Is it proper to say Sayyidina Muhammad?

Is it proper to say Sayyidina Muhammad?

Question: Can we say the Tashahhud in solāh the wording “Ashhadu anna Sayyidina Muhammadan Rasūlullāh (I bear witness that our master Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh)” and “Allāhumma salli 'ala Sayyidina Muhammad (O Allāh, send blessing upon our master Muhammad)”, or it suffice to say “Muhammad” without saying “Sayyidina (master)”?

In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;

All the praise and thanks is due to Allāh, the Lord of al-'ālameen. There is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam is His Messenger.

Firstly: Undoubtedly referring to the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) as “sayyid (master)” is quite valid, for he (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) is our master, and indeed the master of all of mankind.

Abu Hurayrah (radiyallāhu'anhu) said: The Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: “I will be the master (or leader) of the sons of Adam on the Day of Resurrection.” Muslim (2278)]

Abu Sa'id (radiyallāhu'anhu) said: The Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:“I will be the master (or leader) of the sons of Adam on the Day of Resurrection and I am not boasting. In my hand will be a banner of praise and I am not boasting. There will be no Prophet that day, Adam or anyone else, but he will be beneath my banner. I am the first one for whom the earth will be split open and I am not boasting.” [At-Tirmidzi: sahih].

Secondly: It must be noted that acts of worship are based on what has been enjoined and nothing can be added to any act of worship as it was prescribed by the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam).

This is one of the signs of a person’s love and obedience for Allāh and His Messenger.

Allāh Almighty says: “Say (O Muhammad (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) to mankind): ‘If you (really) loves Allāh, then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Quran and the Sunnah), Allāh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allāh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful’” [Surah Ali-'Imrān, 3:31]

"We hear and we obey, and we seek Your forgiveness, O our Lord, and the Return is to You." [Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:285]

The Sunnah of Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) was mentioned as the wisdom (al-Hikmah) in al-Qur'ān in many verses, such as the following:

"Similarly (to complete My Blessings on you), We have sent among you a Messenger (Muhammad) of your own, reciting to you Our Verses (the Qur'ān) and purifying you, and teaching you the Book (the Qur'ān) and the Hikmah (i.e. Sunnah, Islamic laws and Fiqh — jurisprudence), and teaching you that which you used not to know”   [Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:151]

 “And treat not the Verses (Laws) of Allāh as a jest, but remember Allāh’s Favours on you (i.e. Islam), and that which He has sent down to you of the Book (i.e. the Qur’ān) and Al-Hikmah (the Prophet’s Sunnah — legal ways — Islamic jurisprudence) whereby He instructs you. And fear Allāh, and know that Allāh is All-Aware of everything”   [Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:231].

The Qur'ān and Sunnah both come from the same source, both are revelation (wahyu) from Allāh Almighty .

Allāh says:  “Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only a Revelation revealed. He has been taught (this Qur’ān) by one mighty in power [Jibreel (Gabriel)]” [Surah Al-Najm, 53:3-5]

"Following" means "doing it as he did it, and saying it as he said it, refraining from that which he refrained from, and not adding anything to it or subtracting anything from what he did."

The Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) said:  “Whoever does an action that is not part of this matter of ours (Islam) will have it rejected.”  [Narrated by al-Bukhari (2697) and Muslim (1718)]

 The Salawat upon the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam)

Allāh Says:

“Inn Allāha wamala-ikatahu yusallūna ‘ālannabiyyi, Ya ayyuha allathīnāmanū Sallū ‘ālayhi wasallimū taslīma" 

(Allāh sends His Salāh (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy, etc.) on the Prophet (Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) and also His angels too (ask Allāh to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send your Salāt on (ask Allāh to bless) him (Muhammad (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam), and (you should) greet (salute) him with Taslim (the Islamic way of greeting (salutation i.e. As-salāmu ‘alayka ayyuha’n-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh). 

[Al-Ahzab, 33: 56]

1-In his Tafsir of ayat, Al-Ahzab, 33: 56, Al-Bakhāri recorded Ka'ab bin 'Ujrah (radiyallāhu'anhu) reported, “It was said, “O Messenger of Allāh, we already knows how to greet you [i.e ‘As-salāmu ‘alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmat-Allāhi wa barakātuh’ as in the Tashahhud], but how should we but how about Salāh [Supplicate; Ask blessings  for you]?'' He (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said:

«قُولُوا: اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد»

"Say: ‘Allāhumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala āli Muhammad kama sallaita 'ala āli Ibrāhīm; Innaka Hamīdum Majīd; Allāhumma bārik 'ala Muhammad, wa `ala ‘āli Muhammad, kama bārakta 'ala āli Ibrāhīm;Innaka Hamīdum Majīd.’

