Q: What is the ruling on invoking Allah to send peace and blessings upon the Prophet loudly before and after the Adhan (call to prayer)?

A: This is a Bid`ah (innovation in religion) which was not done during the lifetime of the Prophet (peace be upon him), the era of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs, or the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet- may Allah be pleased with them). It has been authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, Anyone who introduces anything into this matter of ours (Islam) that is not part of it (Part No. 6; Page No. 107) will have it rejected. Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim. According to another narration of Muslim, Anyone who does an action which is not in accordance with this matter of ours (Islam) will have it rejected. It is permissible for the Mu'adhin (caller to Prayer) to invoke Allah to send peace and blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him) secretly not loudly, for raising voices loudly during Adhan is Bid`ah. According to the Ijma` (consensus) of the scholars, the Adhan ends by the Mu'adhin saying, "La ilaha illa Allah [There is no god but Allah]." The Mu'adhin should then ask Allah to grant the Prophet Al-Wasilah (the most superior degree in Paradise). Whoever listens to the Mu'adhin should repeat whatever he says except when he says, "Hayya ‘ala Al-Salah, Hayya ‘ala Al-falaah (come to prayer, come to prosperity)", the listener should say, "La hawla wala quwwata illa Billah (there is neither might nor power except with Allah) and ask Allah to grant the Prophet Al-Wasilah as has been reported in the Sahih Hadiths (Hadiths that have been transmitted by people known for their uprightness and exactitude; free from eccentricity and blemish).May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.