Is There a Difference Between Sending Salaams Upon The Prophet From Far Away or At Close Proximity – A Brief Clarification By Imaam Albaani (rahimahullaah)

Question:

What is the difference between sending salaams upon the Prophet in a land other than Madeenah al-Munawwarah and the standing of person in front of his grave? [i.e. the grave of the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)]

Answer:

There is no different between this (i.e. sending salaams upon the Prophet in a land other than Medeenah) and that (i.e. the standing of a person in front of the grave of the Prophet). It has been reported about a member of the Prophet’s family that he saw a man sitting beside the grave of the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam), so he asked him the reason for that, so he (i.e. the man) said that he was sending salaams upon the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam). Then he ( i.e. the relative of the Prophet) told the man that the one who sends salaams upon the Prophet here (i.e. near his grave) is the same as the one who sends salaams upon the Prophet from Andalus (i.e. Spain). And from the affairs that are specific to the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) and have not been given to anyone else is what he (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) stated: ‘’Allaah has angels who go around on earth, conveying to me the salaams of my Ummah.” [Reported by An-Nasaa’ee 3/43 also see Saheeh At-Targheeb No: 1664]

As for the hadeeth: ‘’Whoever sends salaams upon me from far away, I am informed about it; and whoever sends salaams upon me at close proximity, I hear him”; it was reported by Al-Uqaylee (rahimahullaah) in Ad-Du’afaa 4/137 and he says that it has no basis.  Ibn Jawzee (rahimahullaah) reported it in Al-Mawdoo’aat (i.e. fabricated narrations) No: 862]

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[Source: For further details, see Fataawaa al-Imaaraat: page 59]