Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Ahzab Verse 56

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Surely, Allah and His angels send blessings to the Prophet. O you who believe, do pray Allah to bless him, and send your Salām (prayer for his being in peace) to him in abundance.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Indeed, Allah showers His blessings upon the Prophet, and His angels pray for him. O  believers! Invoke Allah’s blessings upon him, and salute him with worthy greetings of peace.

Ruwwad Translation Center

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.

A. J. Arberry

God and His angels bless the Prophet. O believers, do you also bless him, and pray him peace.

Abdul Haleem

God and His angels bless the Prophet- so, you who believe, bless him too and give him greetings of peace.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Verily Allah and His angels send their benedictions upon the prophet. O ye who believe! send your benedictions upon him and salute him with a goodly Salutation.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet; O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect.

Abul Ala Maududi

Allah and His angels bless the Prophet. Believers, invoke blessings and peace on him.

Ahmed Ali

God and His angels shower their blessings on the Prophet. O believers, you should also send your blessings on him, and salute him with a worthy greeting.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Indeed Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet; O People who Believe! Send blessings and abundant salutations upon him. (Everlasting peace and unlimited blessings be upon the Holy Prophet Mohammed.)

Ali Quli Qarai

Indeed Allah and His angels bless the Prophet; O you who have faith! Invoke blessings on him and invoke Peace upon him in a worthy manner.

Ali Ünal

Surely God and His angels bless the Prophet (He always treats him with His special mercy, with the angels praying to Him to grant him the highest station of praise with Him and for the decisive victory of his Religion). O you who believe, invoke the blessings of God on him, and pray to God to bestow His peace on him, greeting him with the best greeting. (Love and follow him with utmost sincerity and faithfulness, and give yourselves to his way with perfect submission.)

Amatul Rahman Omar

Verily, Allâh and His angels bless this Prophet. Believers! you (also) invoke Allâh´s blessings upon him and salute (him) with the salutation of peace.

English Literal

That truly God and His angels bless and compliment on the prophet. You, you those who believed, pray and call for God`s blessing on him (the prophet) and great greetings.

Faridul Haque

Indeed Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet; O People who Believe! Send blessings and abundant salutations upon him. (Everlasting peace and unlimited blessings be upon the Holy Prophet Mohammed.)

Hamid S. Aziz

There is no blame on them in respect of their fathers, nor their brothers, nor their brothers´ sons, nor their sisters´ sons nor their own women, nor of what their right hands possess; and be careful of your duty to Allah; surely Allah is a witness of all things.

Hilali & Khan

Allah sends His Salat (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy, etc.) on the Prophet (Muhammad SAW) and also His angels too (ask Allah to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send your Salat on (ask Allah to bless) him (Muhammad SAW), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islamic way of greeting (salutation i.e. AsSalamu 'Alaikum).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

There is no blame on them in respect of their fathers, nor their sons, nor their brothers, nor their brothers’ sons, nor their sisters’ sons, nor their own women, nor of what their right hands possess -- and (ye women) keep your duty to Allah. Surely Allah is ever Witness over all things.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Surely Allah and His angels bless the Prophet; O you who believe! call for (Divine) blessings on him and salute him with a (becoming) salutation.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Lo! Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation.

Muhammad Sarwar

God showers His blessings upon the Prophet and the angels seek forgiveness for him. Believers, pray for the Prophet and greet him with, "Peace be with you."

Qaribullah & Darwish

Allah and His angels praise and venerate the Prophet. Believers, praise and venerate him and pronounce peace upon him in abundance.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Allah sends His Salah on the Prophet, and also His angels (do so). O you who believe! Send your Salah on him, and greet him with Taslim.

Wahiduddin Khan

God and His angels bestow blessings on the Prophet. O believers, you also should invoke blessings on him and give him greetings of peace.

Talal Itani

God and His angels give blessings to the Prophet. O you who believe, call for blessings on him, and greet him with a prayer of peace.

Tafsir jalalayn

Indeed God and His angels bless the Prophet, Muhammad (s). O you who believe, invoke blessings on him and invoke peace upon him in a worthy manner, in other words, say; `O God, bless our master Muhammad and grant him peace' (Allhumma sall `al sayyidin Muhammad wa-sallim).

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Command to say Salah upon the Prophet

Allah says;

إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَيِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ امَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا



Allah sends His Salah on the Prophet, and also His angels (do so). O you who believe! Send your Salah on him, and greet him with Taslim.

