The Meaning of Verse 56 of Surah Al-Ahzab

While the Quran regulates the relationships of believers with Allah, the Prophet, and one another, it also conveys profound messages about social and religious values. In this context, verse 56 of Surah Al-Ahzab specifically raises the issue of sending salat and salam upon the Prophet. Although the verse is widely understood as "sending salawat," subjecting these interpretations to a thorough examination can help clarify the true meaning of the verse more precisely. Verse 56 of Surah Al-Ahzab reads: "Indeed, Allah and His angels support the Prophet. O you who believe! You too support him and greet him with full submission." (Surah Al-Ahzab, verse 56.) The text of this verse states that Allah and His angels support the Prophet, and that believers must likewise support him. Here, the words "salat" and "salam" are generally used in the senses of support, prayer, and greeting, though their usage in this verse carries a deeper meaning. The verse emphasizes that believers must stand in support of the Prophet. The word "salat" on which the verse focuses derives etymologically from Arabic roots meaning "support," "prayer," "sending greetings," or "showing respect." Before Islam, this word was used among Arabs to mean wishing someone well and showing them respect. Furthermore, the expression in the verse, "wa sallimū taslīmā", means "greet him with full submission." The word "salam" here carries the meanings of assuring a person, wishing them peace and tranquility. In Arabic, the verb "sallama" means "to greet" or "to make safe," while the word "taslīm" means "complete submission" or "to surrender oneself entirely." This usage is an expression of submission to Allah. The verse asks believers to support the Prophet, to keep him in peace and tranquility, and to submit to him completely. In the pre-Islamic Arab society, greeting was an important social norm. Arabs used greeting as an expression of trust and peace. This tradition was carried over into Islam, and the greeting continued as a symbol of peace and trust in social relations. In Islam, greeting is not merely an individual social practice; it also carries a deep religious meaning in the sense of submission to Allah and showing respect to others. Verse 56 of Surah Al-Ahzab is most commonly understood to mean "reciting salawat." However, a thorough examination of this verse reveals that it essentially states that Allah and His angels support the Prophet, and that believers must similarly support him. The word "salat" here is not used in the sense of making a prayer, but rather in the sense of a person providing social, psychological, and spiritual support to another and helping them. Just as Allah and the angels support the Prophet, believers are likewise required to support him. Verse 56 of Surah Al-Ahzab has no connection whatsoever to the recitation of salawat. The true message of the verse is that believers must support the Prophet in a spiritual and social sense. A deeper understanding of the meanings of the words "salat" and "salam" reveals that this verse is a call emphasizing solidarity and unity within the Islamic community. Following the support that Allah and His angels extend to the Prophet, believers must support him with complete submission and trust. Therefore, the correct translation of the verse is as follows: "Indeed, Allah and His angels support the Prophet. O you who believe! You too support him and greet him with full submission." (Surah Al-Ahzab, verse 56.)