“Increase your prayers upon me on Friday and the night of Friday; for whoever sends one prayer upon me, Allah will send ten upon him.”
Narrated by al-Bayhaqī in al-Sunan al-Kubrā (No. 5994) from the ḥadīth of Anas, may Allah be pleased with him.
Authenticated in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmi‘ (No. 1209) and Silsilat al-Aḥādīth al-Ṣaḥīḥah (No. 1407).
Brief Explanation of the Hadith
Among the rights of the Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — upon his Ummah is to frequently send prayers upon him, as this honors, venerates, and elevates his mention. In this ḥadīth, the Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — encourages his Ummah to do so, saying: “Increase your prayers upon me,” meaning: frequently supplicate for Allah to send blessings upon me, for example: “O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad.”
Sending prayers upon the Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — is a supplication for his honor and veneration, while Allah’s sending of blessings upon him is His praise in the Highest Assembly, honoring him and raising his mention. The Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — emphasized increasing this on “Friday and the night of Friday” because of the eminence and virtue of this day, which is the master of days and possesses merits not found in others. Thus, deeds performed on it carry greater reward due to the nobility of the time.
For this reason, scholars have explained that frequently sending prayers upon the Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — on Friday is among the greatest acts of drawing near to Allah, for all the good that his Ummah attains is by his means. Thus, it is his right upon his Ummah to increase their prayers upon him, especially on this day. The ḥadīth then mentions the fruit of sending prayers upon him: “For whoever sends one prayer upon me, Allah will send ten upon him.”
The meaning is that whoever sends one prayer upon the Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — Allah will reward him by sending ten prayers upon him. By Allah’s prayer upon the servant is meant His mercy toward him and the multiplication of his reward. Some say it also refers to His turning to him with care and bringing him out of darkness into light, as He, the Exalted, says: {It is He who sends blessings upon you, as do His angels, that He may bring you out of darkness into light} (al-Aḥzāb 33:43).
The ḥadīth indicates the recommendation to frequently send prayers upon the Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — at all times, with particular emphasis on Friday and its night. It also demonstrates the great virtue of sending prayers upon him, showing that it is among the easy deeds that yield immense reward.