The Tashahhud - Section 1

Ibn ‘Umar said that when God’s Messenger sat at the <i>tashahhud</i>1 he placed his left hand on his left knee and his right hand on his right knee, counted fifty-three on his knuckles,2 and pointed with the forefinger. A version says that when he sat during the prayer he placed his hands on his knees and raised his right finger which is next to the thumb making supplication in this way, while keeping his left hand spread out on his left knee. 1. <i>Tashahhud</i> means to say the words in the prayers beginning with <i>at-tahiyat lillah</i>. Cf. Chapter 9a 2. This refers to a method of counting on the fingers. In the position indicated the forefinger is full out and the thumb and other fingers are clenched. Muslim transmitted it.

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا قَعَدَ فِي التَّشَهُّدِ وَضَعَ يَدَهُ الْيُسْرَى عَلَى رُكْبَتِهِ الْيُسْرَى وَوَضَعَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى رُكْبَتِهِ الْيُمْنَى وَعَقَدَ ثَلَاثًا وَخمسين وَأَشَارَ بالسبابة وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: كَانَ إِذَا جَلَسَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ وَضَعَ يَدَيْهِ عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ وَرَفَعَ أُصْبُعَهُ الْيُمْنَى الَّتِي تلِي الْإِبْهَام يَدْعُو بِهَا وَيَدَهُ الْيُسْرَى عَلَى رُكْبَتِهِ بَاسِطَهَا عَلَيْهَا. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘Abdallah b. az-Zubair said that when God’s Messenger sat making supplication he placed his right hand on his right thigh and his left hand on his left thigh, pointed with his forefinger, placed his thumb on his middle finger, and covered his knee with the palm of his left hand. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَن عبد الله بن الزبير قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا قَعَدَ يَدْعُو وَضَعَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى فَخِذِهِ الْيُمْنَى وَيَدَهُ الْيُسْرَى عَلَى فَخِذِهِ الْيُسْرَى وَأَشَارَ بِأُصْبُعِهِ السَّبَّابَةِ وَوَضَعَ إِبْهَامَهُ عَلَى أُصْبُعِهِ الْوُسْطَى ويلقم كَفه الْيُسْرَى ركبته. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud said:

When we prayed with the Prophet (ﷺ) we said,* “Peace be to God before it is supplicated for His servants; peace be to Gabriel; peace be to Michael; peace be to so and so.” When the Prophet (ﷺ) finished he turned his face to us and said: Do not say, “Peace be to God”, for God Himself is Peace. When one of you sits during the prayer he should say, “The adorations of the tongue, acts of worship and all good things are due to God. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and God’s mercy and blessings. Peace be upon us and upon God’s upright servants (for when he says that it reaches every upright servant in heaven and earth). I testify that there is no god but God, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.” Then he may choose any supplication which pleases him and offer it. * I.e. at the <i>tashahhud</i>. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: كُنَّا إِذَا صَلَّيْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قُلْنَا السَّلَامُ عَلَى اللَّهِ قبل عباده السَّلَام على جِبْرِيل السَّلَام على مِيكَائِيل السَّلَام على فلَان وَفُلَان فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا بِوَجْهِهِ قَالَ: «لَا تَقُولُوا السَّلَامُ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ السَّلَامُ فَإِذَا جَلَسَ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَلْيَقُلِ التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ فَإِنَّهُ إِذَا قَالَ ذَلِكَ أَصَابَ كُلَّ عَبْدٍ صَالِحٍ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ ثُمَّ لْيَتَخَيَّرْ مِنَ الدُّعَاءِ أَعْجَبَهُ إِلَيْهِ فيدعوه»

‘Abdallah b. ‘Abbas said:

God’s Messenger used to teach us the <i>tashahhud</i> just as he would teach us a <i>sura</i> of the Qur’an, and would say, “The blessed adorations of the tongue, acts of worship and all good things are due to God. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and God’s mercy and blessings. Peace be upon us and upon God’s upright servants. I testify that there is no god but God, and I testify that Muhammad is God’s Messenger.’’ Muslim transmitted it. In the two <i>Sahihs</i> and in <i>al-Jam' bain as-Sahihain</i> I did not find “Peace be upon you” and “Peace be upon us” without the definite article, but the author of <i>al-Jami'</i> transmitted it that way from Tirmidhi.

