—specifically the final tashahhud. Many scholars maintain that it is a fundamental pillar without which the prayer is invalid; others regard it as a sunnah, while still others classify it as obligatory. The safe course is never to omit it in one’s prayer—that is, invoking blessings upon the Prophet, ﷺ. Were a person to attach every supplication he makes to blessings upon the Prophet, ﷺ, it would, as the hadith states, lift his worries and wipe away his sins.

So, my brother, increase your prayers of blessing and peace upon the Messenger; your faith will grow and your affairs will be eased. Next, understand that the Messenger, ﷺ, is a human being who has no power to bring you benefit or harm. Therefore do not petition him; do not say, “O Messenger of Allah, do such-and-such for me; O Messenger of Allah, seek forgiveness for me; O Messenger of Allah, rescue me; O Messenger of Allah, make my matter easy.” Such requests are forbidden and constitute major shirk, for it is impermissible to invoke anyone alongside Allah. Supplication is worship owed solely to Allah. The Exalted says, “Your Lord has proclaimed, ‘Call upon Me and I will respond to you. Indeed, those who wax too proud to worship Me shall enter Hell, humiliated.’” (Q 40:60)

If someone were to ask, “Whose right is greater—the right of one’s parents, meaning the mother and father, or that of the Messenger?” the answer is: the Messenger’s right is greater even than your own right over yourself; for that reason a person must be willing to sacrifice himself for the Messenger.