Honouring Swalawat al-Fatih & Swalawat al-Ibrahimiyyah

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following was taken from Ustadz Fakhr ad-Din Uwaysi al-Madani’s answer to question of whether the Tijaniyyah believe that the Swalawat al-Fatih is greater than the Swalawat al-Ibrahimiyyah. 

The Swalawat al-Ibrahimiyyah is the initial swalawat, taught by the Prophet (s.a.w.), to the ummah in the zhahir, where he teaches us that Allah (s.w.t.) Blessed him and his family, just as He Blessed Ibrahim (a.s.) and his family.  The Swalawat al-Fatih, however, was taught by the Prophet (s.a.w.) to Shaykh Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad at-Tijani (q.s.) in the bathin, teaching us that Allah (s.w.t.) has Blessed him according to his own maqam, which is greater than that of Prophet Ibrahim (a.s). 

The Swalawat al-Ibrahimiyyah is the minimum swalawat, and the Swalawat al-Fatih is the maximum.  Nevertheless, all Sufis believe in honouring the zhahir over the bathin, as Allah (s.w.t.) has Decreed it thus.  Therefore, we do not say that the Swalawat al-Fatih is greater than the Swalawat al-Ibrahimiyyah, as the latter was taught by the Prophet (s.a.w.) to the entire ummah publicly.  The specialty of Swalawat al-Fatih is something that is only realised by a Nur that Allah (s.w.t.) Puts in the hearts.