Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I want to know about the authencity of Durud-Ibrahim or Durud-Sharif in Salat?

Where have we been ordered to make it part of prayer? Please guve me references from the Quran, preferably.

My mother argues that it is optional and sometimes we may leave it out of our regular prayers

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Answer:

Evidence for durood in prayer

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 56:

56 Allah and His Angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 1.160

In the last ‘tashahud’ in prayer, it is preferred for the believers to send salutations upon the Prophet (saws) in one of the following manners:

1. Reported Mas'ud al-Badri, "Basheer ibn Sa'd said, 'O Messenger of Allah (saws), we have been ordered to make prayers upon you. How are we to do it?' The Prophet (saws) was quiet and then said, 'Say, O Allah, shower blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as you showered blessings upon the family of Abraham. And grant favors to Muhammad and to the family of Muhammad as you granted favors to the family of Abraham in this world. You are the Praiseworthy and Glorious.' And make the salutations as I have taught you." (Related by Muslim and Ahmad.)

2. Reported Ka'b ibn 'Ajazah, "We said, 'O Messenger of Allah (saws), show us how we are to make salutations and prayers upon you.' He (saws) said, 'Say, O Allah, shower blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as you have showered blessings upon the family of Abraham. You are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious. O Allah . grant favors to Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as you granted favors to the family of Abraham.''

The salutations upon the Prophet (saws) is a preferred act and is not obligatory. This contention is based on a hadith recorded by at-Tirmidhi ,Ahmad and Abu Dawud from Fidhalah ibn 'Ubaid who said, "The Messenger of Allah (saws) heard a man supplicating in his prayer and he did not make the prayers on the Prophet. The Prophet (saws) said, 'He has hastened!' Then he (saws) called him and said, 'When one of you prays, begin with the praise and lauding of Allah. Then make prayers upon the Prophet, and supplicate whatever you wish of Allah." The author of al-Muntaqi says, "This is a proof for those who say that the prayers upon the Prophet are not obligatory, because he did not order the one who did not do it to repeat his prayer. This is supported by his (saws) statement to Ibn Mas'ud, after mentioning (only) the tashahud, 'Then choose whatever you wish to ask (of Allah)." In his comments on this hadith, ash-Shaukani observes, "In my opinion, there is no confirmed proof that it (the salutations to the Prophet (saws) in prayer is obligatory."

In light of the guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws) it is a meritorious and commendable act to send salutations to the Prophet (saws) in the manner that was taught to the believers by the Messenger of Allah (saws). Almost all the scholars of all the schools of thought are unanimous in their opinion that sending salutations to the Prophet (saws) in one’s prayer is a preferred Sunnah, but not an obligatory condition of prayer. If one for reason forgets to recite the ‘durood’ in one’s prayer, his prayer will still be considered valid.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan