Written by: Ibn ul Hasan Muhammadi
Sayyiduna Aws ibn Aws (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
"Indeed, the best of your days is Friday. On this day, Adam (AS) was created, on this day the Trumpet will be blown, and on this day, the sound of the Blast will occur. So, increase your salutations upon me on this day, for your salutations will be presented to me."
A man asked, "O Messenger of Allah! How will our salutations be presented to you after your demise when your body would have decayed in the grave?" The Prophet (PBUH) replied:
"Indeed, Allah has forbidden the earth from consuming the bodies of the Prophets."
[Musnad Imam Ahmad: 8/4; Sunan Abi Dawood: 1047, 1531; Sunan al-Nasa'i: 1375; Sunan Ibn Majah: 1085, 1636; Fadl al-Salat 'ala al-Nabi by Qadi Ismail: 22, and its chain is authentic]
This hadith has been declared "Sahih" by Imam Ibn Khuzaymah [1733], Imam Ibn Hibban [910], and Hafiz Ibn Qattan Fassi [Bayaan al-Wahm wal-Eehaam: 574/5].
Imam Hakim [278/1] has also mentioned that this hadith is "Sahih according to the conditions of Imam Bukhari," and Hafiz Dhahabi has agreed with him.
Hafiz Nawawi has also authenticated its chain as "Sahih"[Riyadh al-Saliheen: 1399, Khulasat al-Ahkam: 441/1, 814/2]
Hafiz Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (d. 751 AH) writes:
"Anyone who reflects on this chain will not doubt its authenticity, as its narrators are reliable, well-known, and their narrations are accepted by the Imams of Hadith."[Jala al-Afham: 81]
"Do not turn your houses into graves, and do not make my grave a place of gathering (for celebrations), but send salutations upon me, for your salutations will reach me wherever you are."
[Musnad Imam Ahmad: 2/367, Hadith: 8790; Sunan Abi Dawood: 2042, and its chain is Hasan]
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
"Indeed, Allah has angels roaming the earth who convey to me the salutations from my Ummah."
[Musnad Imam Ahmad: 1/387, 441, 452; Sunan al-Nasa'i al-Sughra: 3/44, Hadith: 1282; Sunan al-Nasa'i al-Kubra: 6/22, and its chain is Hasan]
Many scholars have authenticated this hadith, including Imam Ibn Hibban [914], who declared it as "Sahih," and Imam Hakim [2/456], who regarded it as "Sahih al-Isnad," with Hafiz Dhahabi agreeing.
"When you send salutations upon the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), do so in the best manner, for you do not know, perhaps it will be presented to him." They asked him, "Teach us how to send salutations." He replied:
"Say: O Allah! Send Your Salat, Mercy, and Blessings upon the Leader of the Messengers, the Imam of the Righteous, and the Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad, Your servant and Messenger, the Leader of Goodness, the Guide of Goodness, and the Messenger of Mercy. O Allah! Grant him the Praised Station, which the first and the last will envy him for. O Allah! Send Salat upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You sent Salat upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah! Bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious."
[Sunan Ibn Majah: 906; Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir by Tabarani: 9/115, Hadith: 8594; Musnad al-Shashi: 611; Al-Da'awat al-Kabir by Bayhaqi: 177, and its chain is Sahih]
"There is no one from the Ummah of Muhammad (PBUH) who sends salutations upon him except that it reaches him. The angel says to him: So-and-so is sending such-and-such salutations upon you."
[Shu'ab al-Iman by Bayhaqi: 1482; Hayat al-Anbiya fi Quburihim by Bayhaqi: 17; Musnad Ishaq ibn Rahwayh, quoted by al-Matalib al-Aliyah by Ibn Hajar: 3333]
However, its chain is "weak," because Abu Yahya Qattat, the narrator, is considered "weak" and unreliable by the majority of the scholars of hadith.
