The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came one day with a cheerful expression on his face, and we said: "We see you looking cheerful". He said: "The Angel came to me and said: 'O Muhammad, your Lord says: 'Will it not please you (to know) that no one will send salah upon you that I will send salah upon him tenfold, and no one will send salams upon you but I will send salams upon him tenfold?'"
Hadith Text
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came one day with a cheerful expression on his face, and we said: "We see you looking cheerful". He said: "The Angel came to me and said: 'O Muhammad, your Lord says: 'Will it not please you (to know) that no one will send salah upon you that I will send salah upon him tenfold, and no one will send salams upon you but I will send salams upon him tenfold?'"
Source Reference
The Book of Forgetfulness (In Prayer)
Sunan an-Nasa'i
Sunan an-Nasa'i 1283
Commentary on the Hadith
This blessed hadith reveals the immense virtue of sending blessings (salah) and peace (salam) upon the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The term "salah" here refers to the invocation of blessings, while "salam" denotes the greeting of peace.
The divine promise of tenfold reward demonstrates Allah's boundless generosity. When a believer sends one blessing upon the Prophet, Allah bestows ten blessings upon that person. This multiplication applies similarly to the greetings of peace.
The Prophet's visible joy indicates the significance of this revelation. His happiness stemmed not from personal honor alone, but from the knowledge that his ummah would receive such abundant divine mercy through this simple yet profound act of devotion.
This hadith encourages frequent invocation of blessings upon the Prophet throughout one's life, particularly during prayer, after the call to prayer, and whenever his name is mentioned.
Scholarly Insights
The scholars explain that Allah's "salah" upon the servant means His mercy, praise, and blessings, while the angels' salah signifies their seeking forgiveness and supplication for the believer.
This divine promise applies to all forms of sending blessings upon the Prophet, whether in prayer, in daily remembrances, or in written form. The minimum requirement is saying "Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad" while perfection lies in using the complete formulation taught in the sunnah.
The hadith establishes that sending blessings upon the Prophet is among the most rewarded acts of worship, with guaranteed acceptance and multiplied recompense from the Lord of the Worlds.