Sending prayers for and supplicating to Allah for the Prophet

Q 2: Is it permissible to pray and supplicate Allah for the Prophet (peace be upon him) in general? If it is (Part No. 24; Page No. 160) permissible to do so, how and when?

A: It is permissible for Muslims to pray for the Prophet (peace be upon him), but supplicating to Allah for him in general is not permissible. That is because the past and future sins of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are entirely forgiven, and neither the Qur'an nor the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) provides evidence on the permissibility of supplicating to Allah for him in general. This is Bid`ah (innovation in religion) and against the basic ruling on the issue, especially since none of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did so. The manner of praying for the Prophet (peace be upon him) was related in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) on the authority of Ka`b ibn `Ujrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Companions asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) how they could pray for him, he said, "Say 'O, Allah! Send prayers upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, just like You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim. You are indeed the Praiseworthy and the Glorious. O Allah! Bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, just like You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are indeed the Praiseworthy and the Glorious. A Muslim may pray for the Prophet (peace be upon him) using other formulas that were authentically reported from him. Actually, there is no specific time to do so. One may pray for the Prophet (peace be upon him) in Tashahhud (a recitation in the sitting position in the second / last unit of Prayer), upon hearing, writing his name, or upon mentioning it.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.