Invoking Blessings upon the Prophet (s.a.w.)

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

As recorded by Imam Shams ad-Din Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ahmad adz-Dzahabi (r.a.), in his Mu’jam ash-Shuyukh, Imam Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal (r.a.) was asked about touching the Prophet’s (s.a.w.) grave and kissing it and he saw nothing wrong with it.  His son, Shaykh ‘Abdullah (r.a.), related from him, “If it is asked, ‘Why did the companions not do this?’ we reply, because they saw him with their very eyes when he was alive, enjoyed his presence directly, kissed his very hand, nearly fought each other over the remnants of his ablution water, shared his purified hair on the day of the haj, and even if he spat it would virtually not fall except in someone's hand so that he could pass it over his face.  Since we have not had the tremendous fortune of sharing in this, we throw ourselves on his grave as a mark of commitment, reverence, and acceptance, even to kiss it. 

Do you not see what Tsabit al-Bunani did when he kissed the hand of Anas, and placed it on his face saying, ‘This is the hand that touched the hand of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.)’?  Muslims are not moved to these matters except by their excessive love for the Prophet (s.a.w.), as they are ordered to love Allah (s.w.t.) and the Prophet (s.a.w.) more than their own lives, their children, all human beings, their property, and Paradise and its maidens.  There are even some believers that love Abu Bakr, and ‘Umar more than themselves.’” 

There is also an extremely long hadits narrated by Sayyidina al-Miswar ibn Makhramah (r.a.), found in Swahih al-Bukhari, of which is only quoted, here, a small portion of it.  In the events leading up to the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, Sayyidina ‘Urwah ibn Mas’ud (r.a.) observed, whenever the Prophet (s.a.w.) the spittle would fall in the hand of one of them, the Prophet’s (s.a.w.) companions, who would rub it on his face and skin; if he ordered them they would carry his orders immediately; if he performed ablution, they would struggle to take the remaining water; and when they spoke to him, they would lower their voices and would not look at his face constantly out of respect.  Sayyidina ‘Urwah (r.a.) returned to his people and said, “O people!  By Allah, I have been to the kings and to Caesar, Khosrau and an-Najashi, yet I have never seen any of them respected by his courtiers as much as Muhammad is respected by his companions.  By Allah, if he spat, the spittle would fall in the hand of one of them who would rub it on his face and skin; if he ordered them, they would carry out his order immediately; if he performed ablution, they would struggle to take the remaining water; and when they spoke, they would lower their voices and would not look at his face constantly out of respect.” 

As recorded in Sunan Abu Dawud, Sayyidina Fudhalah ibn ‘Ubayd (r.a.) narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) heard a person supplicating during prayer.  But he did not mention the Greatness of Allah (s.w.t.), nor did he invoke blessings on the Prophet (s.a.w.).  The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “He made haste.”  He then called him, and said either to him or to any other person, “If any of you prays, he should mention the Exaltation of his Lord in the beginning, and praise Him; he should then invoke blessings on the Prophet; thereafter he should supplicate Allah for anything he wishes.” 

Also recorded in Sunan Abu Dawud, Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Sakhr ad-Dawsi az-Zahrani al-Azdi (r.a.) narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “If anyone invokes blessings on me once, Allah will Bless him ten times.” 

It is recorded, in Mishkat al-Maswabih, from Sayyidina Ubay ibn Ka’b (r.a.), that when a third of the night had passed, the Prophet (s.a.w.) used to get up and call out, “O people, remember Allah; the first call has sounded; after this comes the second call,” referring to the trumpet of the angel, Israfil (a.s.).  “It is accompanied by death, and all that it comprises.” 

Sayyidina Ubay ibn Ka’b (r.a.) said to the Prophet (s.a.w.), “O Messenger of Allah, I invoke Allah’s Peace and Blessings upon you copiously; how much time should I earmark for this?” 

He said, “As much time as you think proper.” 

Sayyidina Ubay ibn Ka’b (r.a.) asked, “A quarter of my time?” 

He replied, “As much you wish; but it would be better for you, if you would do more.” 

Sayyidina Ubay ibn Ka’b (r.a.) asked, “Half of my time?” 

