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 topic of Tashahhud. Most of the Sahabah and Tabi’un have practised on this [version]. It is also the view of Sufyan Thawri, Ibnul Mubarak, Ahmad and Ishaq.”
(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 an 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
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التخريج من المصادر العربية
شرح معاني الآثار:
(١٥٧٣) – وحدثنا حسين بن نصر قال: ثنا أبو نعيم قال: ثنا سفيان عن زيد العمي، عن أبي الصديق الناجي، عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال: «كان أبو بكر رضي الله عنه يعلمنا التشهد على المنبر، كما تعلمون الصبيان الكتاب». ثم ذكر مثل تشهد ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه سواء فهذا الذي رويناه عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما يخالف ما رواه سالم ونافع عنه، وهذا أولى، لأنه حكاه عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وعن أبي بكر رضي الله عنه وعلمه مجاهدا، فمحال أن يكون ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما يدع ما أخذه من النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى ما أخذه عن غيره. وخالفه في ذلك أبو سعيد الخدري، فروي عنه في ذلك…
سنن الترمذي:
(بعد حديث: ٢٨٩) – وفي الباب عن ابن عمر، وجابر، وأبي موسى، وعائشة. حديث ابن مسعود قد روي عنه من غير وجه وهو أصح حديث عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في التشهد والعمل عليه عند أكثر أهل العلم من أصحاب النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، ومن بعدهم من التابعين، وهو قول سفيان الثوري، وابن المبارك، وأحمد، وإسحاق.