Darul Uloom Trinidad & Tobago

Assalamualykum,
Hope this email finds you in good health and prosperity. My question regards sending salutations to our beloved Nabisco SAW family. Are we allowed to send salutations to the beloved family of Nabi (SAW) and the noble Sahaba. If this is permissible is there any duas that can be read. Jazakallah.

Wa Alaikum Assalaam,

الجواب و بالله التوفيق

Yes, it is not only allowed but it is a duty upon Muslims to invoke blessings and send salutations upon the Prophet (S.A.S). In fact, Allah Himself has instructed us to do these. In this regard Allah says,

‘Verily Allah and His Angels send blessing (Salah) upon the Prophet (Muhammad). O you who believe! Send Salah on him (Muhammad), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islamic way of greeting.’

The verse informs the believers (and the entire mankind) that Allah sends ‘Salah’ (blessings) upon the noble Prophet (may the peace and blessings be upon him) and His angels do the same. As such, the order is given to all believers that they ‘must’ send ‘Salah’ (blessings) to him and also greet him with salutations.

Having informed the believers of the great status the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has in His sight, Allah orders the believers to send ‘Salah’ upon him and greet him in a manner that is befitting his rank. The believers are ordered to supplicate to Allah to send blessings upon the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and to give ‘Salaams’ to him. With respect to the manner of ‘Salaams’ to the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), this has been taught by the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as it is mentioned in the Tashahud that the believers recite in Salaah.

In the Tashahud or At Tahiyaat, the Sahabahs, as well as all believers, were taught to send greetings to the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) by saying:

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

‘As Salaamu Alaika Ayyuhan Nabiyyu Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuhu’ – (Peace and salutations be upon you, O Prophet, and may the Mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon you). Regarding the manner of sending ‘Salah’ upon the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), this has also been taught to the believers, as it is evident in many traditions.

In this respect, it is narrated from the companion, Kaab bin Ujrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that it was said (by some companions), ‘O Messenger of Allah, as for Salaam (peace and salutations) upon you, we recognize (and know how to do) this. But how should we send Salah upon you?’ Upon this, the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘Say,

اللَّهُمَّ، صِلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ. اللَّهُمَّ، بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

‘Allahumma salli ala Muhammad wa ala Aali Muhammad kama salaita ala Aali Ibraheema Innaka Hameedum Majeed. Allahumma Baarik ala Muhammad wa ala Aali Muhammad kama baarakta ala Aali Ibraheem Innaka Hameedum Majeed’.

As for the statement in which the companions said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, as for ‘Salaam upon you, we recognize this’ ’, Hafiz Ibn Katheer writes that they knew how to do this because this was in the Tashahud which the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to teach them, just as he taught them a Surah of the Quran. In the Tashahud, the words of Salaam is,

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

‘Assalaamu Alaika Ayyuhan Nabiyyu Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu’.

With respect to the Sahabah, there is no specific salutation that has been given, but one can continue to make dua for them and whenever he utters the name of any companions, he should say ‘Radhi Yallahu Anhu’ (May Allah be pleased with him).

And Allah Knows Best.

Mufti Waseem Khan.

7/12/15.