Salutations Presented to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Sayyiduna Aws ibn Aws (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
"Indeed, the best of your days is Friday. On this day, Adam (AS) was created, on this day the Trumpet will be blown, and on this day, the sound of the Blast will occur. So, increase your salutations upon me on this day, for your salutations will be presented to me."
A man asked, "O Messenger of Allah! How will our salutations be presented to you after your demise when your body would have decayed in the grave?" The Prophet (PBUH) replied:
"Indeed, Allah has forbidden the earth from consuming the bodies of the Prophets."
[Musnad Imam Ahmad: 8/4; Sunan Abi Dawood: 1047, 1531; Sunan al-Nasa'i: 1375; Sunan Ibn Majah: 1085, 1636; Fadl al-Salat 'ala al-Nabi by Qadi Ismail: 22, and its chain is authentic]
This hadith has been declared "Sahih" by Imam Ibn Khuzaymah [1733], Imam Ibn Hibban [910], and Hafiz Ibn Qattan Fassi [Bayaan al-Wahm wal-Eehaam: 574/5].
Imam Hakim [278/1] has also mentioned that this hadith is "Sahih according to the conditions of Imam Bukhari," and Hafiz Dhahabi has agreed with him.
Hafiz Nawawi has also authenticated its chain as "Sahih"[Riyadh al-Saliheen: 1399, Khulasat al-Ahkam: 441/1, 814/2]
Hafiz Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (d. 751 AH) writes:
"Anyone who reflects on this chain will not doubt its authenticity, as its narrators are reliable, well-known, and their narrations are accepted by the Imams of Hadith."[Jala al-Afham: 81]
Salutations Should Not Be Neglected
Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:"Do not turn your houses into graves, and do not make my grave a place of gathering (for celebrations), but send salutations upon me, for your salutations will reach me wherever you are."
[Musnad Imam Ahmad: 2/367, Hadith: 8790; Sunan Abi Dawood: 2042, and its chain is Hasan]
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
"Indeed, Allah has angels roaming the earth who convey to me the salutations from my Ummah."
[Musnad Imam Ahmad: 1/387, 441, 452; Sunan al-Nasa'i al-Sughra: 3/44, Hadith: 1282; Sunan al-Nasa'i al-Kubra: 6/22, and its chain is Hasan]
Many scholars have authenticated this hadith, including Imam Ibn Hibban [914], who declared it as "Sahih," and Imam Hakim [2/456], who regarded it as "Sahih al-Isnad," with Hafiz Dhahabi agreeing.
The Best Way to Send Salutations
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (RA) used to say:"When you send salutations upon the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), do so in the best manner, for you do not know, perhaps it will be presented to him." They asked him, "Teach us how to send salutations." He replied:
"Say: O Allah! Send Your Salat, Mercy, and Blessings upon the Leader of the Messengers, the Imam of the Righteous, and the Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad, Your servant and Messenger, the Leader of Goodness, the Guide of Goodness, and the Messenger of Mercy. O Allah! Grant him the Praised Station, which the first and the last will envy him for. O Allah! Send Salat upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You sent Salat upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah! Bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious."
[Sunan Ibn Majah: 906; Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir by Tabarani: 9/115, Hadith: 8594; Musnad al-Shashi: 611; Al-Da'awat al-Kabir by Bayhaqi: 177, and its chain is Sahih]
Benefit:
It is attributed to Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) that he said:"There is no one from the Ummah of Muhammad (PBUH) who sends salutations upon him except that it reaches him. The angel says to him: So-and-so is sending such-and-such salutations upon you."
[Shu'ab al-Iman by Bayhaqi: 1482; Hayat al-Anbiya fi Quburihim by Bayhaqi: 17; Musnad Ishaq ibn Rahwayh, quoted by al-Matalib al-Aliyah by Ibn Hajar: 3333]
However, its chain is "weak," because Abu Yahya Qattat, the narrator, is considered "weak" and unreliable by the majority of the scholars of hadith.