If the khatib mentions the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on Friday, should one send blessings and peace upon him?
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The questioner : Shaykh, what is our position regarding the Friday khatib if he says, "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)"? Do we say, "May Allah send blessings and peace upon him," or do we remain silent?
The Shaykh : We do not remain silent.
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : Because if it is said, "My brother, when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is mentioned, we must say [blessings] when the Creator of the Messenger (Mighty and Majestic) is mentioned, or (Glorified and Exalted is He), or any phrase that exalts Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and if this door is opened, people will then deviate from the purpose for which they abstained on Friday, while the khatib is delivering the sermon, which is to benefit from this remembrance that they were commanded to attend[Al-Jumu'ah 62:9]. Especially if someone comes and greets us and we say, "And peace be upon you," or if someone sneezes and we say, "May Allah have mercy on you," it means the matter has gone beyond what it was established for.
The questioner : But we are... when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is mentioned, we say, "May Allah send blessings and peace upon him." But we were not commanded to say, "Glorified is His Majesty," when Allah is mentioned, meaning... in a hadith, we are commanded when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is mentioned...?
The Shaykh : Fine, the response to your statement is from two aspects. The first aspect: if we were commanded to send blessings upon the Messenger, is not mentioning Allah with His Majesty and exalting Him even more obligatory? Yes, this is the primary point. The other aspect: were we not commanded to enjoin good and forbid evil? Fine, so do you enjoin good and forbid evil while the khatib is delivering the sermon?
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : Yes, this is also even more obligatory, because this is a correct matter that is obligatory. However, there is much disagreement on whether it is obligatory to send blessings upon the Messenger every time he is mentioned, or whether it suffices to send blessings upon the Messenger once in the gathering. Then, one can do this in one's heart without uttering it, and without occupying oneself with uttering the blessings upon the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), or returning the greeting, or responding to a sneeze, or the like.
The questioner :: meaning.
The Shaykh : Responding to a sneeze, are we not commanded to do that as well?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : We also open the door to responding to sneezes, and we are not commanded to return the response to the sneeze by saying "May Allah guide you and set your affairs right". All of this is among the commands.
The questioner : So if you sneeze with him, praise be to Allah.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The Shaykh : We do not remain silent.
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : Because if it is said, "My brother, when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is mentioned, we must say [blessings] when the Creator of the Messenger (Mighty and Majestic) is mentioned, or (Glorified and Exalted is He), or any phrase that exalts Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and if this door is opened, people will then deviate from the purpose for which they abstained on Friday, while the khatib is delivering the sermon, which is to benefit from this remembrance that they were commanded to attend
when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah
إذا نودي للصلاة من يوم الجمعة فاسعوا إلى ذكر اللهThe questioner : But we are... when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is mentioned, we say, "May Allah send blessings and peace upon him." But we were not commanded to say, "Glorified is His Majesty," when Allah is mentioned, meaning... in a hadith, we are commanded when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is mentioned...?
The Shaykh : Fine, the response to your statement is from two aspects. The first aspect: if we were commanded to send blessings upon the Messenger, is not mentioning Allah with His Majesty and exalting Him even more obligatory? Yes, this is the primary point. The other aspect: were we not commanded to enjoin good and forbid evil? Fine, so do you enjoin good and forbid evil while the khatib is delivering the sermon?
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : Yes, this is also even more obligatory, because this is a correct matter that is obligatory. However, there is much disagreement on whether it is obligatory to send blessings upon the Messenger every time he is mentioned, or whether it suffices to send blessings upon the Messenger once in the gathering. Then, one can do this in one's heart without uttering it, and without occupying oneself with uttering the blessings upon the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), or returning the greeting, or responding to a sneeze, or the like.
The questioner :: meaning.
The Shaykh : Responding to a sneeze, are we not commanded to do that as well?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : We also open the door to responding to sneezes, and we are not commanded to return the response to the sneeze by saying "May Allah guide you and set your affairs right". All of this is among the commands.
The questioner : So if you sneeze with him, praise be to Allah.
The Shaykh : Yes.