Short answer
Yes. Sending salawat (blessings) on the Prophet ﷺ is fard once in a lifetime, and many Hanafi scholars hold it is wajib when his name is mentioned, with once in a gathering fulfilling the duty and repeating it recommended. He called the person who hears his name and does not send salawat a miser.
Salawat on the Prophet ﷺ is fard once in a lifetime. When his name is mentioned, Imam al-Tahawi and many Hanafi scholars held it wajib each time; the position many muftis give is that once in a gathering fulfils the duty and repeating it is mustahabb. Inside salah, the salawat in the final sitting is sunnah in the Hanafi school.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Salawat in the final tashahhud is fard, and the prayer is not valid without it.
- Hanbali
- Salawat in the final tashahhud is a pillar (rukn) of the prayer.
Explanation
Allah says that He and His angels send blessings on the Prophet, and commands the believers to do the same (33:56). The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever sends one blessing on him, Allah sends ten on that person. He also said the miser is the one in whose presence he is mentioned and who does not send blessings on him.
The shortest form is "Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam" (may Allah bless him and give him peace). The fullest, taught for the prayer, is Durood Ibrahim. Either fulfils the duty when you hear his name.
- Hearing his name in a talk or class: say it once at least; saying it each time is better.
- Writing: write the full phrase or ﷺ. The scholars disliked shortening it to letters such as "PBUH" or "SAW".
- During the khutbah: say it silently in your heart, since you must listen.
- Friday: the Prophet ﷺ asked for more salawat on that day.
See also Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and why Muslims say peace be upon him.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Ahzaab 33:56
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ ۚ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا ﴿٥٦﴾
Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace.
The command to send salawat on the Prophet.
Sahih Muslim 408
Sahih... من صلى علي واحدة صلى الله عليه عشرا ...
"Whoever sends one blessing on me, Allah sends ten blessings on him."
The reward of salawat.
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3546
Graded sahih... البخيل الذي من ذكرت عنده فلم يصل علي ...
"The miser is the one in whose presence I am mentioned and who does not send blessings on me."
Blames leaving salawat when his name is mentioned, the basis for it being wajib.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar with Radd al-Muhtar, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on the description of prayer, discussion of salawat on the Prophet. Fard once in a lifetime; the views on its being wajib when his name is mentioned; sunnah in the final sitting.
- al-Majmu' (Nawawi), Kitab al-Salah, discussion of the tashahhud. Salawat in the final tashahhud is fard in the Shafi'i school.
- al-Mughni (Ibn Qudama), Kitab al-Salah, discussion of the tashahhud. The Hanbali view that it is a pillar.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.