The Text of the Tashahhud
The Tahiyyat (At-Tahiyyatu)
Arabic: التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلَامُ عَلَينَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِين أَشهَدُ أَن لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَشهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Translation: “All greetings, prayers, and good things are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.”
The Story Behind the Tashahhud
Ibn Mas’ud (RA) narrated: “The Messenger of Allah (SAW) taught me the tashahhud, with my hand between his two hands, just as he would teach me a surah of the Quran.” (Bukhari, Muslim)
The theological tradition holds that the tashahhud originates from the Mi’raj: Allah greeted the Prophet (SAW) with At-Tahiyyat lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat — “All greetings, prayers, and good things are for Allah.” The Prophet responded with the peace and blessings. Then Jibril added the testimony on behalf of the believers. The exchange became the permanent form of the prayer’s testimony.
The Meaning — Clause by Clause
“At-Tahiyyatu lillahi” — All tahiyyat (greetings, acts of honor, forms of salutation) belong to Allah alone. Every form of reverence, honor, and divine greeting is exclusively for Him. This is the tawhid of honor.
“Was-salawatu wat-tayyibat” — And all salawat (prayers, blessings) and tayyibat (good words, good deeds, good intentions) are also for Allah. Everything that is valuable, pure, and beneficial has its origin in and returns to Allah.
“As-salamu ‘alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu” — “Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.” This direct address to the Prophet (SAW) — in the second person, present tense — has been understood by scholars in two ways:
- During the Prophet’s lifetime: a direct greeting to him as he led the prayers
- After his death: a genuine salutation that reaches him — the Prophet has said he is aware of the salutations of his ummah. This is the standard position.
“As-salamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibadillahis-salihin” — “Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah.” By saying this, the worshipper joins themselves to every righteous person who has ever prayed — a moment of connection across time and space to all of Allah’s servants.
“Ashhadu alla ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh” — The shahadah — the twin testimony. This is the same declaration as the shahadah of entering Islam, renewed in every prayer, in the posture of sitting — a posture of humility and attention.
The Salawat Ibrahimiyya — The Durood
After the tashahhud, the prayer adds the Salawat Ibrahimiyya (the blessings upon the family of Ibrahim):
“Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin, kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim, innaka hamidun majid. Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin, kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim, innaka hamidun majid.”
“O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim — indeed, You are the Most Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim — indeed, You are the Most Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious.”
The inclusion of the Prophet’s aal (family/descendants) is theologically significant in the Ismaili context: the salawat are extended to the Imam’s family as a unit — the prophetic blessing flows through the family of the Prophet, including to the lineage of the Imams.
Madhab Differences
- Hanafi: The first tashahhud (in the middle of 3-4 rakat prayers) is wajib; the second (final) is also wajib. The text is from Ibn Mas’ud’s narration.
- Shafi’i: The final tashahhud is a pillar (rukn) of prayer; the first is a confirmed sunnah. The text is from Ibn Abbas’ narration (slightly different wording).
- Maliki: One tashahhud (only the final one). The Salawat on the Prophet is obligatory; the Salawat Ibrahimiyya is recommended.
- Hanbali: Both tashahhuds are wajib. The text from Ibn Mas’ud’s narration.
See also: Understanding Namaz, Post Namaz Routine, Adhkar, Dhikr, Prophet Muhammad, Tasbih