Prayer is one of the central acts of worship in Islam. It is also one of the five pillars of Islam and holds great spiritual significance. It is mandatory for every adult Muslim, male or female, to perform prayers five times a day at specific times. Prayer involves a set of actions and postures, each with its own spiritual status, such as standing, bowing (Ruku), prostration (Sujood), and sitting. Recitation of Duas at each position and while changing posture is advised, in addition to reciting the Quran when standing.
Sitting, also referred to as “jalsa or juloos” in Islamic terminology, is one of the key positions of prayers. It marks the middle and final stage of every prayer. When in this position, a specific supplication, known as “Tashahhud Dua” or “Dua in Tashahhud", is recited in Islamic teachings. What to recite in tashahhud was specifically taught by the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ and is mentioned in many Hadiths.
Recited in the final sitting posture of salah (namaz), the Tashahhud is a declaration of faith and the acknowledgment that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s last messenger and the seal of prophets. The meaning of Tashahhud is the testimony of the Islamic faith. Tashahhud, belief in the oneness of Allah and the finality of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) as Allah’s last messenger, is an element of unification among all Muslims irrespective of geography. It is the most fundamental aspect of the Islamic faith.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) gave this testimony in front of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) on the occasion of Mairaj. The importance of the Tashahhud, as reported in Sahih al-Bukhari 1202, is such that reciting it is equivalent to sending greetings to every righteous slave of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) in both the heavens and earth. Narrated by Ibn’ Abbas and reported in Sunan an-Nasa'i 1278, Tashahhud was taught to the companions in the same manner as the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) would teach them a surah from the Quran.
Prayer Duas
Attahiyyaatu lillaahi wassalawaatu , wattayyibaatu , assalaamu 'alayka 'ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu, assalaamu 'alaynaa wa 'alaa 'ibaadillaahis-saaliheen. 'Ash-hadu 'an laa 'ilaaha 'illallaahu wa 'ash-hadu 'anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa Rasooluhu.
All greetings of humility are for Allah, and all prayers and goodness. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger.
Arabic text of Tashahhud in prayer - التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّهِ، وَالصَّلَوَاتُ، وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ للّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ. أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَاّ اللّهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Attahiyyaatu lillaahi wassalawaatu, wattayyibaatu, assalaamu 'alayka 'ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu, assalaamu 'alaynaa wa 'alaa 'ibaadillaahis-saaliheen. 'Ash-hadu 'an laa 'ilaaha 'illallaahu wa 'ash-hadu 'anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa Rasooluhu.
All greetings of humility are for Allah, and all prayers and goodness. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon the righteous slaves of Allah and upon us. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger.
Tashahhud - التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّهِ، وَالصَّلَوَاتُ، وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ للّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ. أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَاّ اللّهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Meaning – Dua while sitting in Salah is known as “tashahhud”, in Islam. Tashahhud is a unique invocation taught by the Prophet himself. The Arabic word "Tashahhud” comes from the word “shahada”, which can be translated as “to bear witness” or “testimony”. It starts with affirmation of faith that all greetings, prayers, and righteous words are only for Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, followed by sincere salutations (Salawat) for the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ and all righteous servants of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ. The third part of this Dua comprises re-affirmation of faith by the reciter that only Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ is worth of worship and that Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ is the Prophet and servant of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ.
According to the traditions, as reported in Hadith 402a of Sahih Muslim, this Dua was taught by the Prophet in response to a practice of the companions.
Translation – While observing prayer behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), we used to recite: Peace be upon Allah, peace be upon so and so. One day, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to us: Verily Allah is Himself Peace. When any one of you sits during the prayer, he should say: All services rendered by words, by acts of worship, and all good things are due to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and Allah's mercy and blessings. Peace be upon us and upon Allah's upright servants, and upon us, for when he says this, it reaches every upright servant in the heavens and the earth. (And say further): I testify that there is no god but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. Then he may choose any supplication which pleases him and offer it.
It reflects the importance and virtues of reciting it in every prayer as a compulsory part. It is recited once in every prayer comprising two Rak’ahs, and twice in prayers having three or four Rak’ahs. Dua in the sitting position of salah has to be recited once after completion of two Rak’ahs, and again on completion of the third or fourth Rak’ahs, depending on the number of Rak’ahs of each prayer.
Tashahhud is recited in the final or last rakah of the salah (prayer) after performing the sujood. As reported in Sunan an-Nasa'i 1279 and Sunan an-Nasa'i 1280, and narrated by Hittan bin 'Abdullah, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) taught the companions about the prayer and said that when you are sitting after prostrating (sujood), recite the Tashahhud. The dua for Tashahhud or Aattahiyat is an obligatory part of the salah. You can evaluate the significance of Aattahiyat by the fact that missing an obligatory part of the salah invalidates it.
The etiquette of reciting Dua Tashahhud is as follows:
Dua tashahhud is one of those supplications that were personally taught by the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ to his companions. Moreover, it is a compulsory part of every prayer. Hence, it holds great significance and virtues.
Some of the significances of reciting Dua tashahhud are as follows:
Prayer is a culmination of various acts of worship, and reciting Tashahhud is a reminder of reliance on Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and that for us, the role model in this world is Holy Prophet (ﷺ). Reciting the Tashahhud offers a moment of mindful remembrance of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and how we should strive to be among His righteous servants.
The spiritual benefits of reciting Dua Tashahhud, while sitting after prostrations, can be summarized as follows:
You need to recite the specific Dua while sitting in the position of Tashahhud, as mentioned in Hadith 402a of Sahih Muslim and many other Hadiths.
Yes, according to the vast majority of scholars, reciting Dua tashahhud is a compulsory part of every prayer, once after completion of two Raka’ahs, and once after completion of the third or fourth Raka’ah, depending on the number of Raka’ahs of each prayer.
No, it is highly recommended and is mandatory to recite the original Arabic text of Dua Tashahhud. However, it is also equally important to reflect on its meanings while reciting it.
When reciting a prayer having two Raka’ahs, tashahhud dua must be recited while sitting after the second and final Raka’h. If you are reciting a prayer having three or four Raka’ahs, you need to recite it twice, once after the second Raka’ah, sitting after prostration, and once at the end of the prescribed (third or fourth) Raka’ah, while sitting after prostrations.