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In this edition, we'll look at situations in which it is recommended to send salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ.

1. In the tashahhud
One should ask for peace on the Prophet in the tashahhud of the prayer. Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud said that the Prophet ﷺ said, "When one of you prays, let him said, 'Greetings, prayers, good things belong to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet! And the mercy of Allah and His blessings.' Many will be familiar with the Arabic:

التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ، وَالصَّلَوْاتُ، وَالطَّيِّباتُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

2. When making dua
Umar Al Khattab said, "Supplication and prayer are suspended between the heaven and the earth and none of it rises to Allah until you pray on the Prophet." Ibn Mas'ud said, "When one of you wants to ask Allah for something, he should begin by praising and extolling Him as He deserves, and then he should bless the Prophet. Then his supplication is more likely to be successful."

3. When the Prophet ﷺ is mentioned
Among the situations when it is good to pray on the Prophet ﷺ is when he ﷺ is mentioned: when his name is heard or written and during the adhan. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Dust be upon the face of the man who does not bless me when I am mentioned in his presence."

4. Entering mosques and houses

فَاِذَا دَخَلتُم بُيُوتًا فَسَلِّمُوا عَلٰٓى اَنفُسِكُم
When you enter houses, then great each other (24:61)

Amr bin Dinar said of this verse: "If there is no one in the house, then you say, 'Peace be upon the Prophet and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the right-acting slaves of Allah. Peace be upon the people of the House, and the mercy of Allah His blessings.

السلامُ على النبي ورحمة الله وبركاته. السلامُ علينا وعلى عباد الله الصالحين. السلامُ على اهل البيت ورحمةُ اللهِ وبركاته

5. The funeral prayer
The funeral prayer is another situation in which the prayer on the Prophet ﷺ is said. Abu Umama Al Ansari said that doing so is part of the sunna.

6. When writing books and letters
The Prophet ﷺ said, "Whosever blesses me in a book or letter, the angels continue to ask forgiveness for him as long as my name is on it." Most books start with the basmalla, and are immediately followed by peace and blessings upon The Prophet ﷺ.

Source: Al Shifa of Qadi Iyad