Allah Almighty says: {Indeed, Allah sends His blessings upon the Prophet, and His angels pray for him. O you who believe, invoke Allah’s blessings upon him, and send him greetings of peace.} [Surat al-Ahzāb: 56]
1) It is recommended to constantly ask Allah to confer peace and blessings upon the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in compliance with the command of Allah Almighty to do so, and in emulation of the honorable angels.
2) It is obligatory to invoke peace and blessings of Allah upon the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in several occasions, one of which is when his name is mentioned.
3) Invoking peace upon the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) means that he supplicates Allah Almighty to praise him before the highest assembly of the angels, while invoking peace means to supplicate Allah to bestow upon him safety from all evil during his lifetime and after his death, and this includes the safety of his Shariah and Sunnah from any addition or distortion.
It is impermissible to invoke Allah’s peace and blessings upon anyone other than Allah’s prophets, or making it concomitant to the names of some of the leading scholars, as done by some deviant sects from among the advocates of religious innovations. In fact, only the prophets of Allah are to be singled out with asking Allah Almighty to confer His peace and blessings upon them. Asking Allah Almighty to confer His peace and blessings upon people other than the prophets is to be done subordinately, like saying: “O Allah, confer peace and blessings upon Muhammad and his family,” or “O Allah, confer peace and blessings upon Muhammad and his Companions.”
1397/1- ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever invokes peace and blessings upon me once, Allah will send peace and blessings upon him tenfold.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) Invoking peace and blessings upon Allah’s Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is a virtuous act given the multiplied reward one earns on account of it.
2) Invoking peace and blessings upon Allah’s Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is a reason for receiving Allah’s mercy.
1398/2- Ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The worthiest people of me (in terms of closeness to me and receiving my intercession) on the Day of Judgment will be those who invoke peace and blessings upon me the most.” [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; he classified it as Hasan (sound)]
1) Demonstrating that there is an exceptional merit for the People of Hadīth (those who are concerned with studying the Hadīths of the Prophet, who follow the practice of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and adhere to his Sunnah since they invoke Allah’s peace and blessings upon him more than other people.
2) Encouraging to constantly invoke Allah’s peace and blessings upon the Prophet because doing so is a reason for being close to him (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
1399/3- Aws ibn Aws (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Among the most excellent of your days is Friday; so invoke prayers frequently on me on that day, for your prayers will be presented to me. A man asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah, how will our prayers be presented to you while your body will have decayed?’ He replied: ‘Allah, the Exalted, has prohibited the earth from consuming the bodies of prophets.’” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd, with an authentic Isnād]
1) There is a special merit for invoking peace and blessings on Allah’s Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) frequently on Friday as it combines the excellence of this act of worship and the excellence of Friday.
2) Our invocation of peace and blessings upon Allah’s Messenger is presented to him by the angels appointed by Allah Almighty to go about the lands in order to convey to the Prophet the invocation of peace and blessings of his Ummah. The Hadīth does not mean that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) can hear us directly.
3) It is obligatory to unquestionably accept the affirmed report from Allah’s Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) even if the minds cannot perceive it. Actually, the mind’s perception is confined to a certain limit, just as the eye has a range of vision which it cannot see beyond.
1400/4- Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “May he be humiliated; the man in whose presence I am mentioned yet he does not invoke the blessings of Allah upon me.” [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; he classified it as Hasan (sound)]
May he be humiliated: The Arabic expression “raghima anf of so and so” is a supplication against someone that Allah would cause his nose to be rubbed against dusty ground, as an indication of humiliation and disgrace.
1) A supplication of humiliation and disgrace upon whoever is constantly and deliberately negligent about asking Allah Almighty to confer His peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) when his name is mentioned.
2) Frequently showing servitude to Allah Almighty through invoking Allah’s peace and blessings upon the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is a reason for the believer’s honor and high status. While people usually boast of their dignitaries in the worldly life, Muslims are proud of the one who brought for them all good of the worldly life and the Hereafter.
1401/5- Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Do not make my grave a place for celebration, and invoke blessings (of Allah) upon me for they will reach me wherever you are.” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd, with an authentic Isnād]
A place for celebration: The term ‘Eid (celebration) in the Hadīth comes from a root that denotes a regular recurrent general gathering, and it refers to the day of the event, the practices that take place in it, and also the place where the event occurs.
1) It is recommended to invoke Allah’s peace and blessings upon the Prophet wherever a person might be because it reaches the Prophet.
2) It is impermissible to set out for a journey for the sole purpose of visiting the grave of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), but it is permissible to do this for visiting the Prophet’s Mosque. When one arrives at the mosque, he may greet the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) as he stands at his grave.
1402/6- He also reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whenever someone greets me, Allah restores my soul to me so that I return his greeting.” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd, with an authentic Isnād]
1) The life of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in his grave is the most perfect life in Barzakh (the realm between this world and the Hereafter) that Allah Almighty has ever blessed a prophet in his grave with. He Almighty alone knows the nature of that life, but it is not like our worldly life in any aspect. Thus, we do not believe that the state of the Prophet in his grave is the same as his state was in the life of this world.
