people walking between umbrellas during daytime

The Shahada in Prayer

Educational video of the Tashahhud, the Shahada, and the closing words of the prayer

(learning, memorization, and review)

Learning the final recitation of the prayer

This video presents all the supplications recited while sitting at the end of the prayer.

(Some people memorize by listening, others by reading, others by repeating. You can let the video play and follow the text in whichever way suits you best.)

To make learning easier, the full recitation is repeated three times in the video. This repetition is purely educational: modern learning methods show that repeating three times helps better memorization.

In the actual prayer, the recitation is done only once:

after two rak‘ahs: Tashahhud without the prayer upon Ibrahim,

at the end of the prayer: the full formula with the prayer upon Ibrahim.

The complete closing formula of the prayer:

1 Meaning (English)

2 Phonetic

3 Full Arabic text

1 English Version (meaning)

Tashahhud

All greetings, prayers, and pure words belong to Allah.

Peace be upon you, O Prophet, as well as the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah.

Shahada

I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner,

and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.

Salat Ibrahīmiyya

O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad,

just as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim.

Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.

O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad,

just as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim.

Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.

Shahada

I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner,

and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.

Salam

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.

2 Version phonétique

At-tahiyyatu lillah,

az-zakiyatu lillah,

as-salawatu wat-tayyibat,

as-salamu alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

as-salamu alayna wa ala ibadillahi as-salihin.

Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa-llah wahdahu la sharika lah,

wa ash-hadu anna Muhammad abduhu wa rasuluh.

Allahumma salli ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad,

kama sallayta ala Ibrahim wa ala ali Ibrahim, innaka hamidun majid,

wa barik ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad,

kama barakta ala Ibrahim wa ala ali Ibrahim fil alamin, innaka hamidun majid.

Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa-llah wahdahu la sharika lah,

wa ash-hadu anna Muhammad abduhu wa rasuluh.

As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah,

as-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah.

3 Texte arabe complet

التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ.

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ.

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ.

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ،

وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ.

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ،

كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ.

اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ،

كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ.

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ،

وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ.

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ.

(The form of the Tashahhud presented here is given as an example and is fully valid.

You are free to use any of the other authentic forms of the Tashahhud, all of which are correct and transmitted from the Prophet Muḥammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

You may consult them on the dedicated page:

(Forms of the Tashahhud)

Educational Landmarks

1 The Tashahhud

This part opens the end of the prayer with praises addressed only to Allah.

2 The Shahada

Here the believer renews the testimony of faith at the very heart of the ṣalāt.

3 The Ibrahimic prayer (salutation)

After the testimony, blessings are sent upon the Prophet Muḥammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,

in gratitude for conveying the message.

4 Renewal of the Shahada

Before concluding the prayer, the testimony of faith is often repeated.

This repetition reaffirms Allah as the only deity worthy of worship

and the mission of the Prophet Muḥammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

The prayer thus ends with the same statement that forms its heart: the Shahada.

5 The Salam

The prayer concludes with words of peace, marking the exit from ṣalāt.

How many times is the Shahada pronounced in prayer?

At least twice, depending on the prayer.

When is it pronounced?

At the end of the prayer, while seated.

In this order:

Tashahhud

Shahada

Prophetic blessings

Shahada

Salam

✦

Theme Meaning

✦

This theme shows that:

The Shahada is not only the statement that enters a person into Islam,

it is repeated and lived every day,

at the most intimate moment of the relationship with Allah: the prayer.

The believer does not believe only once.

He bears witness in every prayer.

Scholars explain that this diversity of formulations is a mercy: it shows that the Shahada is one single truth, expressed by the Prophet Muḥammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in multiple authentic forms, so that faith may be lived without rigidity, according to life’s different moments and contexts.

✦

HADITH

Sending blessings upon the Prophet in prayer

✦

After the Shahada in the Tashahhud, the believer continues within the prayer itself by sending blessings upon the Prophet Muḥammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, exactly as he was explicitly taught.

When the Companions asked:

“O Messenger of Allah, we know how to greet you, but how should we send prayers upon you?”

He taught them these words:

Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammad wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad,

kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīm wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm,

innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd.

“O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad,

just as You sent prayers upon Ibrāhīm and upon the family of Ibrahim.

Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.”

And he also taught:

Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammad wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad,

kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīm wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm,

innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd.

“O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad,

just as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim.

Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.”

These salutations, known as Ṣalāt Ibrāhīmiyya, are part of the prophetic teaching of the prayer.

They follow the Shahada in the Tashahhud and complete the standing of the believer before Allah:

the testimony of faith,

then honoring the Messenger who conveyed it.

Thus the prayer unites belief and gratitude, truth and transmission, testimony and blessing.

✦

Hadith

✦

Reported by ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd, may Allah be pleased with him:

“The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, used to teach us the Tashahhud by saying:

At-taḥiyyātu liLlāhi waṣ-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt.

All greetings, all prayers, and all pure words belong to Allah.

As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuhā n-nabiyyu wa raḥmatuLlāhi wa barakātuh.

Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādiLlāhi ṣ-ṣāliḥīn.

Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah.

Ashhadu an lā ilāha illā Allāh,

wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluh.

I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah,

and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.”

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

Context:

This hadith preserves the exact wording transmitted by the Prophet Muḥammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, for the sitting position in the prayer.

The double testimony stands at the very center of ritual worship.

✦

Hadith

✦

Reported by Ibn ʿAbbās, may Allah be pleased with him:

“The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, used to teach us the Tashahhud just as he used to teach us a chapter of the Qur’an. He would say:

At-taḥiyyātu l-mubārakātu ṣ-ṣalawātu ṭ-ṭayyibātu liLlāh.

All blessed greetings, prayers, and pure words belong to Allah.

As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuhā n-nabiyyu wa raḥmatuLlāhi wa barakātuh.

Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādiLlāhi ṣ-ṣāliḥīn.

Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah.

Ashhadu an lā ilāha illā Allāh,

wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan rasūluLlāh.

I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah,

and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”

(Sahih Muslim)

Context:

Here the Companions testify to the precision with which the Prophet Muḥammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, taught these words.

The Tashahhud is learned with the same care as a verse of the Qur’an.

✦

Hadith

✦

Reported by ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd, may Allah be pleased with him:

“When we used to pray behind the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, we would say:

‘Peace be upon Allah, peace be upon Jibrīl and Mīkā’īl…’

Then the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

‘Do not say: Peace be upon Allah, for Allah Himself is As-Salām, the Source of Peace.

Rather say:

All greetings, prayers, and pure words belong to Allah.

Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah.

I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah,

and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.

Then he taught us this Tashahhud.’”

At-taḥiyyātu liLlāhi waṣ-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt.

As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuhā n-nabiyyu wa raḥmatuLlāhi wa barakātuh.

As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādiLlāhi ṣ-ṣāliḥīn.

Ashhadu an lā ilāha illā Allāh,

wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluh.

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

This narration shows that the words of the prayer are not left to personal initiative.

The Prophet Muḥammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, corrected and fixed the wording so that the Shahada would take its proper place within worship.

✦