Q: What is your opinion on sending ṣalawāt upon the Prophet ﷺ with a daff as is sometimes done at mawlid events?

A: Sending ṣalawat upon Rasool ﷺ is among the greatest forms of dhikr. Due to it being an act of worship,  it is best kept in the manner taught by Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. One must do it in a sincere manner and its recitation with love, reverence and full attention, not accompanied by a daff or any other instrument that can also function as a distraction. Allah says: Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe, send blessings and peace upon him. (Qur’an 33:56) So by sending salutations, you are doing what ALlah (SWT) loves to do, and also what the angels are appointed to do. So do it as close to what resembles them.

The Rasool ﷺ also taught the words of ṣalawat, including on how to send it upon Ibrāhīm عليه السلام in the Ṣalah/Durood Ibrahimiyyah. We have no Sunnah showing that He ﷺ sent these blessings with instruments or taught the companions to do so with any instrument. There are also narrations that the Rasool ﷺ returns the salam of the one who sends salam upon Him (SAW). If we are offering salam to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and it reaches him by Allah’s permission, that moment deserves focus, dignity and presence of heart. A daff may be intended as a joyful expression, but it can shift attention away from the words and their meaning.

This is not a judgment of anyone’s love or intention. Love for the Rasool ﷺ is part of our Iman (SAW). Ours is simply a preference for what is clearest and safest: sending ṣalawat abundantly with attention and reverence in the manner taught by the Rasool ﷺ would be most beneficial.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

P.s. Please be aware, the above is not responding to an opinion on Mawlid, that is a separate issue.