Question: What is the ruling of sending prayers on the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) in the prostration?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
Sending prayers on the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) in the prostration would take on the same ruling as supplicating in the prostration.
This is because sending prayers on the Prophet is a supplication for him.
Supplicating in the Prostration
Supplicating in the prostration is seen as a great deed and the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) encouraged it.
The Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The closest a slave is to his Lord is when he is prostrating. So make abundant supplication (therein)” [Muslim].
Limited to Voluntary Prayers
However, supplicating in the prostration should be done when one is prayer voluntary prayers [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar citing Fath al-Qadir].
To do so in congregational prayers, especially when leading, may entail difficulty on the followers as is expressed in the following Prophetic narration:
“If any of you leads the people in prayer, let them be brief – for verily amongst them are the weak, the sick, and the elderly. And if any of you is praying alone, let them extend as they wish” [Bukhari].
[Tahtawi/Shurunbulali, Hashiyat Maraqi al-Falah]
Following the Sunna Takes Precedence
Even though sending prayers on the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) is one of the greatest good deeds, it is better to follow the practice of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) himself.
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “When any of you bows, let them say, three times, – Subhana Rabbi al-Adhim; and when any of you prostrates, let them say – Subhana Rabbi al-A’ala – three times and that is the least” [Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud].
Summary
If you are praying alone, it is permissible to supplicate in the prostration which includes sending prayers on the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace); otherwise one sticks to the practice of the Prophet – saying Subhana Rabbi al-Adhim thrice.
Hope this helps.
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani