This short book has been compiled to give to English reading students of Islam, non-Muslims as well as Muslims an introduction to the basic concepts and philosophies regarding the sending of salutations and blessings on to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم). A number of recent books have been published on this subject but they have failed to give the reader a correct and accurate portrayal according to mainstream Islam. Moreover they have sought to create controversy around it where none had existed before in Islamic history and tradition.

Greetings and Salutations on the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) is one in a series of new titles recently published in order to present the fundamental tenets of the Islamic faith according to traditional and orthodox Islamic teachings. In this compilation use has been made not only of contemporary academic texts but also of original Arabic sources to ensure full authenticity. In doing so I would like to thank my team of researchers; Prof. M. Rafique, M. Farooq Rana, Yunus A. Buttor, A. Naveed, A. Jabbar Qamar and most of all Mrs. Ghazala Hassan Qadri for their resourceful endeavours in checking the references thoroughly and assisting in the publication of this book, and the efforts of A. Khaliq Baltistani for composing the book are also appreciable.

Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
Summer, 2000.