This is the wording used by all these compilers, except that al-Tirmidhī has “upon Abraham” in both places, without mentioning his family. This is also a version transmitted by Abū Dāwūd and al-Nasā’ī. Another version reads, “as You sent blessings upon the family of Abraham,” followed by “as You blessed Abraham,” mentioning the family in the first instance and Abraham in the second.

In the two Sahīh collections and the three Sunan collections, Abū Humayd al-Sāʿidī reported:

They said, “O Messenger of Allah, how should we invoke blessings upon you?”

He replied, “Say: O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad, his wives and his descendants, as You sent blessings upon the family of Abraham. And bless Muhammad, his wives and his descendants, as You blessed the family of Abraham. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.”

This is the well-known wording. It has also been transmitted with the wording “as You sent blessings upon Abraham” and “as You blessed Abraham,” without mentioning the family in either place.

In Sahīh al-Bukhārī, Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī said:

We said, “O Messenger of Allah, we know how to greet you with peace, but how should we invoke blessings upon you?”

He replied, “Say: O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad, Your servant and Messenger, as You sent blessings upon the family of Abraham. And bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed the family of Abraham.”

In Sahīh Muslim, Abū Masʿūd al-Ansārī said:

The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came to us while we were gathered with Saʿd ibn ʿUbādah. Bashīr ibn Saʿd said to him, “Allah has commanded us to invoke blessings upon you. How should we invoke blessings upon you?”

He continued: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, remained silent until we wished that he had not asked him. Then the Messenger of Allah said