252 – It is narrated from Abū Masʿūd (may Allah be pleased with him) that Bashīr ibn Saʿd said: “O Messenger of Allah, Allah has commanded us to invoke blessings upon you; how, then, should we do so?” The Prophet remained silent for a while and then said:
“Say: ‘O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon the family of Abraham; and bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed the family of Abraham among all peoples. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. And the salām is as you have already been taught.’” Reported by Muslim.
Ibn Khuzaymah added: “How should we invoke blessings upon you when we do so in our prayer?” (1)

Vocabulary of the ḥadīth:
• kayfa (“how”): an interrogative noun built on fatḥ; it is commonly used for questions, as here.
• nuṣallī ʿalayka (“we send prayer upon you”): the believers’ ṣalāh for their Prophet is a supplication on his behalf, a request that his praise and perfection be increased—its basis is established in the Quran.
• Āl (“family”): originally from ahl; the hāʾ was changed to a hamzah and then to an alif, as shown by its diminutive form uhayl.
• wa bārik (“and bless”): affirm for him the permanence of the honour and distinction You have bestowed upon him. It is derived from the expression baraka al-baʿīr, when a camel kneels in its place and remains there. The word barakah is also used for increase, though the first meaning is primary.
• fī al-ʿālamīn (“among all peoples”): al-ʿālamīn is the plural of ʿālam (with an open lām) and denotes all created beings;