What is the ruling on greeting the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on behalf of another person when visiting him?

Question:
He says: I am going to travel to al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, if Allah wills, and my friend instructed me to greet the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on his behalf. Should I do so?

Answer:
Glory be to Allah! This is contrary to the Sunnah. The Sunnah is that you send blessings upon him yourself in any place, and you do not instruct anyone else. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And when 'Ali ibn al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) saw a man coming to the area near the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) grave and standing there, he forbade him from doing so and said to him: "You and the one in Andalusia are the same," meaning that it is not necessary to frequent the grave or instruct someone to greet the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) on your behalf. You send blessings upon him (peace and blessings be upon him) in any place, and that reaches him, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: