Section 3: The Legitimacy of Sending Blessings and Peace upon the Messenger

Amongst his rights, which Allah has legislated for him upon his followers, is that they should seek graces (of Allah) and peace upon him. Allah the Most High had said: “Allah sends His Salat (Graces, Honors, Mercy, etc.) on the Prophet [Muhammad &[ 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 4g/ and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islamic way of greeting (salutation i.e. As-Salamu ‘Alaykum)” It has been reported that the meaning of Allah’s Salat, Most High is He, is His praise of him before the angels, and the Angels’ Salat means supplication (for him), and peoples’ Salat means al-Istighfar (seeking forgiveness for him ).’13 Allah, the Glorified had informed in this verse of the station of His Prophet amongst the highest companion, that He praises him in the presence of the closest Angels, and that the Angels supplicate for him. Then He - the Most High, ordered all the inhabitants of the lower world (earth) to make Salat (seek graces) upon him and salute him with peace in order that praise upon him by the inhabitants of the higher world (heavens) and the lower world (earth) coincide. The meaning of making peace upon him is that you should salute him with the greeting of Islam. So, whenever one seeks Salat upon the Prophet 4s, one should combine Salat (seeking graces) and Taslim (saluting him). He should not restrict it to one of the two. He should not say: ‘Sallallahu 'alayhi (may Allah shower graces upon him),' only, nor should he say: ‘Alayhis-Salam (upon him be peace), ’ only, because Allah had ordered both. 13 Mentioned by al-Bukhari from Abu al-‘Aliyyah. Seeking Salat upon him is is legislated at some specific instances wherein it is emphatically required, as a matter of obligation or recommendation. Ibn Qayyim mentioned in his book ‘‘The first instance - and it is the most emphatic of them - is in Prayer in the last Tashahhud.14 Muslims (i.e. their scholars) have agreed upon its legality, but differed about its obligation 5 Thereafter, he mentioned other instances; such as, at the end of a l-Quniit'6, during sermons such as the sermon for Friday prayer, the sermon for the Eid prayers and that after the prayer for seeking rain, after responding to the call to prayer, when supplicating, when entering the Mosque and when exiting therefrom, and when he is mentioned. Then he mentioned the benefits that are attained from making Salat (seeking graces) upon the Prophet He mentioned forty benefits17. Amongst them: (i) Obedience to the command of Allah the Glorified thereby; (ii) The one who sought Salat [upon the Prophet S£] receives ten Salat (graces) from Allah; (iii) Hope that one’s supplication will be responded to when it is put forth before the supplication; (iv) It is a factor for attaining the intercession of the Prophet (i.e. on the Day of Resurrection) when it is associated with seeking a 1-fVasTlah' for him (v) It is a factor for the pardoning of sins; (vi) The Prophet replies by seeking grace and peace upon the one seeking Salat and peace him. May the Salawat (Graces, Mercies, and Praises) of Allah and His Peace be upon this Noble Prophet. 14 Supplication in the lasting sitting of prayer. (TN) 15 Jala’ al-AJham, pg. 222 - 223. 16 Supplication before bowing in prayer or after raising the head from the bowing position. (TN) 17 Jala’ al-AJham, 302. ' The highest position of intercession on the Day of Judgment reserved for the Prophet alone. (TN)