Muhammad and Muhammad’s family,” thus mentioning both Muhammad and his family here, whereas there it uses the wording “Abraham’s family” or “Abraham”?

(The answer is: Blessings upon Muhammad and his family are mentioned by way of request and supplication, whereas blessings upon Abraham are mentioned by way of reporting and recounting. The words “upon Muhammad and upon Muhammad’s family” express a request, while “You bestowed blessings upon Abraham’s family” is a statement of fact. It is fitting to expand a request, because what is sought increases as the request is expanded and decreases as it is curtailed. A statement of fact, however, reports something that has already occurred and passed, admitting neither increase nor decrease. Adding words therefore adds nothing to its meaning, so brevity and concision are more complete, more adequate, and more fitting.

This is why the wording sometimes mentions Abraham’s family and sometimes Abraham: each expression conveys what the other conveys, namely, the blessings already bestowed. It is known that the blessings bestowed upon Abraham were blessings upon Abraham’s family, and that blessings upon Abraham’s family are blessings upon Abraham. Thus, both expressions convey the same meaning, with brevity and concision.

In a request, however, if one were to say, “O Allah, bestow blessings upon Muhammad,” nothing in this would indicate blessings upon Muhammad’s family. It is a request and supplication made through these words, not a report of something that has already occurred and been established. And if one were to say, “Bestow blessings upon