—glorified is He—is the One to whom people draw near through every good word or deed.
His words, “Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings,” are a supplication for peace, mercy, and blessings upon the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). The one for whom supplication is made is not himself invoked alongside Allah.
His words, “Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah,” contain a supplication for oneself and for all believers, asking that they be kept safe from every affliction, defect, deficiency, and evil. This is one of the Prophet’s concise, all-encompassing utterances (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).
Some scholars said: “He taught them to single him out for mention (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), because of his honor and the greater right he had over them. He then taught them to mention themselves first, because concern for themselves takes priority. He then instructed them to extend the greeting of peace to all the righteous, thereby indicating that supplication for the believers should encompass them all.”1.
His words, “I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger,” contain testimony to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, affirming His oneness, and testimony to His Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), affirming his servitude and messengership. Thus, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, he is a servant who is not to be worshiped, but rather a messenger who is to be obeyed and followed.
After the tashahhud, it is prescribed for the Muslim to invoke blessings upon the noble Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) using the Abrahamic formula authentically reported from him (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). Several hadiths have been transmitted concerning it. Among them is the report narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim from Abd al-Rahmān ibn Abī Laylā, who said: “Ka'b ibn Ujra (may Allah be pleased with him) met me and said: Shall I give you a gift that I heard from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace)? I replied: Yes, give it to me. He said: We asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), saying: O Messenger of Allah, how are we to invoke blessings upon you, the Household, when Allah has already taught us how to greet you with peace? He replied: Say: O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Abraham and the family of Abraham. Indeed, You are