What Is Tashahhud Prayer: Learn All About The Tashahhud

The Tashahhud prayer, which means “declaration” or “greeting,” is an essential part of the prayer and is recited twice during supplication—once after two rakats and again after four or three rakats. 

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the importance of the Tashahhud as a central element of the recognition prayers. 

To master the Tashahhud, it is recommended to learn it phrase by phrase, repeating each until it is committed to memory, all you need in this article.

What Is Tashahhud Prayer

The first Tashahhud, 

along with the sitting posture during it, is considered obligatory (wajib) by several Islamic schools of thought, including the Hanafi, Hanbali, and one narration from the Maliki school. 

This view is also supported by scholars such as Ibn Baz and Ibn Uthaymin.

Among the most authentic formulations of the Tashahhud are phrases acknowledging Allah’s sovereignty and sending blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). 

The Tashahhud should be recited quietly, as there is consensus among scholars like Ibn Qudamah and al-Nawawi on this practice.

The final Tashahhud 

is an integral part of the prayer, with scholars agreeing on the importance of sitting during it. 

The act of praying for the Prophet (peace be upon him) after the final Tashahhud is viewed as either sunnah or obligatory, depending on the school of thought. 

It is sunnah to sit in the iftirash position during the first Tashahhud and in the tawarruk position during the second in prayers that have two Tashahhuds. 

For prayers with a single Tashahhud, sitting in the iftirash position is recommended.

Extending the forefinger during the Tashahhud is a practice agreed upon by all four schools of jurisprudence, though moving the forefinger is not legislated according to the Shafi’i and Hanbali schools. 

It is also sunnah to focus one’s gaze on the forefinger during the Tashahhud. 

Before concluding the prayer with salams, it is recommended (mustahabb) to supplicate and seek protection from four specific matters: the torment of Hell, the torment of the grave, the trials of life and death, and the evil of the False Christ. 

This practice is unanimously agreed upon by the four schools of jurisprudence.

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Importance Of Learning Tashahhud prayer

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) emphasized the importance of reciting the Tashahhud during prayer, instructing the people, “When the Imam recites, then listen attentively, and if he is sitting (in the prayer), then the first remembrance that anyone of you recites should be the Tashahhud.” 

This practice is observed during the sitting in the second and fourth rakats of Salah, where the Tashahhud is recited. Numerous hadiths further highlight that the Prophet (ﷺ) taught the Tashahhud with the same attention as he did with the Surahs from the Quran underscoring its significance. 

By reciting this supplication, it is as though “you have surely sent the greetings to every good (pious) worshipper of Allah, whether he be in the Heaven or on the Earth.” 

Thus, learning the Tashahhud prayer (commonly known as Attahiyat) is a fundamental step in performing Salah.

What To Say In Tashahhud Prayer

The Tashahhud prayer is a crucial part of Salah, and learning it in Arabic is essential for proper recitation. 

The Arabic text of the Tashahhud is:

التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

Transliterated, it reads: 

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.

The English translation is: 

All compliments are for Allah and all prayers and all good things are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Apostle.

During Salah, it is Sunnah to raise the index finger while reciting 

wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu. 

It is also recommended that the Tashahhud be recited silently. 

 

The Tashahhud prayer is recited in the sitting position of Salah, either during the second or fourth rakat after completing sujood. 

Outside of Salah, the Tashahhud can be recited anytime as a form of remembrance of Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Is Tashahhud Prayer obligatory?

While the Tashahhud is considered wajib (highly recommended), it is not obligatory, and omitting it will not invalidate your prayer. However, including it ensures the completeness of your prayer. 

A practical approach to memorizing the Tashahhud is to write it down on paper and read from it during prayer until it becomes committed to memory. With consistent practice, you’ll soon know it by heart and take pride in your accomplishment.

These are the types of prayers in Islam, here you the etiquette of the prayers, you can check our Islamic studies course.

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Conclusion To Tashahhud prayer

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FAQs On Tashahhud prayer

What is the final prayer of the tashahhud?

In the final Tashahhud of the prayer, I recite “As-salaamu ‘alayka wa ‘ala ‘ibaad-illah as-saaliheen” 

(Peace be upon you and upon the righteous servants of Allah) 

rather than “As-salaamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibaad-illah as-saaliheen” (Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah).

What is obligatory in tashahhud?

Sitting for Tashahhud after the first two rakaahs is recommended (Sunnah), whereas it is obligatory after the final rakaah. 

Reciting the first half of the Tashahhud is obligatory, while the second half is recommended. Ending with Salam is obligatory. These rulings apply to every prayer and every rakaah.

What if I forgot the first tashahhud?

This hadith indicates that if someone forgets the first Tashahhud, their prayer remains valid. 

They should perform the prostration of forgetfulness before concluding the prayer with Tasleem.