Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace.
This verse honors the Messenger of Allah Peace and blessings be upon him during his life and after his death, highlighting his esteemed position with Allah. It also purifies the ill thoughts or negative actions of anyone who harbors evil assumptions about him, his mission, or his wives.
The meaning of "salah" from Allah is His mercy and approval. From the angels, it refers to their prayers and seeking forgiveness. From the believers, it implies supplication and magnification of his status.
Allah's Statement: "O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace in abundance".
This verse contains five key issues:
First Issue: Allah commands His servants to send blessings upon His Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him as an act of honoring him. This command is specific to Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him and not extended to other prophets, as a mark of his special status.
There is unanimous agreement among scholars that sending blessings upon him is obligatory at least once in a lifetime. However, consistently doing so falls under the category of highly emphasized Sunnahs, which one should not neglect except those who lack goodness in their hearts.
Al-Imam Az-Zamakhshari said: "If you ask, 'Is sending blessings upon the Messenger of Allah peace and blessings be upon him obligatory or recommended?' I would reply, 'Rather, it is obligatory".
Scholars differ regarding the circumstances in which it becomes obligatory:
1. Upon Every Mention:
Some scholars argue that it is obligatory to send blessings upon him every time his name is mentioned.
The Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him said: "Whoever hears my name mentioned and does not send blessings upon me will enter Hell, and may Allah distance him."
It is alstnarrated that someone asked the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him: "O Messenger of Allah, regarding Allah's statement: 'Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet,' what does it mean?"
The Prophet peace and blessings be upon him replied: "This is part of the hidden knowledge. Had you not asked me about it, I would not have informed you. Allah has appointed two angels for me. Whenever I am mentioned by a Muslim and they send blessings upon me, those two angels say: 'May Allah forgive you.’ In response, Allah and His angels reply to the two angels: 'Aameen'.
And whenever I am mentioned but the person does not send blessings upon me, the two angels say: 'May Allah not forgive you.'And Allah and His angels respond: 'Aameen".
2. Once Per Gathering:
Other scholars state that it is obligatory to send blessings upon him at least once in every gathering, even if his name is repeated multiple times, similar to the ruling on the verse of prostration (ayat As-sajdah) and saying "Yarhamuk Allah" (may Allah have mercy on you) when someone sneezes.
3. At the Beginning and End of Every Supplication:
It is also considered obligatory by some scholars to include blessings upon the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him at the start and end of every supplication.
4. At Least Once in a Lifetime:
Some scholars argue that the minimum obligation is to send blessings upon him once in a lifetime, similar to the testimony of faith (shahaadatayn).
The most cautious approach and opinion is to send blessings upon him every time his name is mentioned, based on the numerous hadiths emphasizing its importance.
Second Issue: Scholars have differed regarding the exact wording of the prayer upon the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him.
Maalik narrated from Abu Mas'ud Al-Ansaari that The Messenger of Allah peace and blessings be upon him came to us while we were in the gathering of Sa'd ibn Ubaadah. Bashir ibn Sa'd said to him: 'O Messenger of Allah, Allah has commanded us to send blessings upon you. How should we do so?' The Messenger of Allah peace and blessings be upon him remained silent until we wished that he had not asked him. Then he said: 'Say:
اللهم صلِّ على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما صليت على إبراهيم وبارك على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما باركت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم في العالمين إنك حميد مجيد.
And for the greeting of peace (salaam), say as you have been taught."
Al-Imam An-Nasaa'i narrated a similar report from Talhah but omitted the phrase:
"في العالمين"("in all the world")
and
"والسلام كما قد علمتم" ('And for salaam, as you have been taught").
This matter is also reported from companions such as Ka'b ibn Ujrah, Abu Humayd As-Sa'idi, Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri, Ali ibn Abi Taalib, Abu Hurairah, Buraidah Al-Khuza'i, and Zayd ibn Khaarijah (or Ibn Haarithah).
The hadith scholars, including Al-Imam At-Tirmidhi, authenticated the narration of Ka'b ibn Ujrah, and it is also found in Sahih Muslim along with the narration of Abu Humayd As-Sa'idi.
