Written by: Maulana Abu Al-Hasan Mubashar Ahmad Rabbani
Question:
Is it true that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) hears the sound of Durud (blessings) wherever it is recited in the world, as suggested by a certain narration?
Answer:
Regarding sending Durud (blessings) upon the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), Allah Almighty says:
“Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace.”
[Al-Ahzab 33:56]
↰ From this verse, it is understood that sending blessings and peace upon the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is obligatory.
↰ However, there is no authentic Hadith that confirms that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) hears the sound of Durud wherever it is recited in the world.
◈ Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) in his book on sending blessings and peace, "Jala’ al-Afham," records a narration from Abu Darda (رضي الله عنه) with the following chain:
"Abu Darda (رضي الله عنه) said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Send blessings upon me abundantly on Fridays. It is a witnessed day, attended by angels. There is no one who sends blessings upon me except that his voice reaches me, no matter where he is.’ We asked: ‘Even after your death?’ The Prophet (ﷺ) replied: ‘Even after my death. Indeed, Allah has forbidden the earth from consuming the bodies of the Prophets.’”
Commentary:
This narration is not authentic.
◈ Imam Al-Iraqi (رحمه الله) stated:
“Its chain is not authentic.”
[Al-Qawl al-Badi' fi al-Salat 'ala al-Habib al-Shafi' p. 159]
↰ There are two reasons why this chain is not authentic:
Disconnection between Saeed bin Abi Maryam and Khalid bin Yazid:
Saeed bin Abi Maryam did not hear this Hadith from Khalid bin Yazid. This is because Khalid bin Yazid died in 139 AH, while Saeed bin Abi Maryam was born in 144 AH.
[Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 2/178, 2/296]
Hence, Saeed was born five years after Khalid's death, making it impossible for this narration to be authentic.
Disconnection between Saeed bin Abi Hilal and Abu Darda (رضي الله عنه):
Saeed bin Abi Hilal was born in Egypt in 70 AH.
[Tahdhib al-Tahdhib: p. 52]
Therefore, it is impossible for someone born in 70 AH to have met Abu Darda (رضي الله عنه), who passed away before Saeed's birth.
◈ Imam Salahuddin al-‘Alai (رحمه الله) wrote:
"The narration of Saeed bin Abi Hilal from Jabir (رضي الله عنه) is Mursal (disconnected).
[Jami' al-Tahsil: 22224]
Since Jabir (رضي الله عنه) died in Madinah after 70 AH, and Saeed’s narrations from Jabir (رضي الله عنه) are Mursal, it is clear that any narration attributed to Abu Darda (رضي الله عنه), who passed away before Jabir (رضي الله عنه), is also not authentic. Therefore, this narration is weak."
Additionally:
◈ Allama Sakhawi (رحمه الله) in "Al-Qawl al-Badi'" mentions the narration from Tabarani al-Kabir as follows:
"It was narrated by Tabarani in al-Kabir with the wording: ‘Send blessings abundantly on Friday, for it is a witnessed day attended by the angels. There is no servant who sends blessings upon me except that his blessings are conveyed to me, no matter where he is.’"
In “Jala’ al-Afham,” the wording is 'بلغتني صوته' (his voice reaches me), while in 'Al-Qawl al-Badi,' it is 'بلغتني صلاته' (his blessings reach me). In the latter, the issue is resolved because it is established from authentic Ahadith that the Prophet (ﷺ) is informed of the Durud sent upon him. However, the narration in “Jala’ al-Afham,” which mentions that the Prophet (ﷺ) hears the sound of Durud, is not reliable in terms of its chain.
Question:
Is it true that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) hears the sound of Durud (blessings) wherever it is recited in the world, as suggested by a certain narration?
Answer:
Regarding sending Durud (blessings) upon the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), Allah Almighty says:
“Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace.”
[Al-Ahzab 33:56]
↰ From this verse, it is understood that sending blessings and peace upon the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is obligatory.
↰ However, there is no authentic Hadith that confirms that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) hears the sound of Durud wherever it is recited in the world.
◈ Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) in his book on sending blessings and peace, "Jala’ al-Afham," records a narration from Abu Darda (رضي الله عنه) with the following chain:
"Abu Darda (رضي الله عنه) said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Send blessings upon me abundantly on Fridays. It is a witnessed day, attended by angels. There is no one who sends blessings upon me except that his voice reaches me, no matter where he is.’ We asked: ‘Even after your death?’ The Prophet (ﷺ) replied: ‘Even after my death. Indeed, Allah has forbidden the earth from consuming the bodies of the Prophets.’”
Commentary:
This narration is not authentic.
◈ Imam Al-Iraqi (رحمه الله) stated:
“Its chain is not authentic.”
[Al-Qawl al-Badi' fi al-Salat 'ala al-Habib al-Shafi' p. 159]
↰ There are two reasons why this chain is not authentic:
Disconnection between Saeed bin Abi Maryam and Khalid bin Yazid:
Saeed bin Abi Maryam did not hear this Hadith from Khalid bin Yazid. This is because Khalid bin Yazid died in 139 AH, while Saeed bin Abi Maryam was born in 144 AH.
[Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 2/178, 2/296]
Hence, Saeed was born five years after Khalid's death, making it impossible for this narration to be authentic.
Disconnection between Saeed bin Abi Hilal and Abu Darda (رضي الله عنه):
Saeed bin Abi Hilal was born in Egypt in 70 AH.
[Tahdhib al-Tahdhib: p. 52]
Therefore, it is impossible for someone born in 70 AH to have met Abu Darda (رضي الله عنه), who passed away before Saeed's birth.
◈ Imam Salahuddin al-‘Alai (رحمه الله) wrote:
"The narration of Saeed bin Abi Hilal from Jabir (رضي الله عنه) is Mursal (disconnected).
[Jami' al-Tahsil: 22224]
Since Jabir (رضي الله عنه) died in Madinah after 70 AH, and Saeed’s narrations from Jabir (رضي الله عنه) are Mursal, it is clear that any narration attributed to Abu Darda (رضي الله عنه), who passed away before Jabir (رضي الله عنه), is also not authentic. Therefore, this narration is weak."
Additionally:
◈ Allama Sakhawi (رحمه الله) in "Al-Qawl al-Badi'" mentions the narration from Tabarani al-Kabir as follows:
"It was narrated by Tabarani in al-Kabir with the wording: ‘Send blessings abundantly on Friday, for it is a witnessed day attended by the angels. There is no servant who sends blessings upon me except that his blessings are conveyed to me, no matter where he is.’"
In “Jala’ al-Afham,” the wording is 'بلغتني صوته' (his voice reaches me), while in 'Al-Qawl al-Badi,' it is 'بلغتني صلاته' (his blessings reach me). In the latter, the issue is resolved because it is established from authentic Ahadith that the Prophet (ﷺ) is informed of the Durud sent upon him. However, the narration in “Jala’ al-Afham,” which mentions that the Prophet (ﷺ) hears the sound of Durud, is not reliable in terms of its chain.