It is reported from your eminence that sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the second khutbah of Jumu'ah is a bid'ah (religious innovation). Is this correct?

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. The questioner says: It is reported from your eminence that sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the second khutbah of Jumu'ah is a bid'ah (religious innovation). Is this correct?

Answer:
The one who reported that is a liar. I did not say that in the khutbah. I said that concluding the khutbah with sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is contrary to what has been transmitted. Concluding it—does one conclude it with the Qur'an, with verses from the Qur'an? It has not been transmitted that it is concluded with sending blessings upon the Prophet. Rather, sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is at the beginning, at the beginning of the khutbah, after the two testimonies. That is the place for sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), not at the end of the khutbah. That is what I say. Yes.