Sal?t is rendered invalid. This is also ‘Umar’s and his son’s opinion which Ash-Sha’b? shared with them. Some scholars stated that Ash-Sh?fi‘? contradicted the Ijm?’holding such an opinion. This is not true for it is Ash-Sha‘b?’s opinion -as narrated by Al-Baihq?.

Considering it [i.e. sending Sal?t on the prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -)] as an obligation is not clearly affirmed. Ash-Sh?fi’iyyah scholars support their opinion with Ab? Mas’?d’s Al-Ans?r?’s ( - رضي الله عنه -) narration [who stated that] the Sah?bah asked the prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) about the way they could send Sal?t on him, to which he ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) answered: ‘Say: Allahumma Sall? ‘Al? Muhammad ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) ... etc. ‘And this prophet’s ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) order is an obligation that must be followed.

However, this narration is not clear cut regarding the point under discussion unless it is joined with the other one which states that the Sah?bah asked the prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) ‘ what should we say when we send our Sal?t on you in our Sal?t ?’

He ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) said: ‘Say: Allahumma Sall? ‘Al? Muhammad ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) ... etc’. the addition in this narration is authentic; narrated by the two great Imams Ab? H?tim Ibn Hibb?n Al-Bast? and Al-H?kim Ab? ‘Abdill?h in their “Sah?hs” stating its authenticity. They both supported it with onther narration traced back to Fud?lah Ibn ‘Ubaid to have said: ‘All?h’s Messenger ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) once saw a man doing his Sal?t. [when reaching Tashahhud, he started calling All?h ( - عز وجل -) for his well affair], he neither praised All?h ( - عز وجل -) nor glorified him, nor did he send his Sal?t on the prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -). Seeing this, the prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) said: ‘He is hasty’. Then he called him and instructed him saying: ‘when you do your Sal?t, start [your Du‘?’] with praising and glorifying All?h ( - عز وجل -) then send your Sal?t on the prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) and then call unto All?h ( - عز وجل -) with that which your heart desires’.

Al-H?kim judged this Had?th to be authentic for the conditions Muslim set for authentic narrations apply to it.

Although these two narrations include acts that are not obligatory on the praying muslim such as sending one’s Sal?t on the prophet’s ‘?l [house hold] and his off spring and saying the Du‘?’,