Comparative Fiqh

Tahiyyat Prayer

The Tahiyyat prayer is not an ordinary remembrance in Islamic jurisprudence and Sufi tradition, but rather a symbol of the highest dialogue between the servant and the Creator and His Messenger, founded directly on the event of 'Miraj'. According to narrations, when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) reached Sidrat al-Muntaha, he greeted Allah by saying 'At-tahiyyātu lillāhi wa's-salawātu wa't-tayyibāt' (All greetings, prayers, and all good things belong to Allah). In response, Allah greeted him with 'As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuhā'n-nabiyyū wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh' (O Prophet, peace, Allah's mercy, and blessings be upon you). The Prophet then included his community and the angels in this divine greeting by saying 'As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādillāhi's-ṣāliḥīn' (Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah). Witnessing this magnificent dialogue, Gabriel (peace be upon him) and the other angels crowned this spiritual tableau by bearing witness to the Shahada. All schools of Islamic jurisprudence have unanimously agreed on the necessity of reciting this prayer during the sitting positions (qa'dah) of the prayers, but due to the different narrations of wording transmitted from the Prophet to the companions, variations in wording and emphasis have emerged among the schools.

اَلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ.

Pronunciation

Et-tehiyyâtü lillâhi ve's-salevâtü ve't-tayyibât. Es-selâmü aleyke eyyühe'n-nebiyyü ve rahmetullâhi ve berekâtüh. Es-selâmü aleynâ ve alâ ıbâdillâhi's-sâlihîn. Eşhedü en lâ ilâhe illallâh, ve eşhedü enne Muhammeden abdühû ve resûlüh.

Translation

All prayers, salutations, bodily and financial acts of worship belong to Allah. O Prophet! Peace, Allah's mercy, and blessings be upon you. Peace be upon us and upon all of Allah's righteous servants. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah. I also bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.

Jurisprudential Basis

Imam Abu Hanifa based his text on the narration of the companion Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), who is the greatest master of the Kufa school. Ibn Mas'ud emphasized the certainty of these words by saying, 'The Messenger of Allah taught me the Tahiyyat as if he were teaching me a chapter from the Qur'an.' According to Hanafi jurisprudence, it is obligatory to recite this text fully and completely in every sitting of the prayer.