About the Author of the Book

The compiler of Dalā’il al-Khayrāt, which has taken a special place in the hearts of the Muslim ummah, is the great imam, the noble shaykh, the gnostic of Allah:
Abu ʿAbdullah Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Jazuli al-Simlali al-Hasani (may Allah have mercy on him).

He was from the Maghrib (Morocco). His lineage goes back to the famous Berber tribe of Jazulah, and from this tribal connection he became known as “al-Jazuli.” He was also from the noble descendants of Imam Hasan ibn ʿAli (may Allah be pleased with them both).

From the earliest part of his life, his heart was inclined toward the knowledge of religion and the remembrance of Allah. He studied Qur’an and Hadith, jurisprudence and its principles, and the sciences of Shariʿah until he was counted among the great scholars and men of learning. Later, he entered the path of Sufism, dedicating himself fully to the remembrance of Allah and love of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

It is narrated that once, during his travels, he came to a well to draw water. There he saw a young girl easily drawing water from the well with a bucket. Amazed, he asked her:
“My daughter, how is it that you can draw the water so easily?”
The girl replied:
“By the blessings of sending abundant prayers (salawat) upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, every difficulty becomes easy.”

These words struck Imam al-Jazuli with a light of inspiration. From that moment he resolved to compile a book that would gather together many forms of Salawat and prayers of blessing, so that Muslims everywhere could send abundant prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ. Thus, he authored Dalā’il al-Khayrāt and divided it into weekly sections (ahzab), so that it would be easy for believers to read it regularly, day by day.

As soon as the book was completed, it spread swiftly across the East and the West. Scholars, Sufis, and the common people embraced it with love. It became a treasure in every home. Kings and rulers commissioned beautiful illuminated manuscripts of it, while ordinary believers recited it daily with devotion. Wherever it was recited, Allah’s blessings and mercy descended.

Imam al-Jazuli (may Allah have mercy on him) passed away in the year 870 AH (1465 CE) and was buried in Morocco. Nearly a century later, when his grave was opened for relocation, people witnessed a great sign: his blessed body was found whole, fresh, and intact, as if he had just been buried the day before. This was a mark of the lofty rank Allah had granted him.

To this day, his tomb in the city of Marrakesh, Morocco, is visited by thousands who honor his memory. But his greatest legacy is the priceless gift he left to the ummah: Dalā’il al-Khayrāt, a book filled with the love of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and devoted to teaching the recitation of Salawat and Salam upon him.