Al-Bukhari said that Abu Al-Aliyah said;

"Allah's Salah is His praising him before the angels, and the Salah of the angels is their supplication."

Ibn Abbas said;

"They send blessings."

Abu `Isa At-Tirmidhi said;

"This was narrated from Sufyan Ath-Thawri and other scholars, who said;

`The Salah of the Lord is mercy, and the Salah of the angels is their seeking forgiveness.'

There are Mutawatir Hadiths narrated from the Messenger of Allah commanding us to send blessings on him and how we should say Salah upon him. We will mention as many of them as we can, if Allah wills, and Allah is the One Whose help we seek.

In his Tafsir of this Ayah, Al-Bukhari recorded that Ka`b bin `Ujrah said,

"It was said, `O Messenger of Allah, with regard to sending Salam upon you, we know about this, but how about Salah!'

He said;

قُولُوا

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى الِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى الِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ


اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى الِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى الِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد


Say;

"O Allah, send Your Salah upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your Salah upon the family of Ibrahim, verily You are the Most Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.

O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your blessings upon the family of Ibrahim, verily You are Most Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.""

Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn Abi Layla said that Ka`b bin `Ujrah met him and said,

"Shall I not give you a gift The Messenger of Allah came out to us and we said, `O Messenger of Allah! We know how to send Salam upon you, but how can we send Salah!'

He said;

قُولُوا

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى الِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى الِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ


اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى الِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى الِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد


Say;

"O Allah, send Your Salah upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your Salah upon the family of Ibrahim, verily You are the Most Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.

O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your blessings upon the family of Ibrahim, verily You are Most Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.""

This Hadith has been recorded by the Group in their books with different chains of narration.
Another Hadith

Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, said;

"We said, `O Messenger of Allah, this is the Salam upon you, but how do we send Salah upon you!'

He said;

قُولُوا

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِكَ وَرَسُولِكَ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى الِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى الِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى الِ إِبْرَاهِيم


Say;

"O Allah, send Your Salah upon Muhammad, Your servant and Messenger, as You sent Your Salah upon the family of Ibrahim, and send Your blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your blessings upon the family of Ibrahim.""

Abu Salih narrated that Layth said;

عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى الِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى الِ إِبْرَاهِيم

Upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You sent Your blessings upon the family of Ibrahim.

Ibrahim bin Hamzah told that, Ibn Abi Hazim and Ad-Darawardi told, that Yazid, i.e., Ibn Al-Had said;

كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَالِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَ الِ إِبْرَاهِيم

As You sent Your Salah upon Ibrahim, and send Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim.

This was also recorded by An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah.
Another Hadith

Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Humayd As-Sa`idi that they said;

"O Messenger of Allah, how can we send Salah upon you!"

He said,

قُولُوا

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَزْوَاجِهِ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَزْوَاجِهِ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى الِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد


Say;

"O Allah, send Your Salah upon Muhammad and his wives and offspring, as You sent Your Salah upon Ibrahim, and send Your blessings upon Muhammad and his wives and offspring, as You sent Your blessings upon the family of Ibrahim, verily You are Most Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.""

It was also recorded by the rest of the Group, apart from At-Tirmidhi.
Another Hadith

Muslim recorded that Abu Mas`ud Al-Ansari said;

"We came to the Messenger of Allah and we were with Sa`d bin Ubadah. Bashir bin Sa`d said to him, `Allah has commanded us to send Salah upon you, O Messenger of Allah. How can we send Salah upon you!'

The Messenger of Allah remained quiet for so long that we wished that he had not asked him, then the Messenger of Allah said;

قُولُوا

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى الِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى الِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى الِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى الِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي الْعَالَمِينَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ


وَالسَّلَامُ كَمَا قَدْ عَلِمْتُم


Say;

"O Allah, send Your Salah upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your Salah upon the family of Ibrahim, and send Your blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your blessings upon the family of Ibrahim among all people, verily You are Most Praiseworthy, Most Glorious."

And the Salam is as you know."

This was also recorded by Abu Dawud, An-Nasa'i, At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Jarir.

