Even clearer still is the wording recorded by al-Ḥākim and Abū Ḥātim in their Ṣaḥīḥ collections: “How are we to invoke blessings upon you in our prayer?”—and so forth.

The two leading imams, Abū Ḥanīfah and Mālik, together with many other scholars, held that the formula is recommended (sunnah), basing themselves on the Prophet’s ﷺ statement—after he had recited the tashahhud—“When you have done this you have fulfilled your prayer.”

Rulings

1. Sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ in the final tashahhud of the prayer is obligatory. Abū al-ʿĀliyah explained that Allah’s “prayer” upon His Prophet is His praise of him and His exaltation of him.
2. It is the Prophet’s ﷺ due that we supplicate for him and send blessings upon him, for this magnificent religion reached us only through him.
3. The Prophet ﷺ taught his Companions both the greeting of peace and the formula for invoking blessings upon him.
4. One of the means by which the Prophet’s ﷺ rank is elevated and his degrees are raised is the supplication of his community for him.
5. The early generations used to exchange points of knowledge as gifts, considering them priceless treasures; such gifts are the finest of presents.
6. “Praiseworthy, Glorious” (ḥamīd, majīd): all perfection returns to praise (ḥamd) and glory (majd). Praise entails greatness and reverence, while glory signifies grandeur and majesty; praise also alludes to beneficence. These two noble attributes are the fountainhead of all the beautiful names of Allah.
7. Blessing (barakah) means growth and increase, and tabrīk is the supplication for both. Thus, “bless Muḥammad and his family” asks Allah to grant His Messenger ﷺ what He granted Abraham and his family—goodness in its abundance, breadth, and permanence.

Benefit
It is unanimously agreed that the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ is the most excellent of all creation.