Question:
What do the scholars and experts of shari’ah say regarding the virtues of sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ on Fridays?
Answer:
All perfect praise is for Allah ﷻ, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah ﷻ, and that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is His bondsman and Messenger.
Reciting blessings and salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ is a sign and a means of attaining closeness and obedience to Allah ﷻ. Regarding its permissibility, the Quran, numerous ahadith and the Ijma of the ummah bear witness to this.
In the Majestic Quran we find this guidance:
“Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet: O ye that believe! Send ye blessings upon him, and salute him with all respect.” (Surah Al-Ahzab: 56)
Many prophetic narrations encourage sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ and certain ahadith have given greater significance of sending salawat on Fridays.
Aws ibn Aws reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Verily, the best of your days is Friday. Adam was created on it, on it he died, on it the trumpet will be blown, and on it the call will be made. Thus, send blessings upon me often, for your blessings are presented to me.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, how are our blessings presented to you after you have decayed?” The Prophet said, “Verily, Allah Almighty has forbidden the earth from consuming the bodies of the prophets.” (Sunan Abu Dawud)
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday. Adam was created on Friday and on it he entered Paradise and on it he was expelled from therein. The Hour will not be established but on Friday.” (Sahih Muslim)
Apart from these blessed narrations, there are other ahadith which encourage sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ. Imam Nawwawi has compiled such narrations in his book ‘Riyadh al-Salihin’. Similarly, Imam Sakhawi (ra) has gathered such narrations encouraging the sending of blessings to the Prophet ﷺ on Fridays in his book ‘Al-Qawl al-Badi’ fi al-Salah ‘ala al-Habib al-Shafi’ ﷺ’.
And Allah ﷻ knows best.
This fatwa is written by Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Munir Al-Azhari
