Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) taught me the Tashah-hud as he taught me a Sura from the Qur'an, while my hand was between his hands. (Tashah-hud was) all the best compliments and the prayers and the good things are for Allah. Peace and Allah's Mercy and Blessings be on you, O Prophet! Peace be on us and on the pious slaves of Allah, I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and I also testify that Muhammad is Allah's slave and His Apostle. (We used to recite this in the prayer) during the lifetime of the Prophet (ﷺ) , but when he had died, we used to say, "Peace be on the Prophet."
Asking Permission - Sahih al-Bukhari 6265
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) taught me the Tashah-hud as he taught me a Sura from the Qur'an, while my hand was between his hands. (Tashah-hud was) all the best compliments and the prayers and the good things are for Allah. Peace and Allah's Mercy and Blessings be on you, O Prophet! Peace be on us and on the pious slaves of Allah, I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and I also testify that Muhammad is Allah's slave and His Apostle. (We used to recite this in the prayer) during the lifetime of the Prophet (ﷺ), but when he had died, we used to say, "Peace be on the Prophet."
Commentary on the Method of Teaching
The Prophet's manner of teaching while holding Ibn Mas'ud's hands demonstrates the intimate, personal nature of Islamic education. This physical connection symbolizes the transmission of sacred knowledge through direct companionship (suhbah), which was the primary method of preserving the Sunnah. The comparison to teaching Quranic chapters emphasizes the Tashah-hud's fundamental importance in prayer.
Analysis of Tashah-hud Content
The Tashah-hud begins with comprehensive praise (tahiyyat) reserved solely for Allah, affirming His exclusive right to all forms of worship. The subsequent salutations upon the Prophet establish the proper etiquette of addressing Allah's Messenger. The twin testimony of faith (shahadatayn) forms the core of Islamic creed, while the inclusion of righteous servants reflects Islam's communal spirit.
Legal Implications and Historical Development
Scholars derive from this hadith that the Tashah-hud is an obligatory component of prayer. The Companions' modification after the Prophet's passing from direct address ("Peace be upon you, O Prophet") to third-person invocation demonstrates their meticulous adherence to linguistic propriety and contextual appropriateness in worship, establishing an important principle in Islamic jurisprudence.