Salawat (Arabic: صَلَوَات, romanized: ṣalawāt; sg. صَلَاة, ṣalāh) or Durud (Urdu: دُرُوْد, romanized: durūd) is an Islamic complimentary Arabic phrase which contains veneration for Muhammad. This phrase is usually expressed by Muslims as part of their five daily prayers (usually during the tashahhud) and also when Muhammad's name is mentioned. Salawat is a plural form of salat (Arabic: صَلَاة) and from the triliteral root of ṣ-l-w (the letters ṣād-lām-wā, ص ل و) which literally means 'prayer' or 'send blessings upon'. Some Arabic philologists suggest that the meaning of the word "Salawat" varies depending on who uses the word and to whom it is used for.

The suffix «صَلَوَاتُ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِه», meaning "May God's peace be upon him and his household", is a respectful Arabic term used in Arabic and Persian Islamic texts to respect the prophet of Islam, Muhammad when his name mentioned. Of course, this term can be used for the Fourteen Infallibles or any great person. This phrase is most often used after the name Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam. This Arabic phrase may also come after the names of special and holy people. All of these phrases mean "asking for divine favor for a special and holy person." On the other hand, in Islamic sources, Salawat may also be seen in other forms, including «صَلَی اللهُ عَلَیه و آلِه و سَلَّم» (translation: May God grant him and his family mercy and peace), «صَلَی اللهُ عَلَیه و سَلَّم» (translation: May God send his mercy and blessings upon him), «صَلَی اللهُ عَلَیه و آلِه» (translation: May God's blessings be upon him and his household), «صَلَی اللهُ عَلَیه» (translation: May God's blessings be upon him), «صَلَوَاتُ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ» (translation: May the peace of Allah be upon him) or «صَلَواتُ ﷲِ وَ سَلامِه عَلَیه» (translation: May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). According to some researchers, Salawat is expressed in more than 210 different Arabic phrases in Islamic sources.

Salawat with the text «اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّد», meaning "O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and his family", or with the text «اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّد و عَجِّل فَرَجَهُم», meaning "O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and his family and hasten their attainment", is an Islamic invocation used to honor the Islam Prophet Muhammad and his family. The most famous form of Salawat throughout history and according to the sources, has been to say it in the form of «اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّد», meaning "O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and his household". In Islamic circles, when the name of the Prophet Muhammad is mentioned, it is customary to send blessings upon him to respect his high position. Also, the recitation of Salawat is used in worship because of its virtue and reward, and sometimes people even vow to recite a specific number of it (for example, 100, 200, or 1000) in order to have their heartfelt desires (called "Haajat" in Islamic thoughts), so that through this, they may receive God's grace and their problems may be resolved.

In Islam, when a Muslim or angel (malāk) recites salawat, it means they are sending it to the prophet and are showing Allah their respect for Muhammad, while when the same is sending upon prophet by Allah himself, it means he is blessed by Allah (name of God in Islam). "When Muhammad sends Salawat upon the believers, it indicates his prayer for their welfare, blessing and salvation."

Muhammad was also reported to have said: "The meanest person is he who does not invoke Salawat upon me when my name is mentioned in his presence."

Ibn Asakri transmitted from al-Hasan bin Ali that Muhammad said: "Invoke more Salawat upon me, for your invocation is conducive to your sins being forgiven. And pray for me a high status and intercession, for surely my intercession will plead in your favour before Allah."

According to Ja'far al-Sadiq, Muhammad said: "All supplications to Allah will remain in a veil from the sky until a Salawat is sent to Mohammad PBUH and his Household." In another tradition, Ja'far al-Sadiq was quoted that: "Whoever sends Salawat on the Prophet PBH and his Household means 'I am standing on the promise that I gave when Allah asked me, 'Am I not your lord? And I answered yes you are.'"

When the companions and friends of the Prophet of Islam asked him: "How should we send blessings, peace, and greetings upon you?" the Prophet of Islam included the word «آلِ», "Aal" (meaning family, household or progeny) in his Salawat and asked for all the mercy and blessings that were requested from God for his family too, this meaning, the Prophet Muhammad wants all the mercy and blessings that were requested from God in Salawat for his "family" or his "household" or his "progeny" (including the twelve Imams with the Prophet's daughter, Fatima, or the so-called the fourteen infallibles in Twelver Shia doctrine).