Al-Salat-ul-Ibrahimiyyah

Q 3: Al-Salat-ul-Ibrahimiyyah (the second part of the Tashahhud) is the most correct formula for invoking Allah to confer peace and blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him). Is there any other formula for invoking peace and blessings upon the Prophet and is the phrase saying: “You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory” authentically reported as part of it?

A: According to the Hadith reported in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim), Al-Salat-ul-Ibrahimiyyah has certain characteristics. It was narrated from Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) came to us, so we said to him, “We have learnt how to invoke peace upon you, but how should we send Salahs upon you.” He (peace be upon him) said, ‘Say: O Allah! Send Salah (Graces, Honors, Blessings, Mercy) upon Muhammad and upon the Family of Muhammad as You have sent Salah upon the Family of Ibrahim (Abraham), You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. O Allah! Send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the Family of Muhammad as You have sent blessings upon the Family of Ibrahim, You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory.’” It was reported from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that They asked, “O Messenger of Allah! How should we send Salahs upon you?” He (peace be upon him) said, “Say: O Allah! Send Salahs (Graces, Honors, Blessings, Mercy) upon Muhammad and blessings upon Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad as You have sent Salah and blessings upon the Family of Ibrahim, You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory.’” Al-Bayhaqy stated that it was related by Al-Bazzar with an authentic chain of narrators. It was reported in "Sahih Muslim" on the authority of Abu Mas‘ud Al-Ansary (may Allah be pleased with him) that The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) came to us while we were sitting with Sa‘d ibn ‘Ubadah. Bashir ibn Sa‘d said to him, ‘Allah (Exalted be He) commanded us to send Salahs upon you, but how should we send Salahs upon you?’ The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) fell silent until we wished he had not asked him. (Part No. 5; Page No. 400) ‘Say: O Allah! Send Salahs (Graces, Honors, Blessings, Mercy) upon Muhammad and upon the Family of Muhammad as You have sent Salahs upon Ibrahim (Abraham) and upon the Family of Ibrahim, and send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the Family of Muhammad as You have sent blessings upon Ibrahim (Abraham) and upon the Family of Ibrahim in the Worlds, You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. As for Salam (Islamic greeting of peace), it is as you have learned.’” It was also authentically reported from Abu Hamid Al-Sa‘idy that They said, “O Messenger of Allah! How should we send Salahs upon you?” He (peace be upon him) said, “Say: O Allah! Send (Graces, Honors, Blessings, Mercy) Salahs upon Muhammad, his wives, and his offspring as You have sent Salahs upon the Family of Ibrahim (Abraham), and send blessings upon Muhammad, his wives, and his offspring, as You have sent blessings upon the Family of Ibrahim, You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory.’” This is the wording of Muslim. The formula of Al-Salat-ul-Ibrahimiyyah is preferred, and anyone who recites an invocatory formula that is authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) has done right.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.