At-Tirmidhi said, "It is Hasan Sahih."
Saying Salah upon the Prophet before the Supplication

Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi reported the following Hadith and graded it Sahih;

An-Nasa'i, Ibn Khuzaymah and Ibn Hibban recorded in their Sahihs that Fadalah bin Ubayd, may Allah be pleased with him, said;

"The Messenger of Allah heard a man making supplication in his prayer when he had not praised Allah or said Salah upon the Prophet. The Messenger of Allah said;

عَجِلَ هَذَا

This man is rushing.

Then he called him over and said, to him or to someone else,

إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَبْدَأْ بِتَمْجِيدِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَالثَّنَاءِ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ لْيُصَلِّ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ثُمَّ لْيَدْعُ بَعْدُ بِمَا شَاء

When any one of you supplicates, let him start by praising and glorifying Allah, may He be exalted, then let him send Salah upon the Prophet, and after that let him make supplication as he wishes."
The Virtue of saying Salah upon the Prophet

Another Hadith At-Tirmidhi recorded that Ubayy bin Ka`b said;

"When two thirds of the night had passed, the Messenger of Allah would get up and say,

يَاأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اذْكُرُوا اللهَ اذْكُرُوا اللهَ جَاءَتِ الرَّاجِفَةُ تَتْبَعُهَا الرَّادِفَةُ جَاءَ الْمَوْتُ بِمَا فِيهِ جَاءَ الْمَوْتُ بِمَا فِيه

O people, remember Allah, remember Allah, the first blast of the Trumpet has come and will be followed by the second blast, death has come with all its horrors, death has come with all its horrors."

Ubayy said, "I said, `O Messenger of Allah, I send a lot of Salah upon you, how much of my prayer should be Salah upon you!'

He said,
مَا شِيْت
(Whatever you want).

I said, `A quarter.'

He said,

مَا شِيْتَ فَإِنْ زِدْتَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَك

Whatever you want, but if you increase it, it will be better for you.

I said, `Half.'

He said,

مَا شِيْتَ فَإِنْ زِدْتَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَك

(Whatever you want, but if you increase it, it will be better for you.

I said, `Two thirds.'

He said,

مَا شِيْتَ فَإِنْ زِدْتَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَك

Whatever you want, but if you increase it, it will be better for you.

I said, `Should I make my whole prayer for you!'

He said,

إِذَنْ تُكْفَى هَمُّكَ وَيُغْفَرُ لَكَ ذَنْبُك

This would be sufficient to relieve your distress and earn you forgiveness of your sins."

Then he said;"This is a Hasan Hadith."
Another Hadith

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Talhah said that the Messenger of Allah came one day looking happy. They said,

"O Messenger of Allah, we see that you look happy."

He said,

إِنَّهُ أَتَانِي الْمَلَكُ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَمَا يُرْضِيكَ أَنَّ رَبَّكَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ إِنَّهُ لَا يُصَلِّي عَلَيْكَ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِكَ إِلاَّ صَلَّيْتُ عَلَيْهِ عَشْرًا وَلَا يُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْكَ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِكَ إِلاَّ سَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ عَشْرًا قُلْتُ بَلَى

The angel came to me and told me, "O Muhammad, would it not please you if your Lord, may He be glorified, says;`No member of your Ummah sends Salah upon you but I send Salah upon him tenfold, and no member of your Ummah sends greetings of Salam upon you but I send greetings of Salam upon him tenfold."'

I said, "Of course."

This was also recorded by An-Nasa'i.
Another Chain of Narration

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Talhah Al-Ansari said;

"One morning the Messenger of Allah was in a cheerful mood and looked happy. They said, `O Messenger of Allah, this morning you are in a cheerful mood and look happy.'

He said,

أَجَلْ أَتَانِي اتٍ مِنْ رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَقَالَ مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أُمَّتِكَ صَلَةً كَتَبَ اللهُ لَهُ بِهَا عَشْرَ حَسَنَاتٍ وَمَحَا عَنْهُ عَشْرَ سَيِّيَاتٍ وَرَفَعَ لَهُ عَشْرَ دَرَجَاتٍ وَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ مِثْلَهَا

Of course just now someone (an angel) came to me from my Lord and said, "Whoever among your Ummah sends Salah upon you, Allah will record for him ten good deeds and will erase for him ten evil deeds, and will raise his status by ten degrees, and will return his greeting with something similar to it.""

