17768 - From Abu al-Aliyah, may God be pleased with him, who said: "His (God's) prayer upon him means: His praise for him before the angels, and the prayer of the angels for him means: Supplication for him (1)."
His saying, the Exalted: "Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet."
17769 - From Ka'b ibn Ujrah, may God be pleased with him, who said: "When (the verse) 'Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet; O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace' was revealed, we said: 'O Messenger of God, we have learned how to greet you with peace, but how do we send blessings upon you?' He said: 'Say: O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim; indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. And bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious (2).'
17770 - Amr al-Awdi told us, Waki' told us, from al-A'mash, from Amr ibn Murrah, (al-A'mash said: from Ata ibn Abi Rabah), regarding 'Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet,' he said: "His prayer—Blessed and Exalted is He—is: 'O All-Holy, O All-Pure (Subbuh Quddus), My mercy has preceded My wrath (3).'
17771 - Ali ibn al-Husayn told us, Ahmad ibn Abd al-Rahman told us, my father told me from his father, from Ash'ath ibn Ishaq, from Ja'far (meaning ibn al-Mughirah), from Sa'id ibn Jubayr, from Ibn Abbas, that the Children of Israel said to Moses, peace be upon him: 'Does your Lord pray?' So his Lord called to him: 'O Moses, they asked you: Does your Lord pray? Say: Yes, for I and My angels only pray upon My prophets and My messengers.' So Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, revealed to His Prophet (peace be upon him): 'Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet; O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace (4).'
17772 - al-Hasan ibn Arafah told us, Hushaym ibn Bashir told us, from Yazid ibn Abi Ziyad, Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Layla told us, from Ka'b ibn Ujrah, who said: "When 'Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet; O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace' was revealed, we said: 'O Messenger of God, we have learned the peace, but how do we send blessings upon you?' He said: 'Say: O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and upon..."
(1) al-Durr 6/656. (2) al-Durr 6/657. (3) Ibn Kathir 6/447. (4) Ibn Kathir 6/447.