and deemed them exclusive to him, just as invoking blessings is exclusive to him. This view has been attributed to Abū Muhammad al-Juwaynī. The majority of scholars, however, hold that greetings of peace are not exclusive to him. As for invoking blessings, there is a well-known disagreement.

This is because Allah Most High commanded in His Book that blessings and peace be invoked upon him specifically. He Most High said:

“Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe, invoke blessings upon him and greet him with peace.”

Here He both makes a declaration and issues a command. Concerning the believers generally, however, He makes a declaration without issuing a command. He Most High said:

“It is He who sends blessings upon you, as do His angels.”

Thus, when preachers mention this, they say: “Allah has given you a command in which He began with Himself, then mentioned His angels, and then addressed the believers among His creation”—that is, He said, “O you who believe.” For when speaking of His blessings upon the believers, He began with Himself and then mentioned His angels, but did not address the believers among His creation.

It also occurs in the hadith:

“Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the one who teaches people what is good.”

The Muslims agree that invoking blessings upon him, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, is prescribed during prayer before supplication, and outside prayer as well. They have differed only over whether invoking blessings upon him is obligatory in the prescribed prayers and in sermons. Al-Shāfiʿī held it to be obligatory, whereas Abū Hanīfah and Mālik did not. Two positions are reported from Imam Ahmad. If it is held to be obligatory, is it an essential pillar, or is its omission through forgetfulness excused? There are two reported positions on this as well.

The strongest view is that invoking blessings upon him is obligatory when supplicating: we should not supplicate until we have first invoked blessings upon him, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Greetings of peace upon him are commanded during prayer and form part of the tashahhud, which is