Could please tell me what is the most authentic formula of salah ‘alan Nabi [durud] mentioned in Hadith
Answer
There are numerous forms/formulas of authentic salutations a person may recite. There is no specific ‘most authentic form’. Some ‘Ulama have preferred a certain form, but this is not based on authenticity. The following are among the most popular forms of durud.
1) Sayyiduna Ka’b ibn ‘Ujrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) says:
“We asked Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), how should we send salutations upon you? Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, say:
‘Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala ali Muhammad kama sallayta ‘ala ali Ibrahim innaka hamidum majid. Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala ali Muhammad kama barakta ‘ala ali Ibrahim innaka hamidum majid’”
اللهم صلِ على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما صليت على آل إبراهيم إنك حميد مجيد، اللهم بارك على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما باركت على آل إبراهيم إنك حميد مجيد
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 6357 and Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 406)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) says that this form of salutations is the preferred way, as it was taught by Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) who would have chosen the best and most noble form of salutation for himself
(Fathul Bari, under Hadith: 6358)
However this form has also been reported with variations in the wordings as can be seen in the following narrations:
2) Sayyiduna Ka’b ibn ‘Ujrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) says:
“We asked Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), how should we send salutations upon you? Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, say:
‘Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala ali Muhammad kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahim wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim innaka hamidum majid. Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala ali Muhammad kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahim wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim innaka hamidum majid‘
اللهم صل على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما صليت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم، إنك حميد مجيد، اللهم بارك على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما باركت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم إنك حميد مجيد
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 3370)
3) Sayyiduna Ka’b ibn ‘Ujrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) says:
“We asked Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), how should we send salutations upon you? Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, say:
‘Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala ali Muhammad kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahim wa ali Ibrahim innaka hamidum majid. wa barik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala ali Muhammad kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahim wa ali Ibrahim innaka hamidum majid’”
اللهم صلِ على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما صليت على ابراهيم وآل إبراهيم إنك حميد مجيد و بارك على محمد و على آل محمد كما باركت على ابراهيم و آل ابراهيم انك حميد مجيد
(Sunan Nasai -Al Mujtaba-, Hadith: 1288)
4) Sayyiduna Abu Sa’id Al Khudri (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports:
“We asked Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), how should we send salutations upon you? Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, say:
‘Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin ‘abdika wa Rasulik kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahim wa barik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala ali Muhammad kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahim wa ali Ibrahim’”
اللهم صل على محمد عبدك ورسولك كما صليت على إبراهيم، وبارك على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما باركت على إبراهيم و آل إبراهيم
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 6358)
5) Sayyiduna Abu Humayd As Sa’idi (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports:
“They asked Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), how should we send salutations upon you? Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, say:
‘Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala azwajihi wa dhurriyatihi kama sallayta ‘ala ali Ibrahim wa barik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala azwajihi wa dhurriyatihi kama barakta ‘ala ali Ibrahim innaka hamidum majid’”
اللهم صل على محمد، وعلى أزواجه، وذريته، كما صليت على آل إبراهيم، وبارك على محمد وعلى أزواجه، وذريته، كما باركت على آل إبراهيم، إنك حميد مجيد
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 407 and Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 3369 with similar words)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar