As for the second ḥadith, it is the report of Ibn Masʿūd, may Allah be pleased with him. In it the Prophet, ﷺ, informed us that the people most entitled to him and the ones nearest to him on the Day of Resurrection are those who have invoked the greatest number of blessings upon him. Whoever sends abundant blessings upon the Prophet is the person most closely attached to him on that Day. This, too, is a clear encouragement to frequently invoke blessings upon the Prophet, ﷺ.

The third ḥadith is the narration of Aws ibn Aws, in which the Prophet, ﷺ, commanded us to increase our blessings upon him on Friday and told us that our blessings are presented to him. They are brought before him and it is said, “So-and-so, the son of so-and-so, has invoked blessings upon you,” or, “A man from your community has invoked blessings upon you.” Allah knows best whether the name of the person is specified or not; what matters is that the blessings are conveyed to the Prophet, ﷺ.

The Companions asked, “Messenger of Allah, how will they be presented to you when you have decayed?”—for aramta means “your body has decomposed.” He replied, “Allah has forbidden the earth to consume the bodies of the prophets.” Thus, no matter how long the prophets, peace be upon them, remain in the earth, their bodies are not consumed. As for other human beings, the earth normally consumes them, although Allah may honor certain individuals so that their bodies are preserved even after a long time. Still, we can be absolutely certain only about the prophets, peace be upon them.

Taken together, these three ḥadiths urge us to multiply our blessings upon the Prophet, ﷺ—especially on Friday—yet we should do so at all times. For every single blessing you invoke upon him, Allah blesses you ten times in return. O Allah, send Your blessings and peace upon Your servant and Messenger Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions.