Greetings and Salutations on the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

The Qur’anic verse pertaining to Greetings and Salutations is highly meaningful and replete with wisdom. Allah proclaims in the Qur’an as follows:"Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect."[33:56] 

As Allah Himself has acted upon this command this divine practice becomes the sunnah of Allah. This is unlike most of Allah’s other commands. All  worships such as prayers, fasting, the pilgrimage, charity and donations are the commandments of Allah but not His sunnah. Allah neither performs hajj nor fasts nor prays. He is above all these things. All these duties and deeds are not His sunnah but the sunnah of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم). So if a person offers prayers or goes to Makkah for the pilgrimage or keeps the fasts of Ramadan or gives the poor due or does any other virtue, he is following the sunnah of the holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) not the sunnah of Allah.

However, the showering of blessings and salutations upon the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) is the Divine practice of Allah, His sunnah. As the glory of Allah is the highest and the most exalted, so His sunnah is also the highest and the most exalted. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) is the faithful and devotee of Allah. Amongst all of creation, his ranking is the highest and the most reverend. Yet regardless of this ranking and reverence, no human can be equal to the Creator. So in the same way, the sunnah of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) cannot equate with the sunnah of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى)  1)

The Noble Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) has guaranteed the intercession for those who send salutations

 Hadith #1

The Noble Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) has guaranteed the intercession for those who send salutations if they ask Allah for it.

‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin al-Aas (رضي الله عنه) reported that he heard the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) saying:
When you hear the mu’adhdhin, repeat what he says, then invoke blessings on me for every one who invokes blessings on me once, will receive ten blessings from Allah. Then ask Allah for the waseelah to be granted to me. It is a position in paradise that may not be granted to any but one of Allah’s servants, and I dearly hope that I will be that servant. Whoever asks Allah for the waseelah for me, my intercession is guaranteed for him.

References►Muslim, as-Saheeh, b. of salat (prayer) ch.7 (1: 288-9 # 384)►Abu Dawood, Sunan, b. of salāt (prayer) 1: 144 (# 523)►Tirmidhi, al-Jami‘-us-saheeh, b. of manaqib (virtues and merits of the Prophet and his companions) ch.1 (5: 586-7 # 3614)►Nasai Sunan, b. of adhān (the call to prayer) 2: 25-6►Ahmad bin Hambal, Musnad (2:168)►Ibn Khuzaymah, as-Saheeh, 1: 219 (# 418)►Muhammad Khateeb Tabraizi, Mishkat-ul-Masabeeh, b. of salat (prayer) ch.5 (1: 215 # 657)►Husayn bin Masood Baghawi, Sharh-us-sunnah, 2: 284-5 (# 421)►Ala’-ud-Din ‘Ali, Kanz-ul-‘Ummal, 7: 700 (# 20998) 2)There is no guarantee of the acceptance of a dua (supplication) without invoking blessings on the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم).

Hadith #2

A tradition of the Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) states:

Fadalah bin ‘Ubayd reported: Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) was sitting amongst us, there entered a person and he prayed as saying, "O Allah! Forgive me, have mercy upon me." Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said, "O worshipper! You have made haste in praying. When you pray and sit (at the end) laud Allah of what He is worthy of and send blessings upon me and then supplicate Him." The narrator said: Then another man prayed after him and he lauded Allah and invoked blessings of Allah upon the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said to him, "O worshipper! Make a supplication and it would be responded."

Reference►Tirmidhi related in al-Jai‘-us-saheeh, b. of da‘awat (supplications) ch.65 (5: 516 # 3476) and graded it hasan (fair)

 Hadith #3

Once ‘Umar bin Khattab (رضي الله عنه) said to his nation:The supplication is stopped between the heaven and the earth and nothing of it ascends, till you invoke blessing on your Prophet.

Reference►Tirmidhi related in al-Jami‘-us-saheeh, b. of salat (prayer) ch.352 (2: 356 # 486).
 Hadith #4

The Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:He who invokes blessings upon me once, Allah showers ten blessings upon him and obliterates (his) ten sins and elevates him by ten ranks

Reference►Nasi, Sunan, b. of sahw (unintentional mistake), 3: 50; Ahmad bin Hambal, Musnad, 3: 102 & 261; Muhammad Hakim, al-Mustadrak, 1:550, and Dhahabi also graded it saheeh (sound).

Hadith #5

The Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:He who blesses me once, Allah blesses him ten times.

Reference►Muslim, as-Saheeh, b. of salat (prayer) ch. 17 (1: 251 # 408).
 

Hadith #6

‘Abdullah bin Masood (رضي الله عنه) reported Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) as saying:The one who will be nearest me on the Day of Resurrection will be the one who invoked most blessings on me.

