The Tashahud

Salaah is an integral part of our deen, we connect to Allah by means of Salaah. Using it to fulfill our needs as well. A direct access line for communicating with Allah.

The protection of our faith lies within in Salaah and continuity of Imaan lies within Salaah. Whenever anything concerned Muhammad (saw) he would turn to Salaah. Rasul (saw) teaches us a fundamental aspect of Salaah by narrating hadith qudsi where Allah (swt) said that when we stand for salaah and recite Surah Fatiha, Allah directly responds to us after every Ayah in this Surah.

The quality of Salaah is worrying to everyone. How do we find quality and unlock the transformative power of Salaah (Khushoo). Quickest most practical way is to start to understand the meaning, beauty and eloquence of the words recited in the prayer.

The words of Allah
Prophetic supplications
Two elements of our deen. Both combined in Salah

The tashahud is very strategic in Salah. After lowering yourself to Allah you sit to recite tashahud. There are five narrations from Prophet (saw) about the tashahud – so five variations of the tashahud. Though each of them are significant and correct.

Tashahud narrated by Ibn Masud- was taught by Muhammad (saw) while he held Ibn Masud’s hand between his hands.
Word Analysis –

At Tahiyaat – “The Greetings” Plural form of Tahiyya which means greeting someone. Comes from root word hayaat which means life. Pre Islam they would greet by making dua for the life of the person. With Islam came the greeting of Asalaamualykum. Always greet people with respect.

Lillahi – for Allah
The greetings are for Allah - to greet Allah means?
Abdullah bin Saleh al ‘Ijli wanted to know what it meant and so visited Al Kisaa’i and asked him. Who said it’s something like blessings, he was not satisfied with the answer and went to visit a different scholar Muhammad ibn Hasan Al Shaybani – This is a word that we use to worship Allah. He still wasn’t satisified and then he came across Imam Ash Shafi’ee (scholar and a poet) and I asked him about the phrase. He said: You have to ask a poet, When you enter into the court of the king one offers royal compliments (Your royal highness, your majesty etc.) At Tahiyaat means that Royal compliments fit for a king are exclusively for Allah.

Was salawaat –plural of Salaah – Prayers are for Allah

Tayibaat – plurah of tayyib – good and beautiful things are also for Allah.

Salawaat and tayibaat – Ibadah that is beautiful

Our conduct should be for pleasing Allah alone.
As Salaam – Salaam : Peace and Safety, sullam – stairs or a ladder from the same root of salaam… but stairs and ladders are generally unstable the opposite of peace and safety because we should be reminded to be careful as we ascend or descend.

Nabi – Profit from Naba – news that important and relevant (Nabi – someone who bring important and relevant news) Everything Muhammad (saw) brought was relevant and important
OR nabwun – elevation or protusion – Nabi is one who is elevated from the rest of people.

Barakaat – Pl. Barakah – Blessings that are long lasting.

Asalaamualyka – To the rasul? That’s fine – there is no implication according to narrations by Ibn Masud, ibn Abbas – Muhammad (saw) would teach us tashahud like he would teach us the surah’s from the Quran. 1. They’re important 2. Verbatim (learnt it word for word) so it cannot be changed – read Tashahud as it is.

Asalaamualynaa – Upon us is peace and safety Ibaad is exclusively used for slaves of Allah (Abeed) – slaves

Salaakh means righteousness – opposite of Fasaad
Making dua for ourselves as a group – plural to emphasize unity of the Muslims. The community that prays together is one that is united. Making dua for the righteous as a motivational technique – so that one strives to become of those righteous people.

The last part of the tashahud is the core –
Ash hadu – root for shaheeda – to witness something or shaheed – martyr (presented h...

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