2/189. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 968 — Tashahhud
The Tashah-hud
Tashahhud Dua in Prayer: The Words Taught by the Prophet
Sunan Abi Dawud : 968
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 968
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ الأَعْمَشِ، حَدَّثَنِي شَقِيقُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ كُنَّا إِذَا جَلَسْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الصَّلاَةِ قُلْنَا السَّلاَمُ عَلَى اللَّهِ قَبْلَ عِبَادِهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَى فُلاَنٍ وَفُلاَنٍ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَقُولُوا السَّلاَمُ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ السَّلاَمُ وَلَكِنْ إِذَا جَلَسَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَقُلِ التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ فَإِنَّكُمْ إِذَا قُلْتُمْ ذَلِكَ أَصَابَ كُلَّ عَبْدٍ صَالِحٍ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ - أَوْ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ - أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ ثُمَّ لْيَتَخَيَّرْ أَحَدُكُمْ مِنَ الدُّعَاءِ أَعْجَبَهُ إِلَيْهِ فَيَدْعُو بِهِ " .
'Abdullah bin Mas'ud Narrated from:
When we (prayed and) sat up during prayer along the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), we said: “Peace be to Allah before it is supplicated for His servants; peace be to so and so. “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Do not say “Peace be to Allah,” for Allah Himself is peace.When one of you sits (during the prayer), he should say: The adoration of the tongue are due to Allah, and acts of worship and all good things. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and Allah’s mercy and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon Allah’s upright servants. When you say that, it reaches every upright servant in heavens and earth or between heavens and earth. I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and apostle. Then he may choose any supplication which pleases him and offer it.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 968In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 579English translation : Book 2, Hadith 963
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 968
This hadith is one of the clearest texts about Tashahhud dua in prayer. Abdullah ibn Mas’ud says that they used to say words like “Peace be to Allah” while sitting in prayer. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) corrected them and said not to say that, because Allah Himself is Peace. He then taught the words of Tashahhud: praise and acts of worship are due to Allah, peace upon the Prophet, peace upon us and Allah’s upright servants, and the two testimonies of faith. The hadith also says that after this, a person may choose a supplication that pleases him and make dua. The main lesson is simple: the wording of worship matters, and the Prophet taught it clearly.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not say “Peace be to Allah,” because Allah Himself is Peace.
- Tashahhud includes praise, peace, and the testimony of faith.
- After Tashahhud, the worshipper may choose a supplication mentioned in the text.