Reference►Transmitted by Tirmidhi in his Sunan, b. of salāt (prayer), ch. 352 (2: 354 # 484)►Bukhari, at-Tireekh-ul-kabeer, (5: 177 # 559)►Baghawi, Sharh-us-sunnah, (3: 197 # 686)►Muhammad Khateeb Tabraizi, Mishkat-ul-masabeeh, b. of salāt (prayer), ch. 16 (1: 278 # 923)►Dhahabi, Meezan-ul-i‘tidal fi naqd-ir-rijal, (4: 228 # 8945).

3) Virtues of Greeting and Salutation 

 Hadith #7

Abu Talhah (رضي الله عنه) narrated assigning it to his father:

Allah’s Messenger came one day with a gleaming countenance and said, "Jibreel came to me and said," (Verily your Lord says,) "Muhammad! Does it not please you that one amongst your Ummah should invoke blessingson you and I should bless him ten times and one amongst your Ummah should send greetings of peace to you and I should send ten greetings of peace upon him.
Reference►Nasai, Sunan, b. of sahw (unintentional mistake), 3: 50.  
Hadith #8

Ibn Wahb (رضي الله عنه) related that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:
"Whosoever asks for peace on me ten times, it is as if he has freed a slave"

Reference►Qadi ‘Iyad, ash-Shifa, 2:653.  
4) Angels’ Salutations

Angels shower blessings and salutations upon the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)"Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect." [33: 56]

All the groups of angels are equally and unexceptionally engaged in showering blessings and salutations upon the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) together. Angels convey the greetings and salutations of the faithful from dawn to dusk. Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) likes these presents and invokes blessings upon the senders. As he (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) stated: Hadith #9
"The mobile (squads) of angels in the earth conveys to me the blessings invoked upon me by my Ummah"

Reference►Nasai, Sunan, b. of sahw (unintentional mistake) 3:43►Sulayman bin Ahmed Tabarani, al-Mu‘jam-ul-kabeer, (10: 219-20 # 10528-9)►Ahmad bin Husayn Bayhaqi, Shu‘ab-ul-iman, (2: 218 # 1582).

  Hadith #10 
"Invoke blessings upon me, since blessings invoked by you are conveyed to me wherever you may be"

Reference►Abu Dawood, Sunan, b. of manasik (rituals of hajj) (2: 218 # 2042)►‘Ali bin Abu Bakr Haythami, Majma‘-uz-zawa’id, 2: 247

 
Hadith #11
"He who invokes blessings upon me by my grave, I will hear him and he who invokes upon me at a distance it will be conveyed to me."

Reference►Ahmad bin Husayn Bayhaqī, Shu‘ab-ul-īmān, (2: 218 # 1583)►‘Ala’-ud-Din ‘Alī, Kanz-ul-‘ummal, (1: 498 # 1583)  5) 

Virtues of sending blessing and sending greetings of peace
Hadith #12

Abu Talhah (رضي الله عنه) narrated assigning it to his father:

Allah’s Messenger came one day with a gleaming countenance and said, "Jibreel came to me and said," (Verily your Lord says,) "Muhammad! Does it not please you that one amongst your Ummah should invoke blessingson you and I should bless him ten times and one amongst your Ummah should send greetings of peace to you and I should send ten greetings of peace upon him.
Reference►Nasai, Sunan, b. of sahw (unintentional mistake), 3: 50. 

If a believer sends salam upon the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) the reward is much higher in rank and degree. Muslims who pay salam upon the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) will be given a reply and have the same returned to them by Almighty Allah and the angels. Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) stated: Hadith #13
"There is no Muslim who invokes blessings upon me (salutes me), but Allah returns to me my soul till I respond to him in return."

Reference►Abu Dawood, Sunan, b. of manasik (rituals of hajj), (2: 218 # 2041)►Ahmad bin Hambal, Musnad, 2:527

 Hadith #14

‘Abd-ur-Rahman bin ‘Awf (رضي الله عنه) narrates that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:

I met Jibril who said: I give you good news that Allah has said, "Whosoever asks for peace for you, I ask for peace for him, whosoever blesses you, I bless him."

References►Muhammad Hakim transmitted it in al-Mustadrak (1:222-3) and Dhahabi also confirmed it►Bayhaqi in Sunan-ul-kubra (2:371 & 9:286)►Qadi ‘Iyad in ash-Shifa, 2:650.