2) Encouraging Muslims to invoke Allah’s peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah in order to attain the honor of being greeted back by him.
1403/7- ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The miserly is the one who hears my mention and does not invoke blessings upon me.” [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; he classified it as Hasan Sahīh (sound and authentic)]
1) It is recommended to invoke Allah’s peace and blessings upon the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) whenever his name is mentioned in order for a slave not to be described as miserly. Indeed, the real miser is the one who is deprived of invoking peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
2) Miserliness is a dispraised characteristic, especially when one is too miserly to give what he easily can. So, a believer has to purify his self from this evil trait in order for him to be successful. Allah Almighty says: {And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul, it is they who are successful.}.
1404/8- Fudālah ibn ‘Ubayd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) heard a man supplicating in his prayer without glorifying Allah Almighty and without supplicating Allah to confer peace and blessings upon the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘This man is hasty.’ Then he called him and said to him – or to someone else: ‘When any one of you is performing the prayer and wants to supplicate, let him praise Allah and glorify Him first then invoke Allah’s peace and blessings upon the Prophet. Then he may supplicate for whatever he wishes.’” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd and Al-Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hasan Sahīh (sound and authentic)]
1) One of the etiquettes of supplication inside and outside the prayer is to start it with praising Allah Almighty and glorifying Him, then invoking Allah’s peace and blessings upon His Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), then one may supplicate Allah Almighty for whatever he wishes.
2) Being hasty in having one’s supplication answered is a reason for the supplication to be rejected and unfulfilled.
3) It is recommended to educate the ignorant when he makes a mistake, so a believer, especially a seeker of knowledge, has to be keen on educating people about the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
1405/9- Abu Muhammad Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) came out to us, and we said to him: “O Messenger of Allah, we know how to greet you. So, how can we invoke Allah’s blessings upon you?” He said: “Say: Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kamā sallayta ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm, innaka hamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kamā bārakta ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm, innaka hamīdun majīd (O Allah, bestow Your peace upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You bestowed Your peace upon the family of Abraham; verily, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed the family of Abraham; verily, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious).” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1) The excellence of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) is manifested in their keenness on seeking beneficial knowledge and asking for more of it. This is the attitude of a Muslim; he should inquire about what benefits him in his religion and leave what is beyond that.
2) The invocation mentioned in the Hadīth is the best one that a person may say either inside the prayer or outside it, and it is the complete form. If he settled for saying “Allāhumma salli wa sallim ‘ala Muhammad” (O Allah, send your blessings and peace upon Muhammad), it is valid as well.
3) What some people do of contriving forms for invoking Allah’s peace and blessings upon the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) goes against the prophetic Sunnah and the guidance of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), for all good lies in following the flawless reported guidance.
1406/10- Abu Mas‘ūd al-Badri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “We were sitting in the company of Sa‘d ibn ‘Ubādah (may Allah be pleased with him) when the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) came to us. Bashīr ibn Sa‘d said to him: ‘O Messenger of Allah, Allah has commanded us to invoke blessings upon you, so how should we do that?’ The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) kept silent. We were much perturbed over his silence that we wished he did not ask him this question. Then the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Say: “Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kamā sallayta ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm wa bārik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kamā bārakta ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm, innaka hamīdun majīd (O Allah, send Your prayer [grace, honor, mercy] upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You sent Your prayer upon the family of Ibrāhīm, and send Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You sent Your blessings upon the family of Ibrāhīm. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious).” Sending peace upon me is as you already know.’” [Narrated by Muslim]
1407/11- Abu Humayd al-Sā‘idi (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “They asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah, how should we send prayer upon you?’ He said: ‘Say: “Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala azwājihi wa dhurriyatihi kamā sallayta ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm, wa bārik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala azwājihi wa dhurriyatihi kamā bārakta ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm, innaka hamīdun majīd” (O Allah, send Your prayer [grace, honor, mercy] upon Muhammad, his wives, and his offspring as You sent Your prayer upon the family of Ibrāhīm, and send Your blessings upon Muhammad, his wives, and his offspring as You sent Your blessings upon the family of Ibrāhīm. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious).’” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1) It is impermissible for a Muslim to engage in any act of worship until he asks about the way the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) performed it as understood from the Hadīth when the Companions asked the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him): “How should we send prayer upon you?”
2) The wordings of the Salāh Ibrāhīmiyyah (the wording of invoking peace and blessings upon the Prophet) include asking Allah Almighty to confer peace and blessings upon His Prophet as well as his family, and making Tawassul to Him to confer His peace and blessings upon Muhammad and his family just as He conferred His peace and blessings upon Ibrāhīm and his family. This is a valid form of Tawassul; i.e. making Tawassul to Allah Almighty by means of His past actions to do them again in the present.
If someone vows to invoke peace and blessings upon Allah’s Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) using the best wording, what should he say?
Scholars said: “He will not fulfill his vow unless he uses the wording reported in one of the confirmed Hadīths, like those mentioned above, because the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) guided his Ummah to that which he knew was best for them. If there was a wording better than those, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) would definitely have encouraged his Ummah to use it.”
Book of Remembrances (Adhkār)