Concluding the Friday sermon with the prayer and blessings upon the Prophet

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success! We observe that the Friday preachers conclude their sermons by instructing the congregation to send prayers and blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Is this a religious innovation (bid'ah), or is there evidence for it?

Answer:
Sending prayers and blessings upon the Messenger is done at the beginning of the first part when he recites the two testimonies. And during the second part, he says . He mentions this at the beginning of the sermon and in its middle. As for concluding the sermon with prayers and blessings upon the Messenger, this is an innovation that was not known. He sent prayers upon the Messenger at the beginning and in the middle, and he reminds them of the verse: "Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet." As for concluding the sermon with it, the known practice is that it is concluded with a verse from the Qur'an; the first sermon is concluded with a verse from the Qur'an, and the second is concluded with his saying, "Indeed, Allah commands justice and good conduct," and the verse from the Qur'an is also comprehensive and inclusive. Yes, we have not known that they conclude the sermons with prayers and blessings upon the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). This is a matter that has occurred recently. Yes.