# What does it mean that Allah performs salah upon the Prophet?

*Wood's linguistic objection: if 'Allah performs salah' on the Prophet, to whom does He pray?*

- URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/gyrfzzzca8g/s/4/
- Date: 2018-12-24 · Kind: lesson · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: On the David Wood and Muhammad Hijab Debate: Reflections & Review -Mufti Abu Layth (9:11–11:16)
- Status: general teaching
- Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyRfZZZcA8g&t=551s
- Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/gyrfzzzca8g/

**Topics:** Christians and other faiths; Quranic Arabic; Debate challenges and reviews

**Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** Wood kept asking to whom Allah prays if He 'performs salah' on the Prophet, which Hijab answered well as sending blessings. Mufti Abu Layth says pressing a linguistic point after it was answered, without knowing Arabic, was pathetic.

## Longer summary

Turning to David Wood, Mufti Abu Layth says he did not generally carry himself well in the debate but did pose some good questions, yet got stuck on linguistic questions that Mufti calls dumb. Wood repeatedly hinged on the verse 'Allah and His angels perform salah upon the Prophet' [?], asking that if Allah does salah, to whom is He praying. Mufti says Hijab answered this very well by explaining that the phrase does not mean Allah is praying to anyone but that He sends blessings upon the Prophet, a translation Mufti endorses even if unsure of Hijab's exact words. Wood would not leave the point alone and brought it up time and again, which Mufti calls dumb and pathetic on his part: once a question has been answered and one does not know the Arabic language, one should take the answer for now and research it further.

## Sources and names cited

- Mohammed Hijab
- David Wood
- Quran 33:56 (Allah and His angels perform salah upon the Prophet) [?] (reference uncertain; possibly https://quran.com/33/56)
- salah

## Transcript (machine tier, 9:11–11:16)

[8:51] leaning in on some of the the pros that the the positive things that Muhammad hijab had really done well targeted may be concise quoted just Christian sources all the way and yeah so I think that was that was really good just trying to think of some points coming to right now he did mainly in several of the kind of comebacks that David Wood has Mohammed II job does answer them he not just many

[9:28] right but he doesn't answer them all and this is some of the if we can flip the coin to some of the other like if we're gonna now look at David would let's just for a moment and reflect on him he doesn't generally carry himself off well in that whole debate that said he does pose some good questions a lot of his questions those of you that haven't watched he he seems to get stuck up on some linguistic questions which I think were which was just dumb if you're asking me because it was stupid because

[10:05] he repeatedly kind of hinged on this question of you know in navaja like a Tony so Luna Allen abhi that Allah he does Salah he keeps saying Allah does Allah so who is he doing Salafi and to be fair Muhammad hijab kind of answers that very well and says that look this doesn't mean he's praying to it means he's kind of sending blessings upon I think that's how he I'm not sure if Muhammad hijab did translate it like that but that's how perhaps ish maybe that's a I think is a good way to just translate it the sending blessings upon

[10:43] now this goes back and doctor would doesn't seem to leave this point alone he says no you know you suddenly is probably salon he brings it up time and time again so I think that was just I think it was quite dumb and pathetic on the part of dr. would agree to do that because you know we've somebody's answered the question you don't understand the Arabic language just take it for now and maybe you can research it further so that said I think dr.

## Cite

Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment gyRfZZZcA8g/s/4. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/gyrfzzzca8g/s/4/

Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.