Sending Blessings and Peace upon the Prophet ﷺ and Related Issues
There are many misunderstandings among people regarding sending blessings and peace upon the Prophet ﷺ, and for this reason, I consider it appropriate to briefly shed some light on this matter.
(1) The command to send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ:
Among the rights of the Prophet ﷺ, apart from obedience and love, is to send blessings and peace upon him. Allah has commanded this:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلٰئِكَتَهُ يُصَلّونَ عَلَى النَّبِىِّ ۚ يٰأَيُّهَا الَّذينَ ءامَنوا صَلّوا عَلَيهِ وَسَلِّموا تَسليمًا (الاحزاب: 56)
Translation: “Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessings upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace.”
(2) The difference between blessings (Durud) and peace (Salam):
Blessings (Durud) are:
“اللهم صل علی محمد و علی آل محمد کما صلیت علی ابراهیم و علی آل ابراهیم انک حمید مجید.”
“اللهم بارک علی محمد و علی آل محمد کما بارکت علی ابراهیم و علی آل ابراهیم انک حمید مجید.”
Peace (Salam) is:
“السلام علیک ایهاالنبی و رحمة الله و برکاته”
The meaning of Allah’s blessings is praising the Prophet ﷺ in the presence of the angels. The angels’ blessings mean praying for mercy and blessings for the Prophet ﷺ, while human blessings mean praying for mercy, blessings, and forgiveness for the Prophet ﷺ. The word “Salam” is well-known; it means to pray for safety and peace.
(3) The virtues of sending blessings (Durud):
Some hadiths explain the virtue of sending blessings:
عَنْ أُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ رضي الله عنه قَالَ : قُلْتُ : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أُكْثِرُ الصَّلَاةَ عَلَيْكَ فَكَمْ أَجْعَلُ لَكَ مِنْ صَلَاتِي ؟ فَقَالَ : مَا شِئْتَ . قَالَ قُلْتُ الرُبُعَ ؟ قَالَ : مَا شِئْتَ فَإِنْ زِدْتَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ . قُلْتُ النِّصْفَ ؟ قَالَ : مَا شِئْتَ فَإِنْ زِدْتَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ . قَالَ قُلْتُ فَالثُّلُثَيْنِ ؟ قَالَ : مَا شِئْتَ فَإِنْ زِدْتَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ . قُلْتُ أَجْعَلُ لَكَ صَلَاتِي كُلَّهَا ؟ قَالَ : إِذًا تُكْفَى هَمَّكَ وَيُغْفَرُ لَكَ ذَنْبُكَ .(صحیح الترغیب:1670)
Translation: Narrated by Ubayy ibn Ka’b (may Allah be pleased with him): He said, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I frequently send blessings upon you. How much of my supplication should I dedicate to sending blessings upon you?” The Prophet ﷺ replied, “As much as you wish.” I asked, “A quarter?” He ﷺ replied, “As much as you wish, but if you increase it, it will be better for you.” I asked, “Half?” He ﷺ replied, “As much as you wish, but if you increase it, it will be better for you.” I asked, “Two-thirds?” He ﷺ replied, “As much as you wish, but if you increase it, it will be better for you.” I then said, “Shall I dedicate all my supplication to sending blessings upon you?” The Prophet ﷺ said, “In that case, your worries will be removed, and your sins will be forgiven.”
فمَنْ كان أكثرَهُمْ عليَّ صَلاةً ، كان أَقْرَبَهُمْ مِنِّي مَنْزِلَةً ( صحيح الترغيب:1673)
Translation: “The person who sends the most blessings upon me will be closest to me in rank on the Day of Judgment.”
Another Hadith:
من صلَّى عليَّ واحدةً ، صلَّى اللهُ عليه عشرَ صلواتٍ ، و حطَّ عنه عشرَ خطيئاتٍ ، و رفعَ له عشرَ درجاتٍ(صحيح الجامع:6359)
Translation: “Whoever sends blessings upon me once, Allah sends ten blessings upon him, erases ten of his sins, and raises him by ten degrees.”
On the contrary, the one who does not send blessings upon hearing the name of the Prophet ﷺ is called a miser.
البخيلُ الَّذي مَن ذُكِرتُ عندَهُ فلم يصلِّ عليَّ(صحيح الترمذي:3546)
Translation: “The miser is the one in whose presence my name is mentioned, and he does not send blessings upon me.”
It is mentioned in a Hadith from Bukhari that when Jibreel (peace be upon him) cursed those who hear the Prophet’s name but do not send blessings, the Prophet ﷺ said “Ameen” from the pulpit.
(4) The best forms of sending blessings and peace:
It is narrated by Ibn Abi Layla that Ka’b bin Ujrah met him and said, “Shall I not give you a gift? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to us, and we said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! We know how to greet (with Salam), but how should we send blessings (Durud) upon you?’ The Prophet ﷺ replied: ‘Say:
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ’.”
(Bukhari: 3119, Muslim: 614)
For further details, refer to the book “Sifat Salat al-Nabi” by Allama Al-Albani.
(5) Sending peace along with blessings:
While sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, peace (Salam) should also be added so that both blessings and peace are combined, as Allah has commanded. Therefore, adhere to Durud Ibrahim, which includes both blessings and peace, and which the Prophet ﷺ himself taught. Outside of prayer, at the very least, say “Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam” when mentioning the Prophet ﷺ.
(6) Occasions to send blessings and peace:
In some places, sending blessings and peace is obligatory, such as in the final Tashahhud during prayer. Aside from this, there is a difference of opinion regarding other obligations, but I would definitely say that sending blessings and peace upon the Prophet ﷺ is one of his rights, and wherever it has been commanded, it should be done. The occasions include:
- – Sending abundant blessings on Fridays
- – When mentioning, hearing, or writing the Prophet’s name
- – After the Adhan
- – When entering and leaving the mosque
- – During the second Takbir in the funeral prayer
- – During sermons such as for Eid, Jummah, and rain prayer
- – While making dua
- – Before leaving any gathering
- – At the end of the Qunoot prayer, etc.
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned forty-one such places in his book Jalaa al-Afhaam.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Written by: Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi Hafizahullaah
Interpreter: Hasan Fuzail