This is also a good chain, although they (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) did not report it.
Another Hadith

Muslim, Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i recorded that Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said;

"The Messenger of Allah said;

مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيَّ وَاحِدَةً صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ بِهَا عَشْرًا

Whoever sends one Salah upon me, Allah will send ten upon him.

At-Tirmidhi said;"This is a Sahih Hasan Hadith.

On the same topic, narrations come from Abdur-Rahman bin `Awf, `Amir bin Rabi`ah, `Ammar, Abu Talhah, Anas and Ubayy bin Ka`b."
Another Hadith

Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Hurayrah;

the Prophet said;

صَلُّوا عَلَيَّ فَإِنَّهَا زَكَاةٌ لَكُمْ وَسَلُوا اللهَ لِيَ الْوَسِيلَةَ فَإِنَّهَا دَرَجَةٌ فِي أَعْلَى الْجَنَّةِ لَا يَنَالُهَا إِلاَّ رَجُلٌ وَأَرْجُو أَنْ أَكُونَ أَنَا هُو

Send Salah upon me, for this is Zakah for you, and ask Allah to grant me Al-Wasilah, for it is a position in the highest part of Paradise which only one man will attain, and I hope that I will be the one.

This was recorded only by Ahmad.
Another Hadith

Imam Ahmad recorded that Al-Husayn bin Ali said that the Messenger of Allah said;

الْبَخِيلُ مَنْ ذُكِرْتُ عِنْدَهُ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُصَلِّ عَلَي

The miser is the one in whose presence I am mentioned, then he does not send Salah upon me.

Abu Sa`id said;

فَلَمْ يُصَلِّ عَلَي
and he does not send Salah upon me.

This was also recorded by At-Tirmidhi, who then said;"This Hadith is Hasan Gharib, Sahih."
Another Hadith

At-Tirmidhi recorded that Abu Hurayrah said;

"The Messenger of Allah said;

رَغِمَ أَنْفُ رَجُلٍ ذُكِرْتُ عِنْدَهُ فَلَمْ يُصَلِّ عَلَيَّ وَرَغِمَ أَنْفُ رَجُلٍ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ انْسَلَخَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُغْفَرَ لَهُ وَرَغِمَ أَنْفُ رَجُلٍ أَدْرَكَ عِنْدَهُ أَبَوَاهُ الْكِبَرَ فَلَمْ يُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّة

May he be humiliated, the man in whose presence I am mentioned and he does not send Salah upon me;

may he be humiliated, the man who sees the month of Ramadan come and go, and he is not forgiven;

may he be humiliated, the man whose parents live to old age and they do not cause him to be granted admittance to Paradise."

Then he (At-Tirmidhi) said;"Hasan Gharib."
Occasions for saying Salah upon Him

It is reported that we should send blessings upon him on many occasions, such as following the call to prayer, as in the Hadith recorded by Imam Ahmad from Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As, who said that he heard the Messenger of Allah say;

إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ مُوَذِّنًا فَقُولُوا مِثْلَمَا يَقُولُ ثُمَّ صَلُّوا عَلَيَّ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ بِهَا عَشْرًا ثُمَّ سَلُوا اللهَ لِيَ الْوَسِيلَةَ فَإِنَّهَا مَنْزِلَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ لَا تَنْبَغِي إِلاَّ لِعَبْدٍ مِنْ عِبَادِ اللهِ وَأَرْجُو أَنْ أَكُونَ أَنَا هُوَ فَمَنْ سَأَلَ لِيَ الْوَسِيلَةَ حَلَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّفَاعَة


When you hear the Mu'adhdhin, repeat what he says, then send Salah upon me, for whoever sends Salah upon me, Allah will send Salah upon him tenfold. Then ask Allah to grant me Al-Wasilah, which is a status in Paradise to which only one of the servants of Allah will be entitled, and I hope that I will be the one. Whoever asks Allah for Al-Wasilah for me, it will be permitted for me to intercede for him.

This was recorded by Muslim, Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i.

Other occasions when we should send Salah upon the Prophet include when entering or exiting the Masjid, because of the Hadith recorded by Imam Ahmad from Fatima, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah who said;

"When the Messenger of Allah entered the Masjid, he would send Salah and Salam upon Muhammad, and say,

اللْهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي وَافْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِك

O Allah, forgive me my sins and open for me the gates of Your mercy

When he exited, he would send Salah and Salam upon Muhammad, and say,

اللْهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي وَافْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ فَضْلِك

O Allah, forgive me my sins and open for me the gates of Your bounty."

