Al-Jazuli's (or Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Suleiman Ibn Abi Bakr Al-Jazuli [of Jazula] Al-Simlali [of Simalal] Al-Hasny [of the descendants of Al-Hasan Ibn Ali, the Prophet's grandson]) was born in 807 AH among the Jazulah Berbers of the Sus valley region in southern Morocco.

He studied in the religious Madrasat As-Saffareen in Fez where his room is still shown to visitors. His studies took him to many areas in the Maghreb, including Marrakesh, Telmesan and Tunisia. He spent many years in Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem, and visited Egypt and Tripoli. He was initiated into the Shadhili Way (Tariqa or Path) and remained in a seclusion of prayers (khilwa or solitary retreat) for  fourteen years. Upon returning to Fez, he was ordained as a sheikh of the tariqa and completed Dalayel Al-Khayrat. He moved south to Safy, where his followers increased tremendously, which resulted in the governor banishing him and his followers. In return, Al-Jazuli prayed for The Lord’s wrath to befall the town, and it was captured and occupied by the Portuguese for forty years. The governor of Safi is suspected to have poisoned Jazuli and caused his death  around 870 AH (exact date of death not known but is between 869 and 875).

Al-Jazuli's body did not find rest for a very long time after death. One of his followers, Amr Ibn Solaiman AshShayzami (known as Amr "the Swordsman"), followed all suspected of poisoning him and killed them. "The Swordsman" believed that Al-Jazuli possessed supernatural mystical powers even as a corpse. He exhumed the body, placed it in a coffin, and took the coffin along to every battle to help him win. On return from battle, he used to place the coffin under heavy guard day and night, lighting huge candles around it all night in fear that if it was stolen he would no longer find victory. He waged many wars and battles to subdue people to follow him and Al-Jazuli's "tariqa". This lasted for twenty years, and the remains were only buried after Amr the "Swordsman" died. Yet seventy seven years later, the body was exhumed again by The Sultan Abul Abbas “The Limp” and moved to Marrakesh to finally come to rest.

It is said that once, when he could not find water to prepare for prayers (wadu' or oblution), he came upon a well but could not reach the water without a bucket and rope which he did not have. While thus helpless, he was seen by a young girl who called out to him: “You’re the one people praise so much, yet you can’t even figure out how to get water out of a well?” She came down and spat into the water, whereupon the water rose to the top of its own accord. Seeing this miracle, he asked the girl "How did you achieve doing this?" She replied "I was enabled to do this simply through my "Making constant prayer for God to send prayers upon the best of creation by the number of breaths and heartbeats" (or through constantly asking The Lord to send prayers upon the prophet).

Having thus seen the benefit of asking for prayers upon the Prophet, Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam, Al-Jazuli vowed to write a work to include prayers to The Lord asking to send prayers upon Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam, or his Dalayel Al-Khayrat, which became the most celebrated manual of prayers upon the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam).

The book is organized in sections, so that each section “contains diverse praises, invocations, and poetic references seamlessly bound into a flowing unity. Its melodic, rhythmic language aids the devotee in memorization and attaining presence of heart. Its phrases of exquisite beauty express love and devotion to the Chosen One (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam) (Adam Larson)

His spiritual path drew many disciples due to the popularity of his Dalayel Al-Khayrat. He taught followers the value of prayers upon the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam), extinction of self in the love of The Lord and His messenger, disclaiming any strength or power, and total reliance upon The Lord. Of his most beautiful verses addressing the prophet:

يَا رَحْمَةَ اللهِ اِنِّىْ خَائِفٌ وَّجِلٌ    يَا نِعْمَةَ اللهِ اِنِّىْ مُفْلِسٌ عَان
O Lord’s mercy, I am frightened and terrified
O Lord’s grace I am poor and broke
وَلَيْسَ لِىْ عَمَلٌ اَلْقَى الْعَلِيْمَ بِه    سِوى مَحَبَّتِكَ الْعُظْمى وَ اِيْمَانِىْ
And I am devoid of deeds with which to meet The All-Knowing
Other than my immense love for you and my faith

The book of Dalayel Al-Khayrat swept the whole Islamic world. Princes exchanged magnificently embellished copies of it, commoners treasured it, and pilgrims wore it at their side on the way to hajj. Everyone who read it found that blessings (baraka) descended upon wherever it was recited. It is the most popular and most universally acclaimed collection of asking The Lord to send prayers upon the Prophet. Among some Sunni religious orders, specially the Shadhili-Jazuli order, its recitation is a daily practice. In others its recitation is voluntary.

A lot of Salawat books have been written since, but none achieved the eminence and fame of Dalayel Al-Khayrat. However, in recent times, a lot of dispute has surrounded the book. The Salafy and Wahabi followers of Ibn Taymeya rule that it contains a lot that is not of true faith, and does not comply with true Islam or Islamic doctrine. The Sufis, on the other hand, cherish the book and defend it. We should, however, be assured that the book was written in pure love for the prophet, and directs Muslims to the benefits and the various ways of asking for prayers upon the prophet to follow The Lord’s clear order and directive: “Allah and His angels send prayers on the Prophet: O ye that believe! Send ye prayers on him and salute him with all respect” (Al-Ahzab 33:56)