Al Minah Al `Aliyyah (17)

Among the Sunnan in tashahhud  i.e. a specific formula that should be recited after the Sajdah in the second raka ’ah for all prayers except for Fajr , as it is only two rak ’ahs :

It is Sunnah to sit on the left thigh, with the left leg under the right, while keeping the right foot upright: This should be done after finishing the second raka’ah whether in a two, three or four rak’ahs prayer. This must be followed in the second raka’ah of each prayer. Abu Humaid as-Sa’idi  narrated in a sahih (trusted) hadith, “And when he sat, he would sit on the left leg and erect the right one.”^[1] In addition, there is the hadith of ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that says, “He used to say tashahhud after every two rak’ahs and used to sit on his left leg and erect the right one.”^[2] As for the tashahhud in the two, three, four rak’ahs prayer, this will be presented later on.

It is Sunnah to vary the position of the hands during tashahhud and here are two positions: Firstly, that the two hands should be placed on the thighs. Secondly, that the left hand should be put on the left leg and the right hand used for pointing with the index finger. However, this will be discussed in detail later further on.  Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) narrated, “When the Messenger of Allah sat for tashahhud he placed his left hand on his left knee and his right hand on his right knee and pointed his right finger (index), which is next to the thumb, making supplication this way, and stretched his left hand on his left knee.”^[3] In another narration it says, “He placed his left hand on his left knee and placed his right hand on his right knee.”^[4]

It is Sunnah to vary the position of fingers during the tashahhud:  The worshipper should tighten the fingers of the right hand and use the index for pointing and the left hand should be left loose as Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated, “When the Messenger of Allah r sat for tashahhud, he placed his left hand on his left knee and placed his right hand on his right knee, and pointed with his finger of attestation.”^[5]

It is Sunnah to use both of the formulae of tashahhud: thus, he would use this formula here and another formula there. Among these formulae are the following:

 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

 “All of the compliments, prayers and good things are due to Allah, peace be upon you, O Prophet and Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you. Peace on us and on the true pious slaves of Allah. I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and I also testify that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. ”^[6]

 التَّحِيَّاتُ الْمُبَارَكَاتُ ، الصَّلَوَاتُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ لِلَّهِ ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيّ

 “All the blessed compliments and sincere prayers are due to Allah, peace be on you, O Prophet,”^[7] then he would complete until the end as illustrated in the above formula.

      التَّحِيَّاتُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ الصَّلَوَاتُ لله ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ..

 “All sincere compliments and prayers are due to Allah, peace be on you, O Prophet,” ^[8] then he would complete until the end as illustrated in section A above. This indicates that the worshipper should move between such formulae, as is the rule with the rest of Sunnan. Namely, the worshipper should use both of the different formulae and positions of the Sunnah.

The worshipper should lean his body weight on the left thigh in the last tashahhud with regards to two or three rak’ahs prayers: In other words, the worshipper should sit on his left buttock. This way of sitting has come in different shapes and sizes and it is better to change between such shapes. Among such shapes are the following:

To slacken the left leg, erect the right one, and let the buttocks to rest on the ground. This is the description that Al-Bukhari reported through Abu Humaid as-Sa’idi .^[9]

To relax both legs in a sitting position and let the buttocks rest on the ground. This is the description reported by Abu Dawud, Ibn Hibban, al-Bayhaqi through the hadith of Abu Humaid as-Sa’idi  and was corrected by Imam Al-Albaani (may Allah have mercy upon him).^[10] It should be known – according to the preponderant opinion - that these positions are not in every last tashahhud, yet, it is the last tashahhud in the three and four rak’ahs prayer, but not the one that has two rak’ahs.

To use different formulae in sending peace and blessings upon Prophet Muhammad r in tashahhud: In this regards, there are many formulas that show the way to send peace and blessings upon Prophet Muhammad . Yet, he should move among these formulas. These adhkar would include the following:

 اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ،كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ ، وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ،كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ ،وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد

“O Allah! Send prayers on Muhammad, and on his household, and on his wives and progeny, as you sent prayers on the family of Ibrahim; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. And send blessings on Muhammad, and his household, and his wives and progeny, as you sent blessings on the family of Ibrahim; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory.”^[11]

 اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّد ،كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ،كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ، فِي الْعَالَمِينَ ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد

“O Allah! Send prayers on Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as you sent prayers on the family of Ibrahim. And send blessings on Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as you sent blessings on the family of Ibrahim; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory.”^[12]

 اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى أَزْوَاجِهِ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ ،كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى أَزْوَاجِهِ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد

“O Allah! Send prayers on Muhammad and [on] his wives and progeny, as You sent prayers on [the family of Ibrahim]. And send blessings on Muhammad, and [on] his wives and progeny, as You sent blessings on [the family of] Ibrahim; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory.”^[13]

One should seek Allah’s refuge against four things before making tasleem: This is the opinion of the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them). This opinion is supported by the hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah that the Prophet  said,

 “When any one of you completes the last tashahhud, he should seek refuge with Allah from four (trials), i.e. from the torment of Hell, from the torment of grave, from the trial of life and death and from the mischief of Maseeh ad-Dajjal (Antichrist).”^[14]

This was reported by Muslim through the hadith of ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) and it is in the two sound collections. ^[15]

Besides, there are other Sunnah supplications that the worshipper should move back and forth from and they include:

             اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ من المأْثَمِ والمغْرَمِ

“O Allah! I seek refuge with You from sin and debt. ”^[16]

           اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الجَنَّةَ وَأَعَوْذَ بِكَ مِنَ النَّار

“O Allah! I ask You to admit me to Paradise and to keep me far away from Hell. ”^[17]

  اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا وَلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَغْفِرَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ وَارْحَمْنِي ، إِنَّك أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

“O Allah! I have transgressed against myself and wronged myself and confess my sins. Forgive all my sins, for no one forgives sins but You, have mercy on me for You are the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.”^[18]

          اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ ، وَشُكْرِكَ ، وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ

“O Allah! Help me to remember You, to thank You, and truly worship You.” ^[19]

 اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْبُخْلِ ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْجُبْنِ ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أُرَدَّ إِلَى أَرْذَلِ الْعُمُرِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الدُّنْيَا ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ

 “O Allah! I seek refuge in You from incapacity, from indolence, from cowardice, from senility, from miserliness, and I seek refuge in You from the torment of the grave and from trial of life and death.”^[20]

                    اللَّهُمَّ حَاسِبْنِي حِسَابًا يَسِيرًا

 “O Allah! Make my reckoning (on the Day of Judgment) light.”^[21]

Thereafter he would make tasleem, as this is the Sunnah. Exaggeration in making tasleem is also Sunnah as the Prophet  used to do it until people could see the whiteness of his cheeks.  Abi Ramtha t narrated, “I used to see Allah’s Messenger  making tasleem to his right and left sides until I could see the whiteness of his cheeks. ”^[22]