Understanding Early Tashahhud and Final Tashahhud in Islamic Prayer
Hello readers! In previous articles, I explained a bit about the early Tashahhud and the final Tashahhud, as well as their significance in prayer. In this article, I will go over the specific prayers that should be recited during both the early and final Tashahhud.
As usual, before diving into the explanation of these prayers, I'll share two hadiths that I believe are directly related to our discussion. Please pay attention!
Hadiths About Early Tashahhud and Final Tashahhud
The hadiths I'm referring to are as follows:
Hadith 1
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مَسْعُوْدٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ ؛ إِلَتَفَتَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ ؛ إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَقُلْ ؛ التَّحِيّاتَ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِيْنَ ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ. ثُمَّ لِيَتَخَيَّرْ مِنَ الدُّعَاءِ أَعْجَبَهُ إِلَيْهِ فَيَدْعُوْ . مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ
Translation:
From Abdullah bin Mas'ud (radiyallahu 'anhu), he said: "The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) turned towards us and said: 'When one of you prays, let him say: "All respects to Allah, all prayers, and all praise are due to 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 He has no partners, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger." Then he (the person) may choose any prayer that he likes.'" (Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Hadith 2
عَنْ أَبِيْ مَسْعُوْدٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ ؛ قَالَ بَشِيْرٌ بْنُ سَعْدٍ ، يَا رَسُوْلَ اللهِ أَمَرَنَا اللهُ أَنْ نُصَلِّي عَلَيْكَ ، فَكَيْفَ نُصَلِّي عَلَيْكَ ؟ فَسَكَتَ ثُمَّ قَالَ ؛ قُوْلُوْا ؛ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مَحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيْم ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيْم فِي الْعَالَمِيْنَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَجِيْدٌ ، وَالسَّلَامُ كَمَا عَلِمْتُمْ . رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ
Translation:
From Abi Mas'ud (radiyallahu 'anhu), he said: "Basyir bin Sa'ad said: 'O Messenger of Allah, Allah has commanded us to send prayers upon you, how should we do so?' He was silent, then said: 'Say: "O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim. And grant peace to Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You granted peace to Ibrahim in the worlds. Surely, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious." Then you offer the greeting as you have been taught.'" (Narrated by Muslim).
Early Tashahhud and Final Tashahhud in Prayer
Dear readers, as you can see from the hadiths above, neither specifically outlines the exact words for the early and final Tashahhud prayers. However, the information in both hadiths provides guidance on what a Muslim should recite during these moments in prayer.
Does Farting Without Sound or Smell Break Prayer (Salat)?
Early Tashahhud Prayer
التَّحِيّاتَ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِيْنَ ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ , اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مَحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
Translation:
"All respects to Allah, all prayers (because Allah), and all praise (for Allah). May the greetings, mercy of Allah and His kindness always be poured out on you, O Prophet. May salvation always be poured upon us and to all godly servants of Allah. I testify that there is no god but Allah Almighty. There is no ally for Him. I testify that Muhammad is His servant and His messenger. O Allah, give glory to Muhammad."
Final Tashahhud Prayer
التَّحِيّاتَ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِيْنَ ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ , اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مَحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيْم ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيْم فِي الْعَالَمِيْنَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَجِيْدٌ
Translation:
"All respects to Allah, all prayers (because Allah), and all praise (for Allah). May the greetings, mercy of Allah and His kindness always be poured out on you, O Prophet. May salvation always be poured upon us and to all godly servants of Allah. I testify that there is no god but Allah Almighty. There is no ally for Him. I testify that Muhammad is His servant and His messenger. O Messenger of Allah, Allah has commanded us to send prayers upon you. How should we do so? 'He was silent, then said: Say, "O Allah, give glory to Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You have given glory to Abraham. Grant blessings to Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You gave blessings to Abraham in the universe. Indeed, You are the Most Praising and Most Noble."'
Additional Key Points
Index Finger Movement
During both the early and final Tashahhud, when the person reaches the phrase "أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ," they should raise their index finger straight forward. This is a symbol of the oneness of Allah Ta'ala, and it should remain pointed until the Tashahhud prayer concludes.
Things to Keep in Mind
- We must not say "السَّلَّامُ" in the Tashahhud after "أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ."
- The prayer will be invalid if the hands are not still during the time of Tashahhud.
Before I came across this article, I was unsure about the exact words to recite during the Tashahhud and the different prayers associated with each part. The explanation here not only covered the specific words to say but also provided important details, such as the proper index finger movement when saying "أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ." This small yet significant point helped me understand the deeper meaning behind the gesture and how it symbolizes the oneness of Allah. I found this especially useful because, as a new Muslim, I want to ensure that I am performing my prayers correctly and with full understanding of their significance.
The inclusion of the two hadiths, one from Abdullah bin Mas'ud and the other from Abu Mas'ud, was a great touch. The way you connected the hadiths to the early and final Tashahhud prayers made it easier to grasp their meaning and how they should be recited in practice. The added translations of the hadiths were very clear, which made me feel more confident in my ability to recite them correctly.
I also appreciate how the article explained some important things to keep in mind during the Tashahhud. It was helpful to learn that the prayer would be invalid if the hands are not still or if the word "السَّلَّامُ" is said incorrectly in the Tashahhud. These small details are often overlooked, but this article made sure to cover them, ensuring that I have a solid understanding of how to perform the Tashahhud prayer.
In conclusion, I am very grateful for the clarity and depth this article provided. It not only helped me learn the correct words and actions for the Tashahhud but also gave me a deeper appreciation for the significance of these moments in prayer. As a new Muslim, I feel much more confident in my ability to perform my prayers correctly, and I can't thank you enough for this valuable resource. May Allah bless you for sharing this knowledge and making it so accessible for people like me who are new to the faith.