Ṣalāt al-Fātiḥ is not merely an ordinary formula of prayer upon the Prophet (God bless him and give him peace). It is a luminous chain bestowed by God upon the Hidden Pole (al-Qutb al-Maktūm), Shaykh Aḥmad al-Tijānī (God be pleased with him) through Divine inspiration and spiritual authorization from the Messenger of God (God bless him and give him peace) himself.

In the spiritual journey, Ṣalāt al-Fātiḥ is not just a supplication or recitation, but a spiritual wasīla (means) that draws the seeker (sālik) close to the Muḥammadan Secret — the reality of the Light of Muḥammad, which is the very axis of the creation of existence.

The Meaning of Tawajjuh

Linguistically, tawajjuh means “to turn towards, to face.”

In the terminology of Sufism, al-Tawajjuh al-Muḥammadī means: “To direct one’s spirit and inner self entirely towards the spiritual reality of the Messenger of God, so as to attain a conscious encounter and experiential realization of his Secret.”

In the Tijani Path, this tawajjuh is not imagination or illusion, but the true spiritual presence of the Messenger of Allah, experienced in the purified heart of the seeker who is immersed in sending blessings.

Know, then, that Ṣalāt al-Fātiḥ itself is a form of tawajjuh, and among the distinguishing qualities that make it a Muḥammadan Tawajjuh are:

a) The Connection to the Spiritual Secret of the Prophet

Ṣalāt al-Fātiḥ is the Lordly Cleanser that cleanses the heart. To the extent that one recites Ṣalāt al-Fātiḥ, to that extent one perceives one’s servanthood before Allah.”

This prayer not only purifies but also opens the inner eye to behold the Muḥammadan Secret. Thus, it becomes a living tawajjuh to the spirit of the Messenger.

b) The Presence of the Spirit of the Messenger in Every Recitation

The Prophet Muhammad (God bless him and give him peace) said:

“Indeed God has angels who roam the earth, conveying to me the greetings of my community.” (Recorded in the Sunan of al-Nasā’ī and the Musnad of Imam Aḥmad)

According to the explanations of the masters of the Tijani Path, Ṣalāt al-Fātiḥ, when recited with humility and proper adab, brings about the presence of the spirit of the Prophet within the spiritual dimension of the seeker. Thus, the recitation is no longer mere words, but a gateway to encounter.

c) The Light of Tawajjuh Flowing from the Light of Muḥammad into the Heart

Ṣalāt al-Fātiḥ contains the key to the Prophet’s Secret:

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ الفَاتِحِ لِمَا أُغْلِقَ وَالخَاتِمِ لِمَا سَبَقَ نَاصِرِ الحَقِّ بِالحَقِّ وَالهَادِي إِلَى صِرَاطِكَ المُسْتَقِيمِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ وَمِقْدَارِهِ العَظِيمِ

Each phrase is a luminous symphony manifesting the role of the Messenger as:

• The Opener of what was closed (al-Fātiḥ li-mā ughliq)
• The Seal of what has passed (al-Khātim li-mā sabaq)
• The Supporter of the Truth by the Truth (Nāṣir al-Ḥaqq bi’l-Ḥaqq)
• The Guide to the Straight Path (al-Hādī ilā ṣirāṭik al-mustaqīm)

This encapsulates the entire Muḥammadan Secret in verbal form, making this prayer a communication of spirit to Spirit, not merely a recitation of the tongue. Thus, recognize the rank of Ṣalāt al-Fātiḥ — its reality, nobility, and loftiness in the field of spiritual vigil (tahajjud rūḥānī).

It was emphatically affirmed by the Hidden Pole (al-Qutb al-Maktūm), Shaykh Aḥmad al-Tijānī (God be pleased with him) that the recitation of Ṣalāt al-Fātiḥ once is equivalent to reciting six hundred thousand times other forms of ṣalawāt.

Why is this so?

Because Ṣalāt al-Fātiḥ is as though it were the inner recitation of the Messenger for himself, akin to the spiritual encounter on the night of Isrā’. Thus, each time it is recited with tawajjuh, the reciter is drawn and admitted into the Muḥammadan Presence — not as an outsider, but as one chosen and invited.

The Transformative Effects of Reciting Ṣalāt al-Fātiḥ with Tawajjuh

When one immerses oneself in Ṣalāt al-Fātiḥ, reciting it with steadfastness (istiqāma), adab, and heartfelt tawajjuh, then:

• One’s heart becomes a station for the manifestations (tajallī) of the Light of the Messenger (God bless him and give him peace).
• One’s character becomes a mirror of his noble character.
• One’s soul becomes tranquil and humbled in love for the Prophet.

Here, Ṣalāt al-Fātiḥ ceases to be a mere remembrance; it becomes a living tawajjuh, shaping within the soul a Muḥammadan character — praiseworthy, gentle, compassionate, and full of adab.

The Path of Ṣalāt al-Fātiḥ

Know, then, that Ṣalāt al-Fātiḥ is the pathway into the Presence of the Messenger — and the Presence of the Messenger is the gateway to the Presence of God Most High.

This is the meaning of: “Ṣalāt al-Fātiḥ is Muḥammadan Tawajjuh.”

It is not only a path leading towards, but also a window through which the Light of the Messenger is witnessed within a heart that has been purified, adorned, and filled with love. And Allah knows best what is correct.

~Shaykh Ahmad al-Hadi al-Hasani al-Tijani