(O Allāh! Send Prayers on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad, as You sent Prayers on the family of Ibrāhīm, Verily You are Most Praiseworthy, Full of Glory; O Allāh! Send Your Blessings on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent your Blessings on the family of Ibrāhīm, Verily You are Most Praiseworthy, Full of Glory.)''’

[Al-Bukhari;Fathul-Bāri (8:392); Ahmad; Nasā'e and Abu Ya’la in his Musnad (44/2) with a sahih: (reaffirmed the narration thru Ibn Abi Layla’ informed by Ka'ab) ; Muslim (804-805); Humaidi (138/1) and Ibn Mandah (68/2): Sahih: Reported by Sa'īd bin Mansūr, ‘Abd bin Hamīd, Ibn Abi Hātim and Ibn Mardawiyah  and ‘Abd ar-Razzāq, Ibn Abi Shaybah, Ahmad `Abd-Hamīd, the Sihah Sittah all from Ka'ab bin 'Ujrah.; this narration uses ‘Kama Sallaita 'ala [Ibrāhīm, wa 'ala] āli Ibrāhīm’; ‘Allāhumma Bārik’ in second part and ‘Innaka Hamīdum Majīd’ in both part.]

2 - Muslim recorded in his Sahih under ‘The Book on Blessings on the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) after Tashahhud’ that 'Abdullāh bin Zaid (radiyallāhu'anhu), one who was shown the adzān (the call for prayer) in a dream, narrated it on the authority of Abu Mas'ud Al-Ansari (radiyallāhu'anhu) said: "We came to the Messenger of Allāh and we were with Sa'ad bin 'Ubadah. Bashir bin Sa'ad (radiyallāhu'anhu) said to him, ‘Allāh has commanded us to send Salāh upon you, O Messenger of Allāh. How can we send Salāh upon you’. The Messenger of Allāh remained quiet for so long that we wished that he had not asked him, then the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said [For blessing me]:

«قُولُوا: اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ،

 كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي الْعَالَمِينَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ ,وَالسَّلَامُ كَمَا قَدْ عَلِمْتُم»

“Say: “Allāhumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala āli Muhammad kamā sallayta 'ala āli Ibrāhīm; Wa bārik 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala āli Muhammad kama bārakta 'ala āli Ibrāhīm fil-'ālameen; Innaka Hamīdun Majīd”

(O Allāh! Send Prayers upon Muhammad and the members of his household as You Sent Prayers upon the members of Ibrahim's household; And Send Blessings to Muhammad and the members of his household as You  granted Blessings upon the members of the household of Ibrāhīm, among all the nations’ Verily You are Most Praiseworthy, Full of Glory)”,

“And the Salutation [i.e ‘As-salāmu 'alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh’]  as you about knows  it.”

[Muslim (803): Book on Blessings on the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) after Tashahhud; this narration uses the phrase: 'ala āli Ibrāhīm, fil-ālamīn; Innaka Hamīdun Majīd”]); this narration is Linguistically sound; more comprehensive] This was also recorded by Abu Dawud, An-Nasā'ie, At-Tirmidzi and Ibn Jarir. At-Tirmidzi said, "It is Hasan Sahih.''

3 - Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Humaid As-Sa'idi (radiyallāhu'anhu) that they said: "O Messenger of Allāh, how can we send Salāh upon you'' He (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said:

«قُولُوا: اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَزْوَاجِهِ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَزْوَاجِهِ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد»

"Say: ‘Allāhumma salli 'ala Muhammad, wa  ['ala] azwajihi wa dzurriyatihi kama sallayta 'ala  Ibrāhīm; Wa bārik 'ala Muhammad, wa ['ala] azwajihi wa dzurriyatihi kama bārakta 'ala[ali] Ibrāhīm, Innaka Hamidum-Majīd’

(O Allāh Send Prayers on Muhammad and [on] his wives and progeny, as You Sent Prayers on [the family of] Ibrāhīm; And Send Blessings on Muhammad, and [on] his wives and progeny, as You Sent Blessings on [the family of] Ibrāhīm; Verily You are Most Praiseworthy, Full of Glory).

