Dala’il al-Khayrat is unquestionably the most celebrated collection of blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in Islamic history. It was composed by the Moroccan scholar, saint, and descendant of the Prophet ﷺ, Imam Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Jazuli (d. 870/1465), whose life embodied a deep devotion to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. Born among the Berbers of the Sus region of southern Morocco, Imam al-Jazuli studied the Qur’an and the sciences of Islam before travelling to Fez, where he became known for both his mastery of knowledge and his spiritual discipline. His encounter with the great scholars and saints of his time — including Shaykh Ahmad Zarruq and his own guide, Shaykh Muhammad ibn ʿAbdullah al-Amghar — prepared him for the role he would play in reviving love and veneration of the Prophet ﷺ among Muslims across the world.

The inspiration for Dala’il al-Khayrat came during a moment of humility. As Imam al-Jazuli once struggled to draw water from a well, a young girl reminded him of the secret to spiritual rank: constant blessings upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. It was then that he vowed to compile a book that would gather together the most beautiful and profound invocations of salawat, making them accessible for every believer. The result was a luminous work whose very name, “Waymarks of Benefits”, reflects the spiritual guidance and divine grace it contains.

From its very appearance, the Dala’il captured the hearts of Muslims everywhere. Its reputation swept the Islamic world from North Africa to the Middle East, from Turkey to India, and as far as the islands of Southeast Asia. In Morocco, it became part of daily devotion; in Mecca and Medina, a whole industry of hand-copyists flourished for centuries, producing exquisitely illuminated manuscripts. Princes gifted one another splendidly adorned copies, while ordinary families treasured it as a source of blessing in their homes. Pilgrims carried it with them on the sacred journey to Hajj, and its recitation became a hallmark of gatherings of love and remembrance.

What made the Dala’il unique was not only its beauty and accessibility but also the baraka that accompanied it. Generations of Muslims testified that wherever it was recited, divine mercy descended, hearts were illuminated, and lives were transformed. Its words gave voice to the Qur’anic command: “Indeed Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe, send blessings upon him and salute him with peace” (Qur’an 33:56).

For centuries, the Dala’il al-Khayrat has been more than a book — it has been a living tradition. Recited in homes and mosques, in cities and villages, in solitude and in grand gatherings, it connected communities across languages and cultures through a single purpose: love for the Beloved of Allah ﷺ. Its verses continue to inspire remembrance, devotion, and spiritual refinement, drawing believers closer to the Messenger of Mercy ﷺ.

Though the tides of history have shifted, the Dala’il endures as a radiant pathway for Muslims who seek nearness to their Prophet ﷺ. It is both a manual of devotion and a timeless reminder of the centrality of salawat in Islamic life — a spiritual gift that has united generations in praise, longing, and love.