Q: There is a noble Hadith narrated on the authority of
Abu Hurayrah
(may Allah be pleased with him) indicating that whoever offers `Asr (afternoon) prayer, then sends peace and blessings to the Prophet (peace be upon him) while sitting in their place by saying "O Allah, convey Your peace and blessings on Muhammad, the Prophet who does not read, and on his family) eighty times, Allah will forgive them as much as eighty years of sinning, and they will be given the reward of eighty years of worship. The compiler of the book mentioned that this Hadith is related by
Al-Daraqutny
and that
Al-Hafizh Al-`Iraqy
graded it as Hasan (a Hadith whose chain of narration contains a narrator with weak exactitude, but is free from eccentricity or blemish). Is this an authentic Hadith? What is the degree of its authenticity? What is the exact wording of the Hadith if it is authentic? It should be mentioned that this Hadith has been repeatedly announced on Pakistani Television via a commercial for one of the commercial groups during Ramadan.
A:
The mentioned Hadith has no origin; therefore it is impermissible to act upon it.
However, conveying peace and blessings on the Prophet is always recommended, especially on Friday, without specifying a certain time. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
Whoever conveys peace and blessings on me once, Allah will place His Mercy upon them ten times.
Moreover, he (peace be upon him) said, (Part No. 24; Page No. 163)
The best of days is Friday; so increase in conveying peace and blessings on me that day, for your blessings will be submitted to me. The people asked, "O Messenger of Allah, how can our blessings be submitted to you while you will be decayed?" He (peace be upon him) said, "Allah has prohibited the earth to decompose the bodies of Prophets.
May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.