[Ahmad, It was also recorded by the rest of the Jama'ah, apart Muslim (807), Abu Dawud; at-Tirmidzi and Nasa'ie from Abu Humaid As-Sa'idi; but this narration uses : kama sallaita 'ala  Ibrāhīm; only once ‘ Innaka Hamidum-Majīd’; No.2 almost similar to No.3.1 recorded by Imām Ahmad and Tahawi]

3.1 - Imām Ahmad and Tahawi with a sahih sanad recorded another narration:

“Allāhumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala ahli bait, wa 'ala azwajihi wa dzurriyyatihi, kama sallayta 'ala āli Ibrāhīm; Innaka Hamīdum Majīd; Wa bārik 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala ahli bait, wa 'ala azwajihi wa dzurriyyatihi kama bārakta 'la āli Ibrāhīm; Innaka Hamīdum-Majīd”

(O Allāh! Send prayers on Muhammad, and on his household, and on his wives and progeny, as you sent prayers on the family of Ibrāhīm; Verily You are Most Praiseworthy, Full of Glory; And send blessings on Muhammad, and his household, and his wives and progeny, as you sent blessings on the family of Ibrāhīm; Verily You are Most Praiseworthy, Full of Glory).

This narration of the salawāt reportedly used by the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) himself after the Tashahhud. [Ahmad and Tahawi with a sahih sanad]

[Recorded by Ahmad and Tahawi: sahih; uses phrase: wa 'ala ahli bait, wa 'No.3 recorded by Bukhari, Muslim (807), Abu Dawud and Nasā'ie from Abu Humaid As-Sa‘idi when Sahabi enquired Rasūlullāh as how to send Salawāt to him; but this narration is without ‘wa `ala ahli bait’, and uses ‘Innaka Hamidum-Majīd’ once at the end]

Commentary: The narration no 3.1 is almost similar to No.3 the salawāt reportedly used by the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) himself after the Tashahhud. [Ahmad and Tahawi with a sahih sanad] The Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) never taught us to say the wording “Sayyidina”. Hence we should not add to what the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) had taught us enjoined to say. This is undoubtedly better and correct.

The Virtues of Salawāt

The Salawāt reflects the honour, love, faith, attachment to our Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) which signifies to be the deep faith in Allāh. None is considered a true believer until one loves him more than one parents and all others. The Salawāt indicates the honour, love, belief, attachment to him as our Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) which signifies to be the deep faith in Allāh.  

Anas Ibn Mālik (radiyallāhu'anhu) narrated the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: “No one of you truly believes until I am dearer to him than his father, his son, his own self and all the people.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri, 15; Muslim, 44].

The Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) also said: “Whenever someone seeks Allāh’s blessings for me, Allāh returns the soul to my body until I reply to his salutation." [Reported by Abu Dawud]

Imām Ahmad related that Abu Talhah Al-Ansārī (radiyallāhu’anhu) said: The Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu’alayhi wasallam) arose one morning in a very pleasant mood with signs of good tidings apparent on his face. They said, “O Messenger of Allāh, we see that you look happy.” Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The angel came to me and told me, ‘O Muhammad, would it not please you if your Lord, may He be glorified, said: ‘No member of your Ummah sends Solāh (Salawāt) upon you but I send Solāh upon him tenfold, and no member of your Ummah sends greetings of Salām upon you but I send greetings of Salām upon him tenfold’.’” I said, “Of course.’” [This was also recorded by An-Nasā'ie Ibn Abi Shaybah, ‘Abd bin Hamīd and At-Tirmidzi; Cited with slightly different wording in Imām Abu Sulayman al-Jazuli's Dala'il Al-Khayrat (The Index of Good Things)]

‘Abdullāh bin Mas’ud (radiyallāhu’anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu’alayhi wasallam) said: "Those who are most deserving of my intercession on the Day of Judgment are those who used to increasingly seek Allāh’s Blessing (salawāt) for me.” [This is recorded by Ahmad, Al-Bukhari, At-Tirmidzi and Ibn Hibbān said hasan]

Anas Ibn Mālik (radiyallāhu’anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu’alayhi wasallam) said: “There are three under the shade of Allāh on a day when there is no shade except His; the one who relieved a distress from someone from my nation; the one who invigorate my Sunnah and the one who invoked blessings on me (Salawāt) the most”. [This is recorded in the Mustadrak and the Musnad of al-Firdaus; Al-Hāfiz As-Suyūtī also recorded it in his Burūj Al-Hilāl.]

