the hadith of Ka'b ibn 'Ujrah, and Al-Nasa'i also narrated it, except that he said: "As You sent blessings upon Abraham and the family of Abraham," and "As You blessed Abraham and the family of Abraham." In one narration: "As You sent blessings upon Abraham, You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory," and "As You blessed Abraham, You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory." Al-Tirmidhi said: This is a Hasan Sahih (good, authentic) hadith. In the narration of [Abu Mas'ud]: "As You sent blessings [upon Abraham,] and bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed [upon Abraham]; in the worlds, You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory." Recorded by Muslim. From Abu Humayd, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Say: O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon his wives and his descendants, as You sent blessings upon the family of Abraham; and bless Muhammad and upon his wives and his descendants, as You blessed the family of Abraham, You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory." Recorded by Al-Bukhari. It is better to perform the blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in the form mentioned by Al-Khiraqi, because that is in the hadith of Ka'b ibn 'Ujrah, and it is the most authentic hadith narrated regarding it. Regarding any form of blessings upon him that has been reported in the accounts, it is permissible, similar to what we say in the Tashahhud. The apparent implication is that if one omits a wording that is dropped in some accounts, it is permissible; for had it been obligatory, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would not have omitted it. Qadi Abu Ya'la said: The apparent meaning of Ahmad's words is that the prayer upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is obligatory by itself, based on his statement in the report of Abu Zur'ah: "The prayer upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is a command; whoever leaves it must repeat the prayer," and he did not mention the prayer upon his family. This is the school of Al-Shafi'i. And they have two views regarding the obligation of the prayer upon his family. Some of our companions said: The prayer is required in the form that is in the report of Ka'b, because he commanded it, and the command implies obligation. The first is more appropriate, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) only commanded them with this when they asked him to teach them, and he did not initiate it for them.