Sidi Muhammad ibn al-Habib begins his litany with blessings upon the Prophet (S), followed by seeking refuge (al-istiādh), the basmala, and the ḥawqala. In this, he followed the practice of Shaykh Aḥmad al-Badawī Zouiten as well as of his successor, Sīdī Muḥammad al-ʿArabī al-Madaghrī,  both of whom left numerous litanies beginning in this same way. This practice was based on the ḥadīth that says, “A supplication is suspended between heaven and earth and nothing of it ascends until you invoke blessings upon your Prophet (S).” (Sunan of al-Tirmidhī). It is also based on what the Sufis have seen in the narrative of the Ascension (al-Miʿrāj), for at each door of the seven heavens, when the angel Gabriel (S) asked that the door be opened, he was asked from within, Who is there? And he answered, “Gabriel.” And then he was asked, “And who is with you?” He said, “Muḥammad.” And then he was asked, “And is he among those who have been sent for?” And Gabriel answered, “Yes.” Then it was said, “Then welcome. The best of visits has come.” 

     From this can be understood that it was the presence of the Prophet (S) which opened the doors of the heavens, and in a like manner, the invocation of blessings upon him may open to us the doors of the heaven that our supplications and prayers may ascend. And Imām al-Nawawī said in al-Adhkār, “The learned are unanimous that a supplication is answered which begins with thanks and praise to Allah (be He exalted) then blessings upon the the Messenger of God (S).

     (As limitless as) Your creation, Your contentment, the weight of Your Throne,  and the ink of Your words.  It is reported in a ḥadīth in the collection of Muslim that the Prophet (S) saw his wife Juwayriyah using a pile of date pits or pebbles to count praises to Allah, and said that it would be easier for her and weightier in the balance to say, “Glory be to Allah, I praise of Him with praise (as limitless as) His creation, and as vast as His contentment, the weight of His throne, and the ink of His words,” and the early believers used this same formula in invoking blessings upon Prophet (S).