And the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) likened those who do not salawāt upon him when his name is mentioned as a miser: "The miser  (wretched; niggardly, mistaken) is the one who hears my name mentioned and does not seek blessings for me.” [Reported by At-Tirmidzi]

Thirdly: Muslims should not transgress against the teaching of the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) and the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) used to remind every Friday in his khutbah, from the minbar:

“The best of speech is the Book of Allāh and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam).”

[Narrated by Muslim (867)]

In another narration: “The best of speech is the Book of Allāh, and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. The most evil of things are those which are newly-invented (in religion), and every innovation is a going astray.” [Recorded by Al-Nasā’ie in Al-Sunan, Kitab Salat Al-‘Eidayn, no. 1560]

Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar Asqalani (rahimahullāh) was asked: Is it correct to send blessings upon the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), saying “Sayyidina” because it is an apt description of him, or not to say that because it is not narrated in the reports?

Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar Al-'Asqalani (rahimahullāh) replied:  It would be much better following the phrases that have been narrated  and it should not be said which Rasulullah (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) refrained from saying it out of humility but his ummah is recommended to say that every time he is mentioned, because we say: If that was correct, it would have been narrated from the Sahābah then from the Tabi`een, and we have not found anything in the hadiths from any of the Sahabah or Tabi’een to suggest that he said that, even though there are so many reports on this topic.

Then he quoted some reports from some of the Sahābah and Tabi'een, and from Imām Al-Shāfi'ie (rahimahullāh) in which the word “Sayyiduna” is not mentioned.

Then Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar Asqalani (rahimahullāh) also said: This issue is well known in the books of fiqh. The point is that none of the fuqaha’ who discussed this issue used the word “Sayyidina”. If this addition had been recommended, it would not have been unknown to them and they would not have ignored it. All goodness is in following the wording taught to the ummah.

Ibn Hajar’s view of the unacceptability of describing the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) as sayyid during the salawāt on him in accordance with the Qur'anic order is also that of the Hanafi scholars. It is the view which must be adhered to, for it is a true indication of love for him, (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam); "Say: If you do love Allāh, then follow me: Allāh will love you."(Ali-‘Imrān, 3:31)  

[Al-Albāni in his book Sifat al-Salāh p. 153-155]

The Tashahhud, Adzān and Iqāmah

The scholars of the Scholars Standing Committee were asked: Is it permissible for us to say when speaking of the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam): “Sayyiduna Muhammad (our master Muhammad)” in contexts other than those which are narrated in texts such as Al-Salāh Al-Ibrāhīmiyyah in the prayer etc?

They  Standing Committee replied: With regard to sending blessings on the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) in the Tashahhud, there is no report – as far as we know – in which the word “sayyidina” is mentioned, i.e., “Allāhumma salli `ala sayyidina Muhammad (O Allāh, send blessing upon our master Muhammad)” etc.  The same applies to the adzān and iqāmah, in which the word “sayyidina” is not used because it is not mentioned in the sahih ahādith in which the Prophet(Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam)  taught his companions how to send blessings upon him, and how to say the adzān and iqāmah.

'Umar ibn al-Khattab (radiyallāhu`anhu) narrated that the Rasūllullāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said:

“If the muazzin says, ‘Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar (Allāh is most great, Allāh is most great),’ and one of you says, ‘Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar (Allāh is most great, Allāh is most great)’;

Then he says, ‘Ashhadu an lā ilāha ill-Allāh (I bear witness that there is no god except Allāh),’ and you say, ‘Ashhadu an lā ilāha ill-Allāh (I bear witness that there is no god except Allāh)’;

Then he says, ‘Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasūlullāh (I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh),’ and you say, ‘Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasūlullāh (I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh)’;

Then he says, ‘Hayya ‘alal-solāh (Come to prayer),’ and you say, ‘Lāhawla wa lā quwwata illa Billāh (There is no power and no strength except with Allāh)’;

Then he says, ‘Hayya ‘alal-falāh (Come to prosperity),’ and you say, ‘Lā hawla wa lā quwwata illa Billāh (There is no power and no strength except with Allāh)’;

Then he says, ‘Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar (Allāh is most great, Allāh is most great),’ and you say, ‘Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar(Allāh is most great, Allāh is most great)’;

Then he says, ‘Lā ilāha illallāh (There is no god but Allāh),’ and one you says, ‘Lā ilāha illallāh (There is no god but Allāh),’

From the heart, he will enter Paradise.”

