What is the origin of the salawat we read in prayers? Who read them first?

What is the origin of the salawat we read in prayers? Who read them first?

Dear Brother / Sister,

The Prophet (pbuh) himself is the origin of the salawat we read in prayers.

Salawat for the Messenger of Allah (pbuh):

Narrator: Abu Mas'ud al Badri

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) came while we were sitting in Sa'd Ibn Ubada’s place. Bashir Ibn Sa'd said,

"O Messenger of Allah! Allah ordered us to say salawat for you. How can we say salawat for you?” The Prophet said,

"Say as follows: ‘Allahumma salli ala Muhammadin wa ala al-i Muhammad, kama sallayta ala Ibrahima wa barik ala Muhammadin wa ala al-i Muhammadin kama barakta ala al-i Ibrahima innaka hamidun majid.

(O my Allah! Incline to Muhammad and to those who adhered to him as You inclined to Abraham, and bless Muhammad and those who adhered him, n as you blessed Abraham and those who adhered to him, Verily you are all Praiseworthy all Glorious.)’"

(The Messenger of Allah added the following):

"Greeting is as you know."

In all Kutub as-Sitta books except Tirmidhi, the following narration from Abu Humayd is included:

"The Companions asked,

‘O Messenger of Allah! How shall we say salawat for you? ’The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,

‘Say as follows:’

‘Allahumma salli ala Muhammadin wa ala azwajihi wa dhurriyyatihi kama sallayta ala Ibrahima wa barik ala Muhammadin wa ala azwajihi wa dhurriyyatihi kama barakta ala Ibrahima innaka hamidun majid.

(O my Allah! Incline to Muhammad and his wives and his descendants as You inclined to Abraham, and bless Muhammad and his wives and his descendants as you blessed Abraham. Verily you are all Praiseworthy all Glorious.)’”

A narration from Ka'b Ibn Ujra is as follows:

"The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) came to us.

We said, "O Messenger of Allah! We have learned how to greet you but we do not know how to say salawat for you."

He said, "Say as follows:

‘Allahumma salli ala Muhammadin wa ala al-i Muhammadin kama sallayta ala Ibrahima innaka hamidun majid, Allahumma barik ala Muhammadin wa ala al-i Muhammad, kama barakta ala ali Ibrahima innaka hamidun majid. (O my Allah, incline to Muhammad and to those who adhered to him as You inclined to Abraham and to those who adhered to him. Verily you are all Praiseworthy all Glorious. O my Allah, bless Muhammad and those who adhered him, as you blessed Abraham and those who adhered to him, Verily you are all Praiseworthy all Glorious.’"

References:

Bukhari, Da'awat 33, Anbiya 8; Muslim, Salat 65, 66, 69 (406, 407); Muwatta, Qasrus-Salat 66, 67, (1, 165, 166); Tirmidhi, Tafsir, Ahzab, (3218), Witr, 20, (483); Abu Dawud, Salat 183, (976, 979, 980, 981); Nasai, Sahw 49, 51, 54 (3, 45, 46, 47, 49).

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