Narrated ‘Abd ar-Rahrman b. Abu Laila said that Ka‘b b. ‘Ujra met him and asked if he would like him to present him with something he had heard from the Prophet. He expressed his desire to hear it, and he said:
We asked God’s Messenger this question, “How is blessing to be invoked on you who belong to the prophetic family? God has taught us how to salute you.” He told us to say, “O God, bless Muhammad and Muhammad’s family as Thou didst bless Abraham and Abraham’s family. Thou art indeed praiseworthy and glorious. O God, grant favours to Muhammad and Muhammad’s family as Thou didst grant favours to Abraham and Abraham’s family. Thou art indeed praiseworthy and glorious.”
(Bukhari and Muslim, but Muslim did not mention Abraham in the two places.)
Abu Humaid as-Sa‘idi said that when some people asked God’s Messenger how they should invoke blessings on him he told them to say, “O God, bless Muhammad, his wives and his offspring as Thou didst bless Abraham; and grant favours to Muhammad, his wives and his offspring as Thou didst grant favours to the family of Abraham. Thou art indeed praiseworthy and glorious.”
Nafi‘ said that when ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar sat during the prayer he placed his hands on his knees, pointed with his finger and gave his whole attention to it. He then said that God’s Messenger had said, “It has a more severe effect on the devil than iron,” meaning the forefinger.
