Every portion (rak’at) of prayer is a collection of deeds, recitations, and symbols that when aligned correctly, facilitate, and accelerate spiritual growth. Muslims collectively agree on the number of rak’as and repeat it; twice for the morning prayer (Fajr), four times for the afternoon prayer (Zuhr), and three times for Maghrib and four times for Isha evening prayers.
Tashahhud (the testimony of faith) is recited upon completion of the second and final rakat of each prayer. To fulfil this obligation, a person whilst in a sitting position affirms the oneness of God and by testifying to the truthfulness of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family), he expresses his gratitude to the leaders who have been mediators for this spiritual achievement.
The most precious reward of being in servitude of God, is deeply appreciating the oneness of the foundation of this existence[1]. Testifying this truth will be more genuine the better it is understood. Accordingly, the Quran introduces this important testimony as a justice-seeking act that only God, the angels, and only certain sophisticated individuals who are seekers of knowledge can do[2].
A genuine praying individual, with the knowledge he receives from reciting the divine verses and supplications with God, renews their faith[3] and makes the truth of monotheism more evident to his heart and soul[4]. This great destination is not reached except by passing through the path accompanying those who witnessed the truth[5]. This point displays the necessity of sending blessings (salutations) on the prophet of God and his family.
God and the angles who testify to monotheism[6], send salutations upon Muhammad who is a witness to those who testify the truths of this existence[7], and encourage the believers to also send blessings and salutations to him[8]. This is because receiving God’s light and mercy is dependent upon submitting your heart and attention to the witnesses who are the mediators of God’s grace and guidance[9] and are our only reliable authority on this path.
Nevertheless, God’s greetings are not exclusive to a particular person. God, the Mercy, and absolute Peace[10] sends greetings to all His Servants[11] to bring them to His light. God invites everyone to a heaven whose name is the Abode of Peace (salaam)[12], all that is heard in it is peace[13], His guests will be greeted with peace[14] and treated[15] with great compassion[16].
The same prayer that starts with takbir (ٱللَّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ) ends with salaam (the concluding salutation) to set the destination of this spiritual journey for peace, tranquillity, and mercy. For this purpose, after praising God from whom all salutations are received[17], and sending salutations to the Prophet who is the receiver and transmitter of the greatest compassions, we salute ourselves and the praiseworthy servants of God[18].
The Quran recommends sending salutations upon oneself and the people near you[19]. It is an expression and effort to benefit from the grace of God who is the ultimate peace and