who turn back to their Lord [al-awwābīn],
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
He is always Forgiving
to those who turn back (to Him) (
They shall have whatever they will
in the presence of their Lord.
That is the reward of those who are active in goodness (39:34).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to those who repent [al-tawwābīn],
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
Truly, Allah loves those who repent,
And He loves those who keep themselves clean (2:222).
And He it is who accepts repentance
From His servants, and pardons evil deeds (42:25).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
To our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
And the conveyer, to those who are sincere [al-mukhlişīn],
Of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord,
Let him do righteous work, and let him
Give no one any share at all
In the worship due unto his Lord (18:110),
Devoting the religion sincerely to Him (
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
To our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
And the conveyer, to those who perform the ritual prayer [al-muşallīn],
Of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
And establish the ritual prayer.
The ritual prayer helps to prevent
Indecency and reprehensible behavior (29:45).
Enjoin what is right and fair,
And forbid what is wrong and unfair,
And endure with patience whatever may befall you;
Surely that is true constancy (31:17).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
To our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
And the conveyer, to the humble-minded [al-khāshi‘īn],
Of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
Seek help in patience and prayer,
Though truly it is hard
Except for the humble-minded,
For those who know that they
Will have to meet their Lord,
And that unto Him they are returning (
(There are signs for) those who remember Allah,
standing and sitting and on their sides,
and who reflect upon the creation of the heavens
and the earth: “Our Lord, You have not
created this in vain. Glory be to You!
So guard us against the torment of the Fire” (3:191).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
To our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
And the conveyer, to those who endure with patience [al-şābirīn],
Of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
Surely the patiently enduring will be paid their wages
In full without reckoning (39:10).
Such are those whom Allah guides,
And such are those endowed with understanding (39:18).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
To our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
And the conveyer, to the fearful [al-khā’ifīn],
Of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
But for him who fears the standing
Before his Lord there shall be two gardens (55:46).
But as for him who feared to stand before
His Lord, and forbade the lower self
To follow passion:
Surely the Garden (of
Will be his final place of rest (79:40,41).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
To our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
And the conveyer, to those who are truly devout [al-muttaqīn],
Of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
And My mercy embraces all things,
So I shall prescribe it for those who are truly devout,
And who pay the alms-due,
And those who believe in Our signs;
Those who follow the Messenger,
The Prophet who can neither read nor write (7:156-57),
Theirs will be a double reward for what they have done,
And they will dwell secure in lofty halls (34:37).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
To our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
And the conveyer, to those who are humble [al-mukhbitīn],
Of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
And give good tidings to the humble,
Whose hearts fear
When Allah is mentioned (
And those who give that which they give
With hearts afraid, because they are about
to return unto their Lord (23:60).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to those who endure with patience [al-şābirīn],
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
And give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere,
to those who say, when a misfortune strikes them:
“To Allah we belong, and to Him we are returning.”
Such are they on whom are blessings
from their Lord, and mercy.
Such are the rightly guided (2:155-57).
I have rewarded them this day because they were steadfast;
and they are indeed triumphant (23:111).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to those who restrain their wrath [al-kāżimīn],
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
Those who restrain their wrath,
and pardon other people;
for Allah loves those who do good (3:134).
But whoever pardons and makes amends,
his wage is the affair of Allah.
He does not love the wrongdoers (42:40).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to those who act in goodness [al-muĥsinīn],
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
And do good.
Allah surely loves the beneficient (2:195).
If someone produces a good deed,
he shall have ten just like it,
while whoever brings an evil deed
will be awarded but the like thereof;
and they shall not be wronged (6:160).
O Allah, grant blessings and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to those who make charitable gifts [al-mutaşaddiqīn],
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
And that you remit the debt as charity
would be better for you, if you did but know (2:280).
And Allah will requite the charitable (12:88).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to those who are truly devout [al-muttaqīn],
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
And those who spend of what We have
bestowed on them (
And whatever you spend [in a good cause],
He will replace it (34:39).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to those who are thankful [al-shākirīn],
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
And thank the bounty of your Lord
if it is Him you serve (16:114).
If you are thankful, I will surely give you more;
but if you are ungrateful,
My punishment is terrible indeed (14:7).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to those who ask [al-sā’ilīn],
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
I am Near.
I answer the call of the caller,
when he calls out to Me (2:186).
Call upon Me and I will answer you (40:60).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to the righteous [al-şāliĥīn],
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
The earth shall be the inheritance
of My righteous servants (21:105).
Those are the inheritors
Who will inherit
wherein they will abide forever (
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to those who are active in goodness [al-muĥsinīn],
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet.
O you who believe, invoke blessings upon him
and salute him with a worthy salutation (33:56).
He will give you
twofold of His mercy and will appoint for you
a light by which to walk, and He will forgive you.
Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Compassionate (57:28).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to the recipients of glad tidings [al-mubashshirīn],
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
Theirs are good tidings
in the life of this world and in the Hereafter—
there is no changing the words of Allah—
that is the mighty triumph (10:64).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to the triumphantly victorious [al-fā’izīn],
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger,
he has truly won a mighty victory (33:71).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to the pious abstainers [al-zāhidīn],
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
Wealth and children are the adornment
of the life of this world.
But the abiding deeds of righteousness
are better in your Lord’s sight for reward,
and better in respect of hope (
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to the unlettered ones [al-umiyyīn,
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
You are the best community that has ever
been brought into being for the sake of mankind.
You enjoin what is right and fair
and you forbid what is wrong and unfair (3:110).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to the chosen ones [al-muşţafīn],
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
Then We gave the Book as inheritance to those
whom We elected of Our servants.
But of them are some who wrong themselves
and of them are some who are lukewarm
and of them are some who outstrip
through good deeds, by Allah’s leave.
That is the great favor! (35:32)
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to the sinners [al-mudhnibīn],
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
Say: “O my servants who have
transgressed against themselves,
do not despair of the mercy of Allah;
surely Allah forgives sins altogether;
He is indeed the All-Forgiving, the All-Compassionate” (39:53).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to those who seek forgiveness [al-mustaghfirīn],
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
Yet whoever does evil or wrongs his own soul,
then seeks forgiveness from Allah,
will find Allah All-Forgiving, All-Compassionate (4:110).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to those drawn near [al-muqarrabīn],
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
But as for those to whom the reward most fair
has already gone forth from Us,
they shall be kept far from it [the firewood of hell].
They will not hear the slightest sound thereof,
while they abide in what their souls desire.
The greatest terror will not grieve them,
and the angels will welcome them, [saying]:
“This is your Day
that you were promised” (21:101-103).
O Allah, grant blessing and peace
to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings
and the conveyer, to the believers [al-mu’minīn],
of what Allah the Magnificent has said:
Men who surrender [to Allah], and women
who surrender, and men who believe
and women who believe, and men who obey
and women who obey, and men who speak the truth
and women who speak the truth,
and men who persevere and women who persevere,
and men who are humble and women who are humble,
and men who give alms and women who give alms,
and men who fast and women who fast,
and men who guard their modesty,
and men who remember Allah frequently
and women who remember—
Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward (33:35).
And that man has only that for which he makes an effort,
and that his effort will be seen.
Then he will be repaid for it with fullest payment (53:39-41).
O Allah, grant him a blessing
by which breasts will be expanded,
and by which problems will be rendered insignificant,
and by which the veils will be removed,
—and grant him abundant peace,
lasting until the Day of Judgment.
Their prayer therein will be: “Glory be to You, O Allah!”
and their greeting therein will be: “Peace!”
and the conclusion of their prayer will be:
“Praise be to Allah, Lord of the
Worlds!” (