Abu Umar narrated that Shuba and Ath-Thawri narrated from Al-Hakam ibn AbdulRahman ibn Abi Layla from Ka'b ibn Ujrah: When Allah revealed the verse: "O you who have believed, send blessings upon him and greet him with peace," a man came to the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him and asked:
'O Messenger of Allah, we already know how to greet you with peace. How should we send blessings upon you?'
The Prophet peace and blessings be upon him replied: "Say:
اللهم صلِّ على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما صليت على إبراهيم وبارك على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما باركت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم إنك حميد مجيد.
This is the wording narrated by Ath-Thawri, not Shuba. It is included in the interpretation of the verse: "Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet..."
Thus, the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him explained how to send blessings upon him and also taught the greeting in the Tashahhud, saying:
"As-salamu alayka ayyuha an-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu"
("Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy and blessings of Allah").
Also, Al-Mas'udi narrated from Awn ibn Abdullah, from Abi Fakhitah, from Al-Aswad, from Ibn Mas'ud: "When you send blessings upon the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him, do so beautifully, for you do not know if it will be presented to him."
They asked him to teach them, and he said: "Say:
اللهم اجعل صلواتك ورحمتك وبركاتك على سيد المرسلين وإمام المتقين وخاتم النبيين محمد عبدك ونبيك ورسولك إمام الخير وقائد الخير ورسول الرحمة.
اللهم ابعثه مقاماً محموداً يغبطه به الأولون والآخرون.
اللهم صلِّ على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما صليت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم إنك حميد مجيد.
اللهم بارك على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما باركت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم إنك حميد مجيد.
Again, Ali ibn Abi Taalib's Report from the Prophet. Narration in "Ash-Shifa" by Qadi Iyaad:
Ali ibn Abi Taalib may Allah be pleased with him said: "The Prophet peace and blessings be upon him counted them on my hands and said:
اللهم صلِّ على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما صليت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم إنك حميد مجيد.
اللهم بارك على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما باركت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم إنك حميد مجيد.
اللهم وترحم على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما ترحمت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم إنك حميد مجيد.
اللهم وتحنن على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما تحننت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم إنك حميد مجيد...
Al-Imam Ibn Al-Arabi commented: "Among these narrations, some are authentic and others are weak. The most authentic is the one narrated by Maalik, so rely on it. Other narrations that include additions such as 'mercy' alongside 'salah' are not as strong.
People should scrutinize their religion as they scrutinize their wealth. Just as they would not accept a defective dinar in trade, they should only accept narrations from the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him that are sound in their chains of transmission. This is to avoid lying about the Messenger of Allah peace and blessings be upon him. A person seeking virtue might end up falling into loss or even ruin".
Third Issue: The Virtue of Sending Blessings upon the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him:
It has been authentically narrated that the Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him said: "Whoever sends blessings upon me once, Allah will send blessings upon him tenfold."
Sahl ibn Abdullah said: "Sending blessings upon Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him is the best form of worship, because Allah Himself undertakes it along with His angels and has commanded the believers to do so. Other acts of worship are not given the same status."
Abu Sulayman Ad-Darani said: "Whoever wishes to ask Allah for something should begin by sending blessings upon the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him, then present his request, and conclude by sending blessings upon the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him. Allah will accept the two instances of sending blessings, and He is too generous to reject what lies in between".
Sa'id ibn Al-Musayyib narrated from Umar ibn Al-Khattaab may Allah be pleased with him: "Supplication remains suspended between the heavens and the earth until blessings are sent upon the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him. When blessings are sent, the supplication ascends."
The Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him also said: "Whoever sends blessings and peace upon me in a book will have angels continuously sending blessings upon him as long as my name remains in that book".
Fourth Issue: Scholars have differed on whether sending blessings upon the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him is obligatory during prayer.
The majority opinion is that it is among the Sunnah acts and recommended aspects of prayer.
