At-Tashahud – Its Meaning

28- Important Lessons – Chapter 9 – At-Tashahud – Its Meaning

From the works of Imam Abdul-‘Aziz Bin Baz Rahimahulah Ta’ala

Presented by Sheikh Saleh As-Saleh Hafithahulah Ta’ala

Bismilah, Al-Rahman Al-Raheem. Alhamdulilahi Rab Al-‘Alameen wa salla Allahu ‘ala Muhammedan wa ‘ala aalahi wasahbihi wassalam.

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.  All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all that exists.  I testify there is no true God worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammed is Allah’s true Slave and Messenger.  May Allah’s salah and Salam be upon the Prophet, his pure family and his noble companions and those that follow on their path until the day of resurrection.  May Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala make us from them.  Wal-hamdulilah Rab Al-‘Alameen

 

 

Important Lessons for the Ummah – Chapter 9: Explanation of the Tashahhud

The tashahhud is recited in the salah.  Many recite it without knowing its meaning.  There are several authentic versions of the Tashahhud and the Sunnah is to diversify between reciting them so that the person revives the sunnah and follows the Prophet sallah Allahu ‘alayhi wassalam.  This also takes away from boredom due to repetition of reciting the same one which can lead to neglecting the meaning of what the person is reciting.

 

We will go over one version in which is the following:

 

At-Tahiyaatu Lilah wa Salawatu wa Tayibaat, Assalamu ‘Alaika Ayuha Nabi wa Rahmatu Allahi wa Barakatu, Assalamu ‘Alayna wa ‘ala ‘eebadu Allahu Saliheen.  Ashadu an La ilaaha illa Lah, wa ashadu ana Muhammedan ‘Abdahu wa Rasulu.

 

Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammed wa ‘ala aali Muhammed.  Kama sallaytah ‘ala Ibrahim wa ‘ala aali Ibrahim, Innaka Hameedun Majeed.  Wa barak ‘ala Muhammed wa ‘ala aali Muhammed.  Kama Barakta ‘ala Ibrahim, wa ‘ala aali Ibrahim wa ‘ala aali Ibrahim, Innaka Hameedun Majeed.

 

And this means:

 

Salutations (which is the linguistic meaning), magnification, dominion, Kingship, freedom from all evils and any imperfection, benedictions, bowings and prostrating too, existence (all of these terms belong in the meaning of At-Tahiyaat) all belongs to Allah.  All good deeds (at-Tayyibaat) belong to Allah.  I invoke Allah to bestow safety upon the Prophet sallah Allahu ‘alayhi wassalam and to render him safe from every derogatory evil and the Mercy and Blessings of Allah be upon you.  I invoke Allah to bestow safety and security upon myself and for the righteous slaves of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.  I testify and bear witness that there is no true god worthy of being worshipped except Allah, and I testify that Muhammed is the slave and messenger of Allah.

 

Oh Allah have Your praise upon the Prophet Muhammed, and upon the household of Muhammed (the household here is referring to Bani Hashim, Bani Mutalib and his wives).as you praised Ibrahim and the household of Ibrahim (the household of Ibrahim are the believers from his offspring and from them are the prophet ‘alayhum assalatu wassalam and the best of them is Muhammed sallah Allahu ‘alayhi wassalam).  Verily, Your are the Praised and Glorified.  And grant Muhammed and the household of Muhammed the honor and reverence as you granted Ibrahim and the household of Ibrahim.  Verily, Your are Praised and Glorified.

 

It is important to understand this because this will help the musalli to establish khusu’ (sincerity) because he will contemplate its meaning while he recites it making his prayer more proper.

 

This is what is known as At-Tahiyaat

 

 

After you recite this you make an important du’aa which is the following:

 

Allahumma inni a’uthu bika min al-‘athab Al-Jahannum wa min al-‘athab al-kaber wa min fitnati al-mahya wal mamat wa min al-fitnahtah al-Masi7u Ad-Dajjal.

 

This means:

 

Oh Allah, I seek refuge in You from the torment of Hellfire and the torment of the grave and the torment of the life and death and the trials and tribulations from the Pseudo-Christ.

 

Some of the salaf are of the opinion that this du’a is obligatory.

 

After reciting this, the person may choose from what he wishes and what he likes from the good of this life and the good of the hereafter before concluding the sallah.  However, it is recommended to say that which came from the  Prophet sallah Allahu ‘alayhi wassalam who recommended Mu’adth Bin Jabal to say::

 

 

Allahummah a’inni ‘ala thikrik wa shukrik wa husni ‘eebadatik.

 

This means:

 

Oh Allah help me to remember You and to thank you and in the good conduction of worship to You.

 

The person may also say:

 

Allahumma inni thalamtu nafsi thulman katheera wala yaghfiru thanuba illa Ent.  Faghfirli maghfiratan min ‘Indik, warhamni innaka Enta Al-Ghafouru Al-Raheem.

 

Oh Allah I have indeed oppressed my soul excessively and none can forgive them except You, so forgive me a forgiveness from Yourself and have mercy upon me.  Verily, You are the Most-Forgiving, the Most-Merciful.

 

The Prophet sallah Allahu ‘alayhi wassalam taught this du’a to Abu Baker radi Allahu ta’ala ‘anhu as stated in the agreed upon hadith.

Taken from understand-islam.net