وَعَن عبد الله بن عَبَّاس أَنَّهُ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُعَلِّمُنَا التَّشَهُّدَ كَمَا يُعَلِّمُنَا السُّورَةَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ فَكَانَ يَقُولُ: «التَّحِيَّاتُ الْمُبَارَكَاتُ الصَّلَوَاتُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ لِلَّهِ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ» . رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ وَلَمْ أَجِدْ فِي الصَّحِيحَيْنِ وَلَا فِي الْجَمْعِ بَين الصَّحِيحَيْنِ: «سَلام عَلَيْك» و «سَلام عَلَيْنَا» بِغَيْرِ أَلْفٍ وَلَامٍ وَلَكِنْ رَوَاهُ صَاحِبُ الْجَامِع عَن التِّرْمِذِيّ

Wa’il b. Hujr said concerning God’s Messenger, “Then he sat, stretched out his left foot [to sit on it], placed his left hand on his left thigh, put the tip of his right elbow on his right thigh, joined two fingers, 1 formed a ring, 2 then raised his finger, 3 and I saw him moving it and making supplication at the same time.” 1. i.e the little finger and the ring finger. 2. i.e with the thumb and the middle finger. 3. i.e the forefinger. Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

وَعَن وَائِلِ بْنِ حَجَرٍ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: ثُمَّ جَلَسَ فَافْتَرَشَ رِجْلَهُ الْيُسْرَى وَوَضَعَ يَدَهُ الْيُسْرَى عَلَى فَخِذِهِ الْيُسْرَى وَحَدَّ مِرْفَقَهُ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى فَخِذِهِ الْيُمْنَى وَقَبَضَ ثِنْتَيْنِ وَحَلَّقَ حَلْقَةً ثُمَّ رَفَعَ أُصْبُعَهُ فَرَأَيْتُهُ يُحَرِّكُهَا يَدْعُو بهَا. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد والدارمي

‘Abdallah b. az-Zubair said that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to point with his [fore] finger when he made supplication, but did not move it. Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it, Abu Dawud adding that he kept his look fixed on the finger he was pointing.

وَعَن عبد الله بن الزبير قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُشِيرُ بِأُصْبُعِهِ إِذَا دَعَا وَلَا يُحَرِّكُهَا. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيّ وَزَاد أَبُو دَاوُد وَلَا يُجَاوز بَصَره إِشَارَته

Abu Huraira told how when a man was making supplication using two of his fingers, God’s Messenger said, “Use one, use one.” It is transmitted by Tirmidhi and Nasa’i and by Baihaqi in <i>[Kitab] ad-da'awat al kabir</i>.

وَعَن أبي هُرَيْرَة قَالَ: إِنَّ رَجُلًا كَانَ يَدْعُو بِأُصْبُعَيْهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَحِّدْ أَحِّدْ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَالْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي الدَّعَوَاتِ الْكَبِير

Ibn ‘Umar said God’s Messenger forbade that a man should sit during prayer leaning on his hand. Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it, and in a version by Abu Dawud it says he forbade that a man should lean on his hands when he got up during the prayer.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ يَجْلِسَ الرَّجُلُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ وَهُوَ مُعْتَمِدٌ عَلَى يَدِهِ. رَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَأَبُو دَاوُد وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لَهُ: نَهَى أَنْ يَعْتَمِدَ الرَّجُلُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ إِذا نَهَضَ فِي الصَّلَاة

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud said that in the first two <i>rak'as</i> the Prophet (ﷺ) was as though he were on heated stones till he got up.* *A figurative phrase to express the shortening of the sitting during the <i>tashahhud</i>. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ الْأُولَيَيْنِ كَأَنَّهُ عَلَى الرَّضْفِ حَتَّى يَقُومَ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ

Jabir said:

God’s Messenger used to teach us the <i>tashahhud</i> just as he would teach us a <i>sura</i> of the Qur’an, saying, “In the name of God and with His grace. The adorations of the tongue, acts of worship and all good things are due to God. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and God’s mercy and blessings. Peace be upon us and upon God’s upright servants. I testify that there is no god but God, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. I ask God for paradise, and I seek refuge in God from hell.” Nasa’i transmitted it.

عَن جَابِرٍ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُعَلِّمُنَا التَّشَهُّدَ كَمَا يُعَلِّمُنَا السُّورَةَ من الْقُرْآن: «بِسم الله وَبِاللَّهِ التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ الْجَنَّةَ وَأَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ النَّارِ» . رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيّ

Nafi‘ said that when ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar sat during the prayer he placed his hands on his knees, pointed with his finger and gave his whole attention to it. He then said that God’s Messenger had said, “It has a more severe effect on the devil than iron,” meaning the forefinger. Ahmad transmitted it.

وَعَنْ نَافِعٍ قَالَ: كَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ إِذَا جَلَسَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ وَضَعَ يَدَيْهِ عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ وَأَشَارَ بِأُصْبُعِهِ وَأَتْبَعَهَا بَصَرَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَهِيَ أَشَدُّ عَلَى الشَّيْطَانِ مِنَ الْحَدِيدِ» . يَعْنِي السبابَة. رَوَاهُ أَحْمد

Ibn Mas'ud used to say, “It pertains to the <i>sunna</i> to repeat the <i>tashahhud</i> quietly.” Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Tirmidhi said this is a <i>hasan gharib</i> tradition.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ كَانَ يَقُولُ: مِنَ السُّنَّةِ إِخْفَاءُ التَّشَهُّدِ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَقَالَ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