Umrah Ziarah Jordan 2010 The Series - Ruling on conveying Salam to the Prophet

As told by Asma bint Shameem

"Please convey my salaams to the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) when you go and visit Madeenah."

Thats what they said to me as I was leaving for Hajj this year.

Some even said, "Take my name personally and say so-and-so has sent you the salaams, O Prophet of Allah."

And it wasnt just a few who requested this. Many, many people asked me to do so. I also know that it was out of sheer love and utmost respect for the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) that they said this. But my dear brother/sister in Islaam, I have to tell you that this is an action that is NOT prescribed in the Shareeah.

Now, I am not saying that sending blessings and salaams on the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) itself is bad. Surely it is one of the best and most virtuous of deeds and one of the most beloved of deeds to Allah and of course, we should send salaams on the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) all the time, as much as we can. And Allah will send blessings on you in return tenfold. That is surely good.

What is wrong is telling a person traveling to Madeenah to convey your salaams to him (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam).

Did you know that your salaams will reach him (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) no matter where you are, whether you are standing in front of his grave in Madeenah or you are thousands of miles away in the U.S.or even when you are in your room in Bombay?

The Prophet (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
"Send blessings upon me for your greeting will reach me no matter where you are”.
(Abu Dawood--saheeh by al-Albaani)


And he (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
Allah has angels who go around on earth, conveying to me the salaam of my ummah”
(al-Nasaai-saheeh by al-Albaani)

So, it doesnt really matter whether you are in the privacy of your home or in the midst of the market place, or if you are a bedouin living in Madeenah or an astronaut flying in space. If you send salaams on the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam), he will receive them.

Besides, wouldnt you like to send your salaams personally to the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) instead of sending it through somebody who may forget ? Or he may not convey the salaams with that love and respect you would like him to?

How do we know it is wrong ?

We know it is wrong because it was not the practice of the Sahaabah or the righteous people after them to convey the salaams of each other at the grave of the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) every time one of them visited Madeenah. If it was something good, surely, the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) would have taught the Sahaabah to do that or he would have given us instructions to do so. But the fact of the matter is that he (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) instructed us to do quite the opposite.

He (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said,
"Do not take my grave as a place of festivity (which you visit repeatedly). Send blessings upon me for your greeting will reach me no matter where you are.?
(Abu Dawood)

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen said: "If you send salaam upon him (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) from the farthest ends of the earth, your salaam will reach him, because Allah has appointed angels who travel about the earth, and if anyone sends salaams upon the Messenger (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam), they convey that salaam to the Messenger (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam). So if we say now,

“O Allah, send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah,”

our salaam will be transmitted to him. In prayer we say, “Al-salaamu ‘alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmat-Allahi wa barakaatuhu” (Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings) and the salaam is transmitted to him.

Shaikh Ibn Baaz said: "Sending salaams to the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) as an act or worship is an innovation (bid'ah). In fact it is not prescribed to send salaam to anyone who is deceased, rather salaams are to be said to the dead by one who visits him (his grave)..." (Majmoo Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, 23/416, 417)

Just say Allahumma Salli ala Muhammad from the bottom of your heart.....with utter love and devotion....and the angels will be honored to carry this piece of love to him and convey your salaams to him and he will surely receive it.

Guaranteed.