[Recorded by Muslim (385)]

Jabir Ibn ‘Abdullāh (radiyallāhu'anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu'alayhi wa sallam) said: 

“Whoever says when he hears the adzān:‘Allāhumma Rabba hādzihid-da’wat il-tāmmah wal-solātil-qā imah, āti Muhammadan il wasīlata wal-fadīlah, wab`athhu maqāman mahmūdan illadzi wa 'ad tah(O Allāh, Lord of this perfect call and the solah to be offered, grant Muhammad the privilege (of intercession) and also the eminence, and resurrect him to the praised position that You have promised),’ My intercession for him will be permitted on the Day of Resurrection."

[Recorded by Al-Bukhari, 589]

The acts of worship are tawqeefi (i.e., they are to be done exactly as described in the texts) and nothing is to be added to them that has not been prescribed by Allāh. The addition of Saiyyidina in the acts of worship is without doubt an addition to what the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) brought to the ummah. As for saying it in other contexts, there is nothing wrong with it, because the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa salam) said: “I will be the master of the sons of Adam on the Day of Resurrection and I am not boasting.”

[Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Da’imah (7/65)]

The principle of the munttaqun would always obeying Allāh and His Messenger: Rasulullah (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) also said, ‘Verily Allāh is pure, and does not accept except for which is pure. And indeed Allāh ordered the Muslims with that which He ordered the Messengers.’ [Recorded by  Ahmad]

Allāh Almighty says: “So take what the Messenger gives you” [Hashr, 59:7].

“Say (O Muhammad (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) to mankind): ‘If you (really) loves Allāh, then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur’an and the Sunnah), Allāh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allāh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful’” [Ali-‘Imrān, 3:31];

“We hear and we obey, and we seek Your forgiveness, O our Lord, and the Return is to You.” [Al-Baqarah, 2:285]

Showing Respect and Reverence to the Prophet (Sallallāhu'alayhi wa sallam)

Explaining the necessity of showing respect and reverence to the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) while calling him, Allah Almighty says: “Make not the calling of the messenger among you as your calling one of another.”  [Surah An-Nur,24: 63]

The Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) cautioned the ummah as he said: "None of you will have faith till he loves me more than his father, his children and all mankind" [Recorded by  Al-Bukhari].

The Prophet warned the ummah of Exaggeration in Praising or Respecting Him.

The Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) also said: “Do not exaggerate about me as the Christians exaggerated about the son of Maryam. I am only a slave, so say, ‘The slave of Allāh and His Messenger.’” [Recorded by al-Bukhāri.]

There were no authentic hadith that Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) taught us to say the wording “Sayyidina”. Hence we should not add to what the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) had taught us enjoined to say. This is undoubtedly better and correct.

Exaggerating the character or status of prophets and messengers has repeatedly led to all sorts of deviations from truth, which inflicted all messages prior to Islam. Deviations took several forms, from deifying human beings, to associating them with Allah, as sons or as parts of a trinity or a holy family, to taking statues, pictures or different sorts of icons, crosses, etc. as idols to glorify, supplicate, or take a blessing from.

A touch of this tendency to exaggerate the blessed character of the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) and his noble family infiltrated the minds and hearts of some Muslim individuals and groups, either as a remnant of their previous polytheistic beliefs, as a result of ignorance and influence of imitation of non-Muslims, or intentionally by those hypocrites who pretended to be Muslims with the aim of distorting Islam from within. To this effect, they invented hadiths (sayings) referred to the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) that were propagated by deviant sects, as well as by some of the ignorant masses. However, Muslim scholars early on scrutinized the validity of the texts as well as the integrity of hadith narrators. Further, they laid strict rules to be applied before accepting any hadith narration.

And Allāh Almighty Knows best.

 [Adapted from Islam Q&A (85116)]