Salat & Salam on Prophet Muhammad ﷺ – Correct Forms, Hadith Evidence, Benefits, and Warning Against Innovations

Compiled by: Ali Hussain Dhuniya

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Article-five(5)

Previous article-four(4) link: https://sunnisalafi.com/angels-of-allah 

Allâh sends His Salât (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy) on the Prophet (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), and also His angels (ask Allâh to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send your Salât on (ask Allâh to bless) him (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islâmic way of greeting (salutation i.e. As-Salâmu ‘Alaikum ).
— Al-Hilali & Khan Surah Al-Ahzab Verse 56

What is Salam & Salat on Nabi?

What is Salām & Ṣalāt on the Prophet ﷺ?

🔹 Salām (السَّلام) on the Prophet ﷺ means sending peace and salutations upon him, such as saying:
“As-Salāmu ʿAlayka Ayyuhā an-Nabī wa Raḥmatullāhi wa Barakātuh.”
 (“Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.”)

This is part of the Tashahhud in every ṣalāh.

🔹 Ṣalāt (الصلاة) upon the Prophet ﷺ means invoking Allah’s mercy, blessings, and honor upon him. It is often recited as Ṣalāt al-Ibrāhīmiyyah:

“Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammad wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīm wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd. Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammad wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīm wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd.”

Qur’ān Evidence

Allah ﷻ says:

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ ۚ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًۭا
 “Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe! Send blessings upon him and greet him with peace.”
 — Surah al-Aḥzāb 33:56

Hadith Evidence

1. Angels conveying Salām
    The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Send Ṣalāt upon me, for your Ṣalāt is conveyed to me wherever you may be.”
— Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (vol. 6, p. 158), Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (no. 1796)

2. Reward for sending Ṣalāt
    The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever sends Ṣalāt upon me once, Allah will send ten blessings upon him.”
— Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (no. 384)

3. Neglecting Salām is a loss
    The Prophet ﷺ said:

“May his nose be rubbed in dust, the one in whose presence I am mentioned and he does not send Ṣalāt upon me.”
— Jāmiʿ at-Tirmidhī (no. 3545), graded ḥasan

Angels Convey Our Salām to the Prophet ﷺ

🔹 The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Indeed Allah has angels who travel about the earth and convey to me the Salām from my Ummah.”
 — Sunan an-Nasā’ī (1282), Musnad Aḥmad (21708), graded ḥasan by al-Albānī

🔹 Another narration:

“Send Ṣalāt upon me, for your Ṣalāt will be presented to me wherever you are.”
 — Ṣaḥīḥ Abī Dāwūd (1536), Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān (910), authenticated by al-Albānī

🔹 And in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim:

“Do not make your houses like graves, and do not make my grave a place of festivity. Send Ṣalāt upon me, for your Ṣalāt reaches me wherever you are.”
 — Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (no. 1397)

✅ Summary:

• Ṣalāt = asking Allah to bless and honor the Prophet ﷺ.
• Salām = greeting the Prophet ﷺ with peace and mercy.
• Both are commanded in the Qur’ān (33:56) and repeatedly emphasized in authentic Sunnah.
• Allah appointed special angels on earth whose duty is to convey every Salām and Ṣalāt to the Prophet ﷺ.
• This happens wherever a believer is – not only near the grave.
• Therefore, sending Ṣalāt and Salām is an act of worship done for Allah, and He delivers it to His Messenger ﷺ through the angels.

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And there are various ways to send blessings and salutations upon the last Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم as mentioned in Hadith. Also, we read Salatul Ibrahim in every salah of Tashahud. Whenever you hear the last Prophet’s name Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم you should say “sallal-laho-alayhi-wasallam” (صلى الله عليه وسلم). And be aware of innovative, made-up ways of sending blessings and salutations on the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. Consult with the Imam if you hear made-up salam or suspicious kalam (speech) from ahl al-bid‘ah (innovators) regarding salam on Nabi.

Generally, we keep our mouths shut up during Friday (Jumah) Khutbah but if Imam says Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, we have to say “sallal-laho-alayhi-wasallam” (صلى الله عليه وسلم) loudly & this is an exception. Or, if the Imam makes dua on Mimbar, we should say, Ameen! Loudly.

Also there are many hadith reported regarding sending salam and salutation upon Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. Not all of them are authentic and sound. So you should verify it before you believe in it. Most of the time Qubooris (grave worshippers) and those who call and ask for help and assistance directly from the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم use such type of hadith to try to justify their major shirk and major kufr — so be careful.

Increase your salatun-Nabi on Friday.
Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Increase your supplications for me on the day and night of Friday. Whoever blesses me once, Allah will bless him ten times.”
Source: al-Sunan al-Kubrá 5854 (Hasan according to Al-Albani)

40 Benefits of Sending Salutations to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم | Read by Shaykh Aziz al-Enezy حفظه الله & collected by Allamah Imam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah Rahimahullah al-Dimashqi al-Hanbali

• Point 9: It is a means of intercession of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
  
• Point 10: It is a means of sins being forgiven.
  
• Point 12: It is a means of the slave being close to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم on the Day of Resurrection.
  
• Point 14: It is a means of fulfilling one’s needs.
  
• Point 17: It is a means of the glad tidings of Paradise for the slave before his death.
  

For a full list of 40 pints go here:40 Benefits of Sending Salutations to the Prophet ﷺ | Shaykh Aziz al-Enezy حفظه الله link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTjltsZ76SA

Later on I will add below topics

1. Correct Form of Salām

• Incorrect: “Asalamo Alaikum Ayhun Nabi Yu”
  
• Correct: “As-Salāmu ‘Alayka An-Nabī” – peace be upon you, O Prophet ﷺ.
  
• Use this form especially during Tashahhud in prayer.
  

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2. Can we say now Allah and his messenger knows best, or Allah knows best only

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3. Increase Salātu-Salām on Fridays

• It is highly recommended to send more salām upon the Prophet ﷺ on Fridays.
  
• The Prophet ﷺ said: “Increase your salām upon me on Friday, for your salām is presented to me.” (Sunan Abi Dawood, Hadith 1049)
  

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4. Consequences of Not Sending Salām

• Those who neglect sending salām upon the Prophet ﷺ without excuse are warned.
  
• Some narrations indicate angels may curse or admonish those who intentionally ignore sending salām.
  

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5. Evidence: Prophet ﷺ Receives Salām Through Angels

• Authentic Hadith: “When you send salām upon me, it reaches me wherever you are through the angels.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
  
• This shows the conveyance after his ﷺ death is through angels.
  

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6. Rejection of Innovations in Salām

• Forms like “Sallu ‘alal Habib” used by some Barelvi/Sufi groups are innovations (bid’ah).
  
• Only the authentic form “As-Salāmu ‘Alayka An-Nabī” should be used.
  

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7. Shirk in Salātu-Salām

• Adding phrases that imply the Prophet ﷺ is divine or can independently act upon our salām constitutes shirk.
  
• Salām must be sent in obedience to Allah and according to authentic Sunnah, not according to invented practices.