Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Simple Sunnah But Great Virtues

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Reciting Surah Kahf (the 18th Surah in the Qur'an) on Friday is a well-known Sunnah that we should strive to follow. This Surah gives us the message that those who believe in Allah and ask for protection from Him, He gives them the best protection the likes of which the world has never seen.

Besides this illuminating Message, there’s a simple Sunnah— with amazing virtues— created specifically for Fridays. It is invocating blessings and peace upon the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wasallam (salawat).

Allah Almighty establishes this noble act Himself first and foremost; how noble is an act that Allah, the Compassionate Himself confirms to do. He, The Exalted, states:

إِنَّ اللَّـهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا ﴿٥٦

Verily, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet: O you who believe, send blessings upon him and salute him with all due respect to him. (56)
[Qur'an Al-Ahzab 33:56]

This verse is just as emphatic as the commands to pray, fast, give zakat, and so on. We should send salutations upon the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) because Allah Almighty has exhorted us to do so. It is His Command.
Anyone who would either see the salawat upon the Prophet as a wasteful act or a simple matter, or not worthy of gathering for, then the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam has warned us:

“He who, when I am mentioned before him, fails to invoke blessings upon me is a miser.”

And:

“Disgraced be the person who, when I am mentioned before him, fails to invoke blessings upon me.” [both Hadīths, recorded by Tirmidhi]

Understand its irreplaceable value and hold on to those who aid and assist you to invoke Allah’s Peace and Blessings. As the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said himself:

“Allah, without any doubt, has angels that roam the earth and convey to me the greetings of my community.” [Tirmidhi]

Make a daily routine of sending blessings upon him (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Hasten to send blessings upon him, whenever his noble name is mentioned -- out of following the Divine command, out of love, and out of gratitude for the gift of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

The most famous and best is: “Allahumma salli alaa Muhammadin wa alaa ali Muhammadin, kama sallayta alaa Ibraheem wa alaa ali Ibrahim” [Faydul Qadeer #1403]

Remember, what an honor it is to be able to do something that even Allah does.

Seek every gathering and every moment of your voluntary and free time and send salutation upon the one whom Allah does not reject.

May Allah's Grace be upon us all to be blessed to be part of the Prophet’s community, and may Allah, the Exalted, bestow His unbounded and overflowing peace and blessings be upon His Beloved Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

May Allah increase our love for His beloved Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam