We are Encouraged to Send Swalawat upon the Prophet (s.a.w.)

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Ustadz Fakhr ad-Din Uwaysi al-Madani wrote, the remembrance of the birth of the Prophet (s.a.w.) encourages us to send swalawat upon the Prophet (s.a.w.) and to praise him, which is an obligation on us through Allah’s (s.w.t.) Order in the verse:

سُوۡرَةُ الاٴحزَاب

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَتَهُ ۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّۚ يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيۡهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمًا (٥٦) 

Allah, and His angels, Send blessings on the Prophet: O you that believe!  Send you blessings on him and salute him, with all respect. (Surah al-Ahzab:56) 

Coming together and remembering the Prophet (s.a.w.) causes us to send swalawat upon him and to praise him.  Who has the right to deny the obligation which Allah (s.w.t.) has Ordered us to fulfill through the Qur’an?  The benefit brought by obeying an Order of Allah (s.w.t.), and the light that it brings to our heart, cannot be measured.  That obligation, furthermore, is mentioned in the plural, in a gathering.  It is entirely incorrect, therefore, to say that sending swalawat upon and praising the Prophet (s.a.w.) must be done alone.