Hazrat Mufti Mahmood Hasan Gangohi (rahimahullah) mentioned:
When reciting durood shareef we should contemplate upon this fact that, from the innumerable favours bestowed upon us from Allah Ta‘ala, the greatest favour showered upon us is that we are the Ummatis (followers) of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Allah Ta‘ala has sent Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) for our guidance. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has many rights over us and the greater the blessing or favour enjoyed by us, the greater the gratitude we need to express for it.
Allah Ta‘ala says in the Quraan Majeed, addressing Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam):
فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّـهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ
“It is through the mercy of Allah Ta‘ala that you (O Nabi [sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam]) are soft with the people.” (Aal ‘Imraan v159)
Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was extremely soft and gentle in his dealings with people. Anybody could ask Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) for anything they desired.
لَقَدْ مَنَّ اللَّـهُ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ بَعَثَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِن كَانُوا مِن قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
“Indeed, Allah Ta‘ala has bestowed a great favour on the Believers when He sent to them a Messenger from amongst themselves who recited to them the Quraan, taught them its laws, purified their souls and taught them the hikmah.” (Aal ‘Imraan v164)
Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is an extremely great favour upon us. Therefore, we ought to express the appropriate amount of gratitude. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) himself has showed us an easy way to express our gratitude for this favour, i.e. following the sunnah and reciting durood shareef abundantly. If we lead our lives according to the sunnah and recite durood shareef in abundance, we will be displaying true gratitude.
(Discourses of Faqeeh-ul-Ummah Hazrat Mufti Mahmood Hasan Gangohi, vol. 1, pg. 106)