The meaning of the tashahhud in english is “All the compliments are for Allah and all the prayers and all the good things (are for Allah). … And peace be on us and on the good (pious) worshipers of Allah.
Tashahhud in English
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) used to teach the people, “When the Imam recites, then listen attentively, and if he is sitting (in the prayer) then the first remembrance that anyone of you recites should be the Tashahhud.’”
It’s this reason while we are sitting in the second and fourth rakat of Salah that we recite the tashadud.
In many other hadith narrations it was recorded that he used to teach Tashahhud just like as he would teach Surahs from the Quran.
Learning the Tashahhdud dua (also commonly known as Attahiyat) is a crucial step to perform salah.
Let’s jump in and learn this full dua and when to say.
LEARN TASHAHHUD DUA IN ARABIC TEXT:
In Arabic this is written:
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Transliteration: At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat, as-salamu ‘alaika ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatAllahi wa baraktuhu. As-salamu ‘alaina wa ‘ala ‘ibad illahis-salihin, ashahdu an la illaha ill-Allah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluhu.
TASHAHHUD DUA ENGLISH TRANSLATION
The meaning of the tashahhud in english is “All the compliments are for Allah and all the prayers and all the good things (are for Allah). Peace be on you, O Prophet, and Allah’s mercy and blessings (are on you). And peace be on us and on the good (pious) worshipers of Allah. I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Apostle.”
While saying wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh it’s sunnah to raise the index or forefinger. It was also mentioned that the tashahhud should be recited silently.
SAID DURING SITTING POSITION OF SALAH
The Tashahhud outside salah can be recited at any time when one wants to show remembrance of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and the Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him.
While praying salah, however, it should be said either during the second rakat or the fourth rakat after completing sujood.
Reference:
1. It was narrated that Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘When the Imam recites, then listen attentively, and if he is sitting (in the prayer) then the first remembrance that anyone of you recites should be the Tashahhud.’” Grade: Sahih (Darussalam).
2. It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to teach us the tashahhud just as he used to teach us a surah from the Quran.” Grade: Sahih (Darussalam) Reference : Sunan an-Nasa’i 1278
3. Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to teach us tashahhud just as he used to teach us a Surah of the Qur’an, and he would say: All services rendered by words, acts of worship, and all good things are due to Allah.
Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. Peace be upon us and upon Allah’s upright servants. I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. In the narration of Ibn Rumh (the words are): “As he would teach us the Qur’an.” Reference: Sahih Muslim 403 a
4. Sahih al-Bukhari hadith number 1202.
5. ‘Ali b. ‘Abual-Rahman al-Mu’awi reported: ‘Abdullah b. Umar saw me playing with pebbles during prayer. After finishing the prayer he forbade me (to do it) and said: Do as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to do. I said: How did Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) do? He said that he (the Messenger of Allah) sat at tashahhud, placed his right palm on the right thigh and closed all his fingers and pointed with the help of finger next to the thumb, and placed his left palm on his left thigh.
6. Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas’ud: It pertains to the sunnah to utter the tashahhud quietly. Grade: Sahih (Al-Albani)
This emphasized the importance placed on saying the tashahhdud. By reciting this supplication it is as if “you have surely sent the greetings to every good (pious) worshipper of Allah, whether he be in the Heaven or on the Earth.”
Do you know why we recite ATTA’HIYYAAT, in every Salah? Attahiyyaat is a very important ‘Dua’ we repeat it in our daily prayers. When I came to know the background, it actually melted my heart.
Attahiyat is actually a part of a conversation between Our Creator Allah SWT and our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) during his journey of Al Isra Wal Miraj.
When Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) met Allah SWT, he didn’t say ‘Assalam aleikum’. What is someone going to say when he meets Allah SWT? We can’t wish HIM peace because ALL sources of peace are through HIM.
So Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
1.1 “Attahiyyaatu Lillahi Was Salawatu Wattayyibatu”
1.2 All compliments, all prayer and worship are for Allah
1.3 Dukkan nau’in ban girma da kuma salloli da kyawawan kalmomi ya tabbata ga Allah
Allah replied:
2.1 “Assalamu Alaika Ayyuhannabiyyu ‘Warahmatullahi Wabarka’tuhu”
2.2 Peace be upon you, Oh Prophet and Allah’s Mercy and Blessings
2.3 Aminci ya tabbata gare ka ya Annabi, da rahamar Allah da albarkatunsa.
To this, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) replied:
3.1 “Assalamu Alaina Wa’ala’Ibadillahis Saa’liheen”
3.2 Peace be on us and on all good slaves of Allah
3.3 Aminci ya tabbata gare mu, da kuma ga bayin Allah salihai
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) included “us” in his reply… for more on this see the note below.
And listening to this conversation between Allah and His Messenger (pbuh), the Angels said:
4.1 “Ash’had’u’un La ilahaillallahu Wa Ash’hadu Anna Muhammadun Abd’uhu Wa Rasooluh”
4.2 I bear witness that no one is worthy of worship except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger
4.1 Ina shaidawa cewa babu abin bautawa da gaskiya sai Allah. Kuma ina shaidawa cewa Muhammad bawansa ne kuma Manzonsa ne.
Salatul Ibrahimiyya (salutations done in the 2nd final tashahud), as reported by al Bukhari and Muslim.
اللهم صل على محمد، وعلى آل محمد كما صليت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم، إنك حميد مجيد، اللهم بارك على محمد، وعلى آل محمد كما باركت على إبراهيم، وعلى آل إبراهيم، إنك حميد مجيد
5.1 Allahumma salli ‘ala sayyidina Muhammadan wa ‘ala ali Muhammada, kama sallayta ‘ala ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim, innaka hamidun majid. Allahumma barik ‘ala muhammedin wa ‘ala ali muhammed, kama barakta ‘ala ali ibrahim, innaka hamidun majid.
5.2 O Allah, pray to Muhammad and his family (wives, Muslim kin, and pious Muslim followers), as you prayed over the family of Ibrahim, You are the only one worthy of Praise, the Glorious. And blessed Muhammed and his family, as you have blessed the family of Ibrahim, You are the only one worthy of Praise, the Glorious.
5.3 Ya Allah, muna roƙon Ka yi salati ga Annabi Muhammad da mutanen gidan Annabi Muhammad, kamar yadda ka yi salati ga Annabi Ibrahim da mutanen gidan annabi Ibrahim, lallai Kai ne abin yiwa godiya abin girmamawa, ka yi albarka ga Annabi Muhammad, da mutanen gidan Annabi Muhammad kamar yadda kayi albarka ga Annabi Ibrahim, da mutanen gidan Annabi Ibrahim, lallai Kai ne abin yiwa godiya abin girmamawa
Alternative English translation: O Allah, we ask You to raise the rank of Muhammad, and have mercy upon the family (wives, Muslim kin, and pious Muslim followers) of Muhammad, as You raised the rank of Ibrahim, and the Al of Ibrahim.
Verily, You are the One Who deserves to be praised and thanked, and the One Who is glorified. 0 Allah, we ask You to bless Muhammad, and the Al of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim, and the Al of Ibrahim. Verily, You are the One Who deserves to be praised and thanked, and the One Who is glorified.
Subhan Allah! I now know the background of this conversation and its importance in our daily prayers and how the Salat was prescribed to us.
Now that you too know, what do you think you should do with it. Imagine if your friends read and know what you know just because of you !!!
SubhanAllah I still think about this every time I recite the tashahhud… How generous and loving he SAW was and still is for us… In another Hadith I just came across …
After a difficult battle, the Companions were eating with the Messenger ﷺ when a man said, “Prophet, we believed in you and fought for you, will anyone come who is better than us?” He replied, “Yes, the people who believe in me without ever seeing me.” (Ahmad, Darimi, Haakim)