Hadith #15

Amir bin Rabeeah (رضي الله عنه), on his father’s authority, said that he heard the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) saying:"The angels will continue to bless anyone who blesses me, as long as he continues to do so, so the servant should either reduce or enhance this"

References►Ibn Majah, Sunan, b. of iqamat-us-salat was-sunnah fiha (establishing prayer and its sunnahs) ch.25 (1:294#907)►Ahmad bin Hambal, Musnad (3:445)►Husayn bin Masood Baghawi, Sharh-us-sunnah (3:198#688)►Qadi ‘Iyad, ash-Shifa (2:651) Hadith #16 

Ibn Wahb (رضي الله عنه) related that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:"Whosoever asks for peace on me ten times, it is as if he has freed a slave"
Reference►Qadi ‘Iyad, ash-Shifa, 2:653 6) Curse on People who Don't send blessing on Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
 Hadith #17
"The miserly is he, before whom I am mentioned and he does not invoke blessings on me"

Reference►Tirmidhi, al-Jami‘-us-saheeh, b. of da‘wat (supplications) ch.101, (5: 551 # 3546) Hadith #18
"Let his nose be smeared with dust, in whose presence I am mentioned, and he does not invoke blessings upon me." 

Reference►Tirmidhi, al-Jami‘-us-saheh, b. of da‘wat (supplications) ch.101, (5: 550 # 3545). 

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) called him astray who does not invoke blessings upon him. It is stated as follows:
Hadith #19
"He who forgets (abandons) to invoke blessings on me, misses the road (leading) to the Paradise."

References►Ibn Majah, Sunan, b. of iqamat-us-salat was-sunnah fiha (establishing prayer and its sunnahs) ch. 25 (1: 294 # 908)

Ahmad bin Husayn Bayhaqi, Sunan-ul-kubra, 9:286.

 Hadith #20

Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) also reported that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:"If people sit in an assembly in which they do not remember Allah nor invoke a blessing on their Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), it will be a cause of grief for them (on the Day of Judgment)"

Reference►Narrated by Tirmidhi in his al-Jami‘-us-saheeh, b. of dua (supplication) ch.8 (5: 461 # 3380), and he graded it hasan (fair) and sahih (sound). 
7) The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) emphasized recite salat and salam abundantly
Hadith #21

Ubayy bin Ka‘b narrated:

I said, "O Allah’s Messenger, I invoke blessings upon you very frequently. How much of my supplication should I devote to you?” He said, "As much as you like." I said, "May it be a quarter?" He said, "As much as you like, but if you make an increase in that it would be better for you." I said, "May it be a half?" He said, "As much as you like, but in case you make an increase in it that would be better for you." I said, "May these be two thirds?" He said, "As much as you like but if you make an increase in it, it would be better." I said, "May I  devote the whole of my supplication to you (that I make in my prayer)?" Thereupon he said, "In that case you would be free from care and your sins would be forgiven.

Reference►Tirmidhi has graded it hasan (fair) and saheeh (sound) in his al-Jami‘-us-saheeh, b. of sifat-ul-qiyamah (description of Doomsday) ch.23, (4: 637 # 2457) 

8) Blessings are Present on Friday
Hadith #22

Shaddad bin Aws (رضي الله عنه) reported that Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:"The most excellent day is the day of Jumu‘ah (Friday). Adam was created on that (day) and on it the Trumpet will be blown and on it will (the people) loose their senses. So invoke blessings on me abundantly on that (day) for your blessings are presented to me"
Reference ►Ibn Majah, Sunan, b. of iqamat-us-salat was-sunnah fiha (establishing prayer and its sunnahs), ch. 79 (1: 345 # 1085); ibid, b. of jana’iz (funerals), ch. 65 (1: 524 # 1636); Abū Dawūd, Sunan, b. of salat (prayer), 1: 275 (# 1047)

  Hadith #23

Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:"Invoke blessings on me abundantly on the day of Jum‘ah (Friday). Verily it is attended and the angels attend it, and none invokes blessings on me but his supplication is presented to me till he finishes it."
Reference►Ibn Majah, Sunan, b. of jana’iz (funerals) ch. 65 (1: 524 # 1637) 

9) The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) Receives the Greetings

Although angels are commissioned by Almighty Allah to convey the blessings on the Noble Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), salam is directly received by the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم). He has categorically and unambiguously said:

Hadith  #24
"Invoke blessings on me, since blessings invoked by you are conveyed to me wherever you may be."

Reference►Abu Dawood, Sunan, b. of manasik (rituals of hajj) (2: 218 # 2042); ‘Ali bin Abu Bakr Haythami, Majma‘-uz-zawa’id, 2:247


It is revealed that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) knows his lovers and listens to them. Once he said to his companions about Hadrat ‘Isa (عليه السلام) that he will return to this world. Then Hadrat Eisa (عليه السلام) will visit Madinah and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:

 Hadith #25

And when he (‘Isa) will stand beside my grave calling: "O Muhammad!" I will respond to him.

Reference►Ibn Hajar ‘Asqalani, al-Matalib-ul-‘aliyah, (4: 23 # 3853).