"We said: 'O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), we know how to send salams upon you, but how should we send salah upon you?' He said: 'Say: "Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin 'abdika wa rasulika kama salaita 'ala Ibrahim wa barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammadin kama barakta 'ala Ibrahim (O Allah, send salah upon Muhammad, Your slave and Messenger , as You sent Salah upon Ibrahim, and send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim)."
The Excellence of Sending Salah Upon the Prophet
This narration from Sunan an-Nasa'i 1293 in "The Book of Forgetfulness (In Prayer)" demonstrates the proper method of sending salah upon the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) as taught by Allah's Messenger himself.
Scholarly Commentary on the Wording
The phrase "Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad" means to invoke Allah's mercy, praise, and honor upon His Prophet. The specification "Your slave and Messenger" emphasizes both the Prophet's servitude to Allah and his elevated station as the final Messenger.
The comparison to Ibrahim (Abraham) connects the final Prophet to the great patriarch of monotheism, showing the continuity of divine guidance and the special status of both prophets in Allah's sight.
Distinction Between Salam and Salah
The companions' question reveals they understood how to send greetings of peace (salam) but sought clarification on the more comprehensive invocation of salah - which encompasses mercy, blessings, honor, and elevation in status.
Inclusion of the Prophet's Family
The instruction to include "the family of Muhammad" demonstrates the comprehensive nature of this blessing, extending the spiritual benefits to those most closely connected to the Prophet through faith and lineage.
Legal Rulings and Applications
Scholars state this specific formulation is recommended in the final tashahhud of prayer. The wisdom behind this precise wording is that it was divinely taught to the Prophet, making it the most complete and comprehensive form of sending blessings upon him.