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The different versions of the Tashahhud

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by HadithAnswers.com

Question

Please help me with this question:

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Urwa ibnuz Zubayr from Abdar Rahman ibn Abdal Qari that he heard Umar ibnul Khattab say, while he was teaching people the tashahhud from the mimbar,

“Say, Greetings belong to Allah. Pure actions belong to Allah. Good words and prayers belong to Allah. Peace on you, Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and on the slaves of Allah who are salihun. I testify that there is no god except Allah. And I testify that Muhammad is His slave and His messenger.”

At-tahiyatu lillah, az-zakiyatu lillah, at-tayibatu wa’s-salawatu lillah. As-salamu alayka ayyuha’nnabiyyu wa rahmatu’llahi wa barakatuhu. As-salamu alayna wa ala ibadi’llahi s-salihin. Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa ‘llah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh.”

Is it correct? I use to say the same since my childhood but now I noticed it is At-tahiyatulillahi wassalatu watayibatu, can I continue saying az-zakiyatu?

 

Answer

The words of Tashahhud have been reported by several Sahabah (radiyallahu’anhum).

The ones you have cited are from the narration of Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) and are the preference of Imam Malik (rahimahullah), for the followers of his madhab.

The Hanafi Scholars have preferred the words reported by Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu), which is recorded in all the six books of Hadith, and many others.

Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) would teach these exact words to the congregation from the Mimbar.

(Sharhu Ma’anil Athar of Imam Tahawi, Hadith: 1573)

The words are as follows:

التحيات لله، والصلوات والطيبات، السلام عليك أيها النبي، ورحمة الله وبركاته، السلام علينا وعلى عباد الله الصالحين، أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله، وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله

At-tahiyatu lillahi, wa’s-salawatu wat tayyibat. As-salamu ‘alayka ayyuhan nabiyyu wa rahmatu’llahi wa barakatuhu. As-salamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibadil lahis-salihin. Ash-hadu alla ilaha illallahu wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh.

 

After citing this Hadith, Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) alluded to some of the versions reported by other Sahabah (radiyallahu’anhum), viz: Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Umar, Sayyiduna Jabir, Sayyiduna Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari and Sayyidatuna ‘Aishah (radiyallahu ‘anhum ajma’in).

Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) then said:

‘The Hadith of Ibn Mas’ud has been reported via many chains, and it is the most authentic Hadith reported from Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) on the tiopic of Tashahhud. Most of the Sahabah and Tabi’un have practiced on this [version]. It is also the view of Sufyan Thawri, Ibnul Mubarak, Ahmad and Is-haq.’

(Sunan Tirmidhi, after Hadith: 289)

 

The Hanafi writers have cited up to ten reasons for preferring the version reported by Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu).

Since the Tashahhud is wajib in the Hanafi madhab, one is generally expected to stick to reciting this preferred version.

 

Note: The above is merely answer to your query. One should refer to a reliable Mufti/Darul ifta of his madhab for further guidance.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

 

Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

This answer was collected from HadithAnswers.com. The answers were either answered or checked by Moulana Haroon Abasoomar (rahimahullah) who was a Shaykhul Hadith in South Africa, or by his son, Moulana Muhammad Abasoomer (hafizahullah), who is a Hadith specialist.