79/3. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6230 — The Tashahhud in Prayer
As-Salam is one of the Names of Allah 'Azza wa Jall
وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُمْ بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَا}.
Tashahhud Dua in Prayer: The Prophet’s Taught Words of Peace
Sahih Bukhari : 6230
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6230
حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي شَقِيقٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ كُنَّا إِذَا صَلَّيْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قُلْنَا السَّلاَمُ عَلَى اللَّهِ قَبْلَ عِبَادِهِ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَى جِبْرِيلَ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَى مِيكَائِيلَ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَى فُلاَنٍ، فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا بِوَجْهِهِ فَقَالَ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ السَّلاَمُ، فَإِذَا جَلَسَ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَلْيَقُلِ التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ، وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ. فَإِنَّهُ إِذَا قَالَ ذَلِكَ أَصَابَ كُلَّ عَبْدٍ صَالِحٍ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ. ثُمَّ يَتَخَيَّرْ بَعْدُ مِنَ الْكَلاَمِ مَا شَاءَ ".
`Abdullah Narrated from:
When we prayed with the Prophet (ﷺ) we used to say: As-Salam be on Allah from His worshipers, As- Salam be on Gabriel, As-Salam be on Michael, As-Salam be on so-and-so. When the Prophet (ﷺ) finished his prayer, he faced us and said, "Allah Himself is As-Salam (Peace), so when one sits in the prayer, one should say, 'at-Tahiyatu-li l-lahi Was-Salawatu, Wat-Taiyibatu, As-Salamu 'Alaika aiyuhan- Nabiyyu wa Rah-matul-lahi wa Barakatuhu, As-Salamu 'Alaina wa 'ala 'Ibadillahi assalihin, for if he says so, then it will be for all the pious slave of Allah in the Heavens and the Earth.(Then he should say), 'Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallahu wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan `Abduhu wa rasulu-hu,' and then he can choose whatever speech (i.e. invocation) he wishes " (See Hadith No. 797, Vol. 1).
[1] All the compliments and the best regards prayers, and good things are due to Allāh; peace be on you, O Prophet, and Allāh's Mercy and Blessings be on you. Peace be on us and on the true pious worshippers of Allāh.(2) I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allāh; and I testify that Muḥammad ﷺ is His slave and His Messenger.Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6230In-book reference : Book 79, Hadith 4USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 74, Hadith 249
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6230
This Hadith teaches the correct tashahhud dua in prayer. The companions first said words of peace directed to Allah, Gabriel, Michael, and others. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم corrected them and said that Allah Himself is As-Salam, meaning Peace. He then taught them what to say while sitting in prayer: all greetings, prayers, and good words are for Allah. The wording includes peace upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, peace upon the worshipers, and the testimony of faith. The Hadith also shows that after saying the tashahhud, a person may choose an invocation. The main lesson is that prayer words should follow what the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم taught, especially in matters of worship.
What we learn from this hadith
- Allah is As-Salam, so the wording of prayer should honor Him properly.
- The tashahhud includes peace upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and righteous servants of Allah.
- The testimony of faith is part of the sitting in prayer.
- After tashahhud, a worshiper may choose an invocation.
