a particular need—the address narrated by Ibn Masʿūd—and the prescribed sermons, such as the Friday sermon and others.

The Sunan collections report that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Every address that contains no testimony of faith is like a severed hand.”

Many of those who require mention of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in the sermon, such as the followers of al-Shāfiʿī and Ahmad, say that invoking blessings upon him is obligatory alongside praising Allah. Others say that he must be mentioned either by invoking blessings upon him or through the testimony of faith. This was the view preferred by my grandfather, Abū al-Barakāt.

The correct view is that mentioning him through the testimony of faith is obligatory, as this hadith indicates. Moreover, bearing witness to his messengership expresses faith in him, whereas invoking blessings upon him is a supplication for him. What a difference there is between the two! The testimony to his messengership is indispensable in both the first and final tashahhud of the prayer. Invoking blessings upon him, however, has been prescribed alongside supplication.

The testimony of faith is prescribed in addresses and expressions of praise. Thus, the tashahhud in prayer is praise of the True One, and the testimony of faith has been prescribed within it. The sermon is an address to people, and the testimony of faith has been prescribed within it. The call to prayer is remembrance of Allah intended to announce the time for worship and its performance, so the testimony of faith has been prescribed within it as well.

As for invoking blessings upon him, the reports indicate that this accompanies supplication, as in the hadith in which he said:

“This man has been hasty,”

and similar reports. For invoking blessings