Al-Imam Ibn Al-Mundhir stated: "It is preferable for no one to pray without including blessings upon the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him. However, if someone omits it, their prayer remains valid, according to Imam Maalik, the scholars of Madinah, Sufyan Ath-Thawri, and the Kufa scholars of opinion (Ahl Ar-Ra'y), among others."
This view is held by the majority of scholars.
There are Views of Individual Scholars on this issue as well.
1. Maalik and Sufyaan: They held that sending blessings upon the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him is recommended in the final Tashahhud. However, they considered omitting it as an act of negligence.
2. Al-Imam Ash-Shaafi'i took a stricter view, obligating the repetition of the prayer if blessings upon the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him are omitted in the final Tashahhud.
He stated:
"If a person does not send blessings upon the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him in the final Tashahhud after reciting the testimony of faith (Shahaadah) and before concluding the prayer, they must repeat the prayer."
Furthermore, he said: "If one sends blessings upon the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him before the final Tashahhud, it does not suffice."
This view was reported by Harmalah ibn Yahya, one of Ash-Shaafi'i's prominent students. Although it is a rare opinion among scholars, it has been extensively adopted and debated by Ash-Shaafi'i's followers.
Al-Imam Abu Jafar At-Tahawi, however, claimed: "No other scholar besides Ash-Shaafi'i has held this opinion."
Al-Khattaabi, one of Ash-Shaafi'i's followers, disagreed, stating: "Sending blessings upon the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him in prayer is not obligatory. This is the view of the majority of jurists, except Ash-Shaafi'i. I am unaware of any precedent for his opinion."
The practice of the early righteous predecessors (Salaf) supports the view that sending blessings upon the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him is not obligatory in prayer:
Ibn Mas'ud's Tashahhud, which Ash-Shaafi'i himself endorsed, does not include blessings upon the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him. This is despite being the version that the Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him directly taught his companions.
Ibn Umar said: "Abu Bakr may Allah be pleased with him used to teach us the Tashahhud from the pulpit, just as one teaches children in schools. Umar may Allah be pleased with him also taught it from the pulpit. It did not include sending blessings upon the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him".
Some Maliki scholars, including Muhammad ibn Al-Mawwaaz, held the view that sending blessings upon the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him during prayer is obligatory. Ibn Al-Arabi supported this based on the authentic narration: "Indeed, Allah has commanded us to send blessings upon you. How should we do so?"
The Prophet peace and blessings be upon him then taught them the specific formula, indicating both the wording and its occasion, making it mandatory.
Al-Imam Ad-Daarqutni narrated from Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Al-Husayn (Al-Baqir):
"If I prayed a prayer in which I did not send blessings upon the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him and his family, I would consider it incomplete".
This statement is sometimes misattributed as a hadith of the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him, but it is more accurately a statement of Abu Ja'far, as clarified by Ad-Daarqutni.
Fifth Issue: The Command to Send Peace upon the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him:
In the verse, "...and send peace upon him", Qaadi Abu Bakr ibn Al-Bakir said:
"This verse was revealed to the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him, and Allah commanded his companions to send peace upon him. Similarly, those who come after them have been commanded to send peace upon him when visiting his grave or when mentioning him."
Al-Imam An-Nasaa'i narrated from Abdullah ibn Abi Talha, from his father, who said: "One day, the Messenger of Allah peace and blessings be upon him came with joy visible on his face. I said, 'We see joy in your face!' He said, 'Indeed, an angel came to me and said: O Muhammad, your Lord says: Are you not pleased that no one sends blessings upon you except that I send blessings upon them tenfold, and no one sends peace upon you except that I send peace upon them tenfold?"
Muhammad ibn AbdulRahman narrated that the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him said: "Whenever one of you sends peace upon me after my death, his greeting is conveyed to me by Jibreel, who says: O Muhammad, so-and-so, the son of so-and-so, sends peace upon you. I then reply: And upon him be peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings."
Al-Imam An-Nasaa'i also narrated from Abdullah that the Prophet peace a
nd blessings be upon him said: "Indeed, Allah has angels who roam the earth, conveying to me the greetings of my ummah".
Abdulwahab Ibn Yusuf Isah