Q 2: If paying salutation is Bid‘ah (innovation in religion), can we prevent people from invoking Allah’s peace and blessings upon the honorable Prophet (peace be upon him)?

A: Invoking Allah’s peace and blessings upon our Prophet and his fellow Prophets is not Bid‘ah as was mentioned by the questioner. They are lawful acts as evident from the previously stated proofs. No one is permitted to prevent people from invoking peace and blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him) unless they perform it in a way that did not occur at the time of the Salaf (righteous predecessors) from among the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet) and those who followed them in righteousness. In such case they should be asked to stop doing it in this manner such as saying it loudly after pronouncing Adhan (call to prayer) by the Mu’adhin (caller to Prayer) or repeating it in congregation at certain times. What is disapproved of is the manner of invoking peace and blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him), which was not reported to be done by our righteous predecessors. Doing it in such a manner is the condemned Bid‘ah, not the invocation of peace and blessings itself. (Part No. 3; Page No. 8)