"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to teach us the tashahhud as he taught us the Quran, and he used to say: : 'At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat, as-salamu 'alaika ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatAllahi wa barakatuhu. As-salamu 'alaina wa 'ala 'ibad illahis-salihin, ash-hadu an la ilaha ill-Allah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluhu (All 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 1174
Hadith Text
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to teach us the tashahhud as he taught us the Quran, and he used to say: 'At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat, as-salamu 'alaika ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatAllahi wa barakatuhu. As-salamu 'alaina wa 'ala 'ibad illahis-salihin, ash-hadu an la ilaha ill-Allah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluhu (All 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).'"
Commentary on the Method of Teaching
The Prophet's comparison of teaching the tashahhud to teaching the Quran indicates the supreme importance and meticulous care required in learning this supplication. Just as the Quran was revealed with precise wording and arrangement, so too must the tashahhud be preserved in its exact formulation without addition or omission.
Exegesis of the Tashahhud Phrases
"At-tahiyyatu lillahi" - All forms of glory, majesty, and permanence belong exclusively to Allah, contrasting with the temporary nature of creation.
"Was-salawatu wat-tayyibat" - This encompasses all forms of worship, both physical and verbal, along with all pure and good deeds that ascend to Allah.
"As-salamu 'alaika ayyuhan-Nabiyyu" - The greeting of peace directed to the Prophet acknowledges his living presence in the spiritual realm during prayer.
"Ash-hadu an la ilaha ill-Allah" - The testimony of Divine Unity forms the foundation of Islamic belief and must be recited with full consciousness of its meaning.
"Wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluhu" - The dual description of the Prophet as both slave and messenger demonstrates the perfect balance in understanding his status.
Legal Rulings Derived
This hadith establishes the obligatory nature of reciting the tashahhud in every prayer session (rak'ah).
The specific wording transmitted here represents the most authentic version according to the majority of scholars.
The method of teaching indicates that the tashahhud should be memorized and recited with the same precision as Quranic verses.
Spiritual Dimensions
The tashahhud encompasses the three fundamental relationships: with Allah (through praise), with the Prophet (through salutations), and with the believing community (through mutual prayers for peace).
Reciting this supplication transforms the prayer into a comprehensive act of worship containing declaration of faith, sending blessings upon the Prophet, and seeking protection for the righteous.