"We used to pray with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and we would say: "Peace (As-Salam) be upon Allah (SWT), peace be upon Jibril, peace be upon Mika'il.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Do not say "Peace (As-Salam) be upon Allah, for Allah is As-Salam." Rather say: "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 (Allah compliments, prayers and pure words are due to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah (SWT) and his blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah (SWT). I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger)."
The Book of The At-Tatbiq (Clasping One's Hands Together) - Sunan an-Nasa'i
Hadith Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 1169
Context and Background
This narration documents the Companions' initial practice during prayer and the Prophet's divine correction. The Companions were offering salutations to Allah and angels in their tashahhud, which required prophetic guidance to perfect.
Scholarly Commentary
The prohibition against saying "As-Salamu 'ala Allah" stems from Allah's divine name "As-Salam" (The Source of Peace). Since peace emanates from Him, it is inappropriate to offer peace to its ultimate Source.
The prescribed tashahhud establishes proper hierarchy: all forms of worship (at-tahiyyat), prayers (as-salawat), and pure deeds (at-tayyibat) belong exclusively to Allah. The salutation is then directed appropriately to the Prophet, the worshippers, and righteous servants.
The testimony of faith (shahadah) completes the tashahhud, affirming Allah's oneness and Muhammad's prophethood - the foundation of Islamic creed.
Legal Rulings
This hadith establishes the obligatory wording of the tashahhud in prayer. Scholars agree this formulation is mandatory, with differences only regarding minor variations in transmission.
The sequence teaches proper etiquette in addressing the Divine: beginning with praise, then salutations to the Prophet, then to believers, culminating in the testimony of faith.