Durood-e-Ibrahim vs Other Durood
What's the Difference?

When Muslims seek to send blessings upon Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) — fulfilling Allah's command in Quran 33:56 — they often encounter many different Durood formulas online, in books, and from their communities. Durood-e-Ibrahim, Durood Sharif, Durood Tunajjina, Durood Nariya… which one should you recite? Are they all equally valid? Are some more authentic than others?

The answer matters greatly. Islam emphasizes following the Prophet's exact guidance wherever it exists, particularly in acts of worship. This comprehensive guide compares all six major Durood formulas on the key criteria: hadith authenticity, source, benefits, scholarly consensus, and appropriate contexts for recitation.

The short answer: Durood-e-Ibrahim is the only Durood directly taught by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself. All others are later compositions — some authenticated as permissible, some debated, and some controversial among mainstream scholars. Read on for the full picture.

Durood-e-Ibrahim is the direct prophetic formula — the only Salawat personally dictated by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when asked. Its authenticity is beyond question, resting on the very strongest foundations in all of Islamic scholarship.

Many people, especially from South Asian backgrounds, use "Durood Sharif" as a distinct prayer. However, "Durood Sharif" is not a specific formula — it is a general Urdu/Persian honorific term meaning "the noble blessing." It is used colloquially to refer to any form of Salawat upon the Prophet, but most commonly refers to Durood-e-Ibrahim itself.

In some South Asian Islamic texts, "Durood Sharif" refers specifically to a shortened version: simply Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammad, or sometimes just the phrase Ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam. None of these shortened forms are incorrect — but Durood-e-Ibrahim remains the most complete and preferred.

Durood Tunajjina (درود تنجینا), meaning the "Durood of salvation," is widely popular particularly in Southeast Asia and parts of Africa. It promises extraordinary rewards for its recitation and is often recommended for times of difficulty. However, its hadith chain is significantly debated among scholars.

Durood Nariya (also called Durood Tafrijiyya or Salat al-Fatih in some traditions) is perhaps the most widely recited Durood outside of Durood-e-Ibrahim, particularly in Sufi orders. It contains beautiful phrases but raises significant concerns for mainstream scholars due to certain phrases that could imply the Prophet has divine attributes.

Durood Lakhi is often described as equivalent in reward to reciting Durood 100,000 times (lakh = 100,000 in South Asian counting systems). It circulates widely on social media and in popular Islamic compilations. However, the claims made about it require careful scrutiny.

Durood Taj (درود تاج) — the "Crown Durood" — is a lengthy Salawat formula popular in certain Sufi orders and subcontinental Islamic traditions. Like Durood Nariya, it contains phrases that mainstream scholars find theologically problematic, attributing attributes to the Prophet that only belong to Allah.