We should also send Salah upon him during the Funeral prayer.

The Sunnah is to recite Surah Al-Fatihah following the first Takbir,

to send Salah upon the Prophet during the second Takbir,

to make supplication for the deceased during the third Takbir,

and in the fourth Takbir to say,

"O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward, and do not test us after him."

Ash-Shafi`i, may Allah have mercy on him, recorded that Abu Umamah bin Sahl bin Hunayf was told by one of the Companions of the Prophet that the Sunnah in the funeral prayer is for

the Imam to pronounce the Takbir,

then to recite Surah Al-Fatihah silently after the first Takbir,

then to send Salah upon the Prophet,

then to offer sincere supplication for the deceased, but not to recite any Qur'an in any of the Takbirs,

then to conclude by saying Salam silently.

An-Nasa'i also recorded this from Abu Umamah, who said, "This is from the Sunnah," and he mentioned it.

According to the correct view, such a statement reported from a Companion carries the ruling of Marfu`.
It is recommended to conclude supplications with Salah upon the Prophet

At-Tirmidhi recorded that Umar bin Al-Khattab said;

"A supplication remains suspended between heaven and earth and does not ascend any further until you send Salah upon your Prophet."

This was also narrated by Mu`adh bin Al-Harith from Abu Qurrah from Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib from Umar, as a saying of the Prophet.

It was also recorded by Razin bin Mu`awiyah in his book, where he also attributed it to the Prophet reporting that he said;

الدُّعَاءُ مَوْقُوفٌ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالاَْرْضِ لَا يَصْعَدُ حَتَّى يُصَلَّى عَلَيَّ فَلَ تَجْعَلُونِي كَغُمْرِ الرَّاكِبِ صَلُّوا عَلَيَّ أَوَّلَ الدُّعَاءِ وَاخِرَهُ وَأَوْسَطَه

A supplication remains suspended between heaven and earth and does not ascend any further until a person sends Salah on me. Do not treat me like a spare water container, send Salah upon me at the beginning of your supplication, at the end and in the middle.

Sending Salah upon the Prophet is even more strongly encouraged in the Qunut supplication. Ahmad, the Sunan compilers, Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibban and Al-Hakim recorded that Al-Hasan bin Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said;

"The Messenger of Allah taught me some words to say during Al-Witr;

اللْهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلَا يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ وَإِنَّهُ لَا يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ وَلَا يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْت


"O Allah,

- guide me along with those whom You have guided,

- grant me health along with those to whom You have granted health,

- be an ally to me along with those to whom You are an ally, and bless me for that which You have bestowed.

- Protect me from the evil You have decreed, for verily You decree and none can decree over You.

- Verily, he whom You show allegiance to is never abased and he whom You take as an enemy is never honored and mighty,

O our Lord, blessed and Exalted are You.""

In his Sunan, An-Nasa'i has the addition,

وَصَلَّى اللهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّد

"and may Allah bless Muhammad."

at the end of this Qunut.

It is also recommended to say plenty of Salah upon him on Friday and on the eve of Friday. Imam Ahmad recorded that Aws bin Aws Ath-Thaqafi, may Allah be pleased with him, said;

"The Messenger of Allah said;

مِنْ أَفْضَلِ أَيَّامِكُمْ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ فِيهِ خُلِقَ ادَمُ وَفِيهِ قُبِضَ وَفِيهِ النَّفْخَةُ وَفِيهِ الصَّعْقَةُ فَأَكْثِرُوا عَلَيَّ مِنَ الصَّلَةِ فِيهِ فَإِنَّ صَلَتَكُمْ مَعْرُوضَةٌ عَلَي

One of the best of your days is Friday; on this day Adam was created and died, on this day the Trumpet (Sur) will be blown and all will have swoon away. So on this day send plenty of Salah upon me, for your Salah will be presented to me.

They said, `O Messenger of Allah, how will they be shown to you after your body has dispersed into the earth.'

He said,

إِنَّ اللهَ حَرَّمَ عَلَى الاَْرْضِ أَنْ تَأْكُلَ أَجْسَادَ الاَْنْبِيَاء

Allah has forbidden the earth to consume the bodies of the Prophets."

This was also recorded by Abu Dawud, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah, and it was graded Sahih by Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibban, Ad-Daraqutni and An-Nawawi in Al-Adhkar.