Q: I wanted to know the authenticity regarding the following practise which has been mentioned in Al-Qawlul badi’: “Whoever remains seated in his place after the ‘Asr salah on a Friday and recites the following will have 80 years of sins forgiven, and 80 years of worship recorded for him”
من صلى صلاة العصر من يوم الجمعة فقال قبل أن يقوم من مكانه اللهم صل على محمد النبي الأمي وعلى آله وسلم تسليما ثمانين مرة غفرت له ذنوب ثمانين عاما وكتبت له عبادة ثمانين سنة
A: This Hadith is reported with a few chains that are extremely weak and one of the chains is currently untraceable.
However, the following narration has been classified as “hasan” (sound) by latter day Muhaddithun, and is similar to the above hadith.
“Whoever sends salutations upon me 80 times on a Friday, will have 80 years sins forgiven” When the Sahabah (radiyallahu’anhum) enquired how to do so, Rasulullah (sallallahu’alaihi wasallam) replied: “Say: Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin ‘abdika wa nabiyyika wa rasulikan nabiyyil ummiyy” (Daraqutni; see Al-Qawlul badi’, pg.400 & Sharhul Ihya, vol.3 pg.286) Imam ‘Iraqi and others have declared this one as sound (hasan). (Al-Qawlul badi’, pg.400, Masalikul Hunafa, pg.267 & Sharhul Ihya, vol.3 pg.286)
Suitable for practice
Based on the above, it would be ideal to practice on the second narration, but also correct to stick to the first one since it does acquire a degree of support from the second narration. Therefore this issue shouldn’t be a cause for discord in any community.
This is the view of my seniors too.
Caution: It should be noted that the second Hadith, which has been classified as sound does not have the promise of 80 years worship being recorded.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar