1358 – Ibn Masʿūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The people who will be nearest to me on the Day of Resurrection are those who have invoked the most blessings upon me.” Recorded by al-Tirmidhi, and declared authentic by Ibn Ḥibbān.⦗1⦘

• Rank of the ḥadīth:
  The report is ḥasan (sound). Ṣiddīq ibn Ḥasan Khān states in his book Nuzul al-Abrār: “Al-Tirmidhi recorded it and graded it ḥasan, while Ibn Ḥibbān recorded it and declared it ṣaḥīḥ. Its chain contains Mūsā ibn Yaʿqūb al-Zamʿī; Ibn Maʿīn and Abū Dāwūd both judged him trustworthy, so his presence in the isnād does not detract from its authenticity.” Al-Tirmidhi added, “There are corroborating reports from Ibn ʿAwf, ʿĀmir, ʿAmmār, Abū Ṭalḥah, Anas and Ubayy ibn Kaʿb (may Allah be pleased with them all).”

• Vocabulary:
  – awlā al-nās bī: those closest to me and the most entitled to my intercession.

• Lessons drawn from the ḥadīth:

1. The Prophet’s statement, “The people who will be nearest to me on the Day of Resurrection are those who invoke the most blessings upon me,” means that the ones most deserving of his intercession and closest to him on that Day are those who frequently send ṣalāt upon him in this life.
2. Many texts speak of the merit of invoking blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Among them is Allah’s saying: “Indeed Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe, invoke blessings upon him and give him greetings of peace.” (Al-Aḥzāb 33:56).