During the Khutba, Should we send blessings on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace)?

Walaikum assalam,

The general principle is that,

"Everything impermissible in the prayer is impermissible in the khutba." [Fatawa Hindiyya, 1.148, quoting al-Khulasa]

As such, the most one should do when the imam makes dua, or mentions the name of the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) is to answer [by saying Amin or sending blessings on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace)] within oneself. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi]

As for the definition of 'within oneself,' it is differed upon:

Imam Ahmad al-Tahtawi (d. 1231 AH) defined it in his Hashiyat al-Maraqi as being, "Such that one can hear oneself," quoting Allama Quhustani. Others defined it as, being in one's heart without pronouncing it. This has been transmitted from Imam Abu Yusuf, and was chosen by Imam Kamal Ibn al - Humam in Fath al-Qadir. [Tahtawi, Hashiyat Maraqi al-Falah, 2.135, ed. Abd al - Karim `Ata; Shaykh Zada, Majma` al-Anhur Sharh Multaqa al-Abhur, 1.181]

Allama Haddadi chose the latter [namely, in one's heart without pronouncing] in his al-Jawara al-Nayyira, a commentary on Quduri's Kitab.

Ibn Abidin mentions both positions, but does not lean decisively either way. [Radd al-Muhtar, 1.551, Bulaq ed.]

It is, therefore, more cautious merely to respond in one's heart, without pronouncing. If one pronounces the blessings on the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) or the Amin, quietly to oneself, there is nothing wrong with it.

One should not, however, raise one's voice or one's hands.

Walaikum assalam,
Faraz Rabbani.

ي الفتاوى الهندية: 1/148

وَيَحْرُمُ فِي الْخُطْبَةِ مَا يَحْرُمُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ... , هَكَذَا فِي الْخُلَاصَةِ .

 
في مجمع الأنهر لشيخ زاده شرح ملتقى الأبحر لإبراهيم الحلبي: 1/181

وَفِي الْفَتْحِ أَنَّهُ لَا يُصَلِّي عَلَى النَّبِيِّ عليه الصلاة والسلام عِنْدَ ذِكْرِهِ فِي الْخُطْبَةِ عِنْدَ الْإِمَامِ وَعِنْدَ أَبِي يُوسُفَ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ فِي نَفْسِهِ لِأَنَّ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا لَا يَشْغَلُهُ عَنْ سَمَاعِ الْخُطْبَةِ وَكَانَ إحْرَازًا بِفَضِيلَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ الصَّوَابُ .

في الدر:

وَالصَّوَابُ أَنَّهُ يُصَلِّي عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عِنْدَ سَمَاعِ اسْمِهِ فِي نَفْسِهِ , وَلَا يَجِبُ تَشْمِيتٌ وَلَا رَدُّ سَلَامٍ بِهِ يُفْتَى وَكَذَا يَجِبُ الِاسْتِمَاعُ لِسَائِرِ الْخُطَبِ كَخُطْبَةِ نِكَاحٍ وَخُطْبَةِ عِيدٍ وَخَتْمٍ عَلَى الْمُعْتَمَدِ

 في الحاشية:

( قَوْلُهُ بَلْ يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَسْتَمِعَ ) ظَاهِرُهُ أَنَّهُ يُكْرَهُ الِاشْتِغَالُ بِمَا يُفَوِّتُ السَّمَاعَ , وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ كَلَامًا , وَبِهِ صَرَّحَ الْقُهُسْتَانِيُّ

( قَوْلُهُ فِي نَفْسِهِ ) أَيْ بِأَنْ يُسْمِعَ نَفْسَهُ أَوْ يُصَحِّحَ الْحُرُوفَ فَإِنَّهُمْ فَسَرُّوهُ بِهِ , وَعَنْ أَبِي يُوسُفَ قَلْبًا ائْتِمَارًا لِأَمْرَيْ الْإِنْصَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ عَلَيْهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَمَا فِي الْكَرْمَانِيِّ قُهُسْتَانِيٌّ قُبَيْلَ بَابِ الْإِمَامَةِ وَاقْتَصَرَ فِي الْجَوْهَرَةِ عَلَى الْأَخِيرِ حَيْثُ قَالَ وَلَمْ يَنْطِقْ بِهِ لِأَنَّهَا تُدْرَكُ فِي غَيْرِ هَذَا الْحَالِ وَالسَّمَاعُ يَفُوتُ