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The value of the Prophet ﷺ is so high in Allah's eyes that the Almighty considers obedience to the Prophet ﷺ to be obedience to Himself. Allah has declared the necessity of observing the remembrance of the Prophet ﷺ in our hearts and on our tongues.

In each salat, we are commanded to recite in the tashahud:

السلام عليك أيها النبي ورحمة الله وبركاته
Peace be upon you O Prophet, as well as the mercy and blessings of Allah.

Although greetings someone during the prayer normally annuals it, Allah has not only exempted the salutation of His Prophet ﷺ from this, He has made it obligatory.

Imam Al Ghazali says in the Ihya Ulum Al Din:

"As you send your greetings to the Prophet ﷺ during salat, consider him present in person, in your heart. rest assured that your greetings will reach him and he will respond to you in an even better way."

Sources: Prophet Muhammad Mustafa the Elect, Osman Nuri Topbaş