The closest to the Prophet on the day of reckoning

Sending ṣalawāt wa salām—salutations and peace—upon the blessed Prophet and his family عليهم الصلوة والسلام is an obligation upon every Muslim. The hadith literature is filled with countless Traditions that stipulate its necessity; Allah عزوجل says:

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ ۚ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا

Indeed, Allah showers His blessings upon the Prophet, and His angels pray for him. O believers! Invoke Allah’s blessings upon him, and salute him with worthy greetings of peace. Qurʿān 33:56

From this we gain an understanding of how important it truly is to send ṣalawāt wa salām upon the blessed Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم.

That said, there are some unique benefits and blessings to be gained from carrying out this blessed act. This is why the ummah all over the world busies itself, especially on Fridays, in sending ṣalawāt wa salām in a variety of styles and forms. Some sit, some stand, some recite it monotonously and some melodiously, some individually and some in congregation, some in Arabic and some in their native tongues.

One of the many notable benefits of reciting ṣalawāt wa salām upon the blessed Prophet and his family عليهم الصلوة والسلام is narrated by ʾAbdullāh b. Masʾūd رضي الله عنه. He said that the blessed Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم once said:

أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَكْثَرُهُمْ عَلَىَّ صَلاَةً

The person closest to me on the Day of Judgement is the one who sent the most Salat upon me. — Tirmidhī 484

So remember to send ṣalawāt wa salām upon the blessed Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم abundantly. This will, no doubt, increase your love for him and bring you closer to him, spiritually and physically, in this world and the imminent hereafter.

And Allah عزوجل and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم know best.