Salaam alikum Dear Shaik, I've recently got an email with a photo that shows the place from where Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ascended for Isra and Miraj. The person sending email recommended reciting Darood and forwarding it to others so that as many persons as possible will recite Darood. Can you please advise on this? If permitted I can also send the photo as a separate email. Also can you please advise as to the ruling on reciting Darood, in our country there is tradition that whenever we hear the name of Prophet Muhammad (pease be upon him) we recite Darood, are we doing any innovation?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, went on Israa' (Night Journey from Makkah to Jerusalem) from the house of Umm Haani' in Makkah, and it is known that there is no trace left of that house now. So, where has this picture of the house of Umm Haani' come from? This is a lie and it is not permissible to circulate it. It was narrated on the authority of Samurah ibn Jundub in the story of the Prophet's dream that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, saw a man lying on his back and another man standing over his head with an iron hook and he would put the hook in one side of the man's mouth and tear off that side of his face to the back (of the neck), and similarly tear his nose from front to back, and his eyes from front to back. When he asked about that man, he was told: "This is the man who goes out of his house in the morning and tells a lie that spreads all over the world." [Al-Bukhari] Of course, the prophets' dreams are part of revelation.

It should be noted that sending prayers on the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, or any form of Thikr (words of remembrance), supplications, and beneficial acts through any lawful means for the purpose of teaching people and reminding them brings a great reward and much goodness on condition that they are dedicated to Allaah The Almighty because this is disseminating knowledge and reminding people of goodness, which falls under what Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers.} [Quran 51:55]

On the other hand, it is a good act to say As-Salat Al-Ibraaheemiyyah upon hearing the name of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, because when the Companions asked him how they should send prayers on him, he taught them As-Salat Al-Ibraaheemiyyah. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] But if you mean that people say it out loud altogether in once voice and on a regular basis, this is considered a religious innovation. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Every newly-invented matter [in religion] is a religious innovation." [Ahmad and Abu Daawood]

Allaah Knows best.