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حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَعُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ كُنَّا نَقُولُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم السَّلاَمُ عَلَى اللَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَى فُلاَنٍ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ ‏"‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ السَّلاَمُ فَإِذَا قَعَدَ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَلْيَقُلِ التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ فَإِذَا قَالَهَا أَصَابَتْ كُلَّ عَبْدٍ لِلَّهِ صَالِحٍ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ ثُمَّ يَتَخَيَّرُ مِنَ الْمَسْأَلَةِ مَا شَاءَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏
Translation
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."

Comment

The Book of Prayers - Sahih Muslim 403 a

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."

Scholarly Commentary

This hadith demonstrates the profound importance the Prophet (ﷺ) placed upon the tashahhud, teaching it with the same meticulous care and repetition as he taught the Qur'an itself. This indicates that the tashahhud holds a position of great significance in Islamic worship.

The comparison to teaching the Qur'an emphasizes the need for precision in its recitation and understanding of its meanings. The tashahhud contains fundamental Islamic beliefs: the declaration of Allah's exclusive right to worship (tawhid), testimony to the prophethood of Muhammad (ﷺ), sending prayers upon the Prophet, and supplicating for the righteous believers.

The phrase "all services rendered by words, acts of worship, and all good things are due to Allah" establishes the comprehensive nature of worship dedicated solely to Allah. The subsequent salutations upon the Prophet and the believers create spiritual unity within the Muslim community, connecting the worshipper with the Prophet and all righteous servants of Allah.