He replied, “As much you wish; but it would be better for you, if you would do more.” 

Sayyidina Ubay ibn Ka’b (r.a.) asked, “Two-thirds of my time?” 

Again, he replied, “As much you wish; but it would be better for you, if you would do more.” 

Sayyidina Ubay ibn Ka’b (r.a.) asked, “Shall I devote all my time to reciting benedictions upon you?”

The Prophet (s.a.w.), “Then, it will take care of all your worries and your sins will be Forgiven.” 

It is recorded, in Mishkat al-Maswabih, as well as in Jami’ at-Tirmidzi, that Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (r.a.) narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “He who invokes one blessing upon me, Allah will Shower ten blessings upon him, and Obliterate ten sins, and Elevate him by ten ranks.” 

It is also recorded, in Mishkat al-Maswabih, that Sayyidina Abu ‘Abd ar-Rahman ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (r.a.) narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “The one nearest to me on the Day of Resurrection will be one who invokes the greatest number of blessings upon me.” 

He also narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “There is a roving company of angels on Earth who convey to me the blessings invoked upon me by my ummah.” 

It is recorded, by Imam Abu ‘Abd ar-Rahman Ahmad ibn Shu’ayb an-Nasa’i (r.a.), and Imam Abu Muhammad ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abd ar-Rahman ad-Darimi (r.a.), that Sayyidina Abu Thalhah Zayd ibn Sahl al-Answari (r.a.) said, that one day, the Prophet (s.a.w.) came out with a shining face and said, “Gabriel came to me and said, ‘Verily your Lord Says, ‘Muhammad, does it not please you that if one amongst your ummah invokes blessing upon you, I Bless him ten times and if one amongst your ummah sends greetings of peace to you, I Send ten greetings of peace to him?’’” 

It is also recorded, in Mishkat al-Maswabih, that Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (r.a.) said, “He who invokes blessings upon Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.) once, Allah, and His angels, Shower seventy Blessings upon him.” 

It is recorded, in Mishkat al-Maswabih, and in Musnad ibn Hanbal, that Sayyidina ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn ‘Awf (r.a.) narrated, “Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.) came out and then entered a cluster of date-palm trees and fell into prostration.  He prolonged his prostration so much that I feared that Allah might have Taken his life.  I went nearby to assure myself.  He raised his head and said, ‘What is the matter with you?’  I mentioned to him and he said, ‘Gabriel said to me, ‘May I not give you the Glad Tidings that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, Says about you, ‘He who invokes blessings upon you, I shall Send Blessings upon him and he who Sends you the greetings of peace, I shall Send Greetings of Peace to him.’’’” 

As recorded, by Imam Abu ‘Isa Muhammad ibn ‘Isa as-Sulami at-Tirmidzi (r.a.), Sayyidina  Abu Hafsw ‘Umar ibn al-Khaththab al-Faruq (r.a.) said, “Supplication is stopped between Heaven and Earth and none of it ascends until you invoke blessing on your Prophet.” 

It is recorded, in Mishkat al-Maswabih, and Sunan ibn Majah, that Sayyidina Abu Darda’ Uwaymir ibn Zayd (r.a.) narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Invoke many blessings on me on Friday for it is witnessed.  The angels are present on it, and no one will invoke a blessing on me without his blessing being submitted to me until he stops.”  Abu Darda’ (r.a.) asked whether that applied also after his death, and he replied, “Allah has Prohibited the Earth from consuming the bodies of the prophets; so, Allah’s prophet is alive and Given provision.” 

It is recorded, in Jami’ a-Tirmidzi, that Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (r.a.) narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “May humiliation afflict the man, in whose presence. mention is made of me, and he does not invoke blessings upon me.” 

It is also recorded, in Jami’ a-Tirmidzi, that Sayyidina ‘Ali ibn Abu Thalib (k.w.) narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “A miser is one who does not invoke blessings upon me when I am mentioned in his presence.” 

It is also recorded, in Jami’ a-Tirmidzi, that Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (r.a.) narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “If people sit in an assembly in which they do not remember Allah or invoke a blessing on their Prophet, vengeance will Descend upon them.  If Allah wills, He will Punish them, but if He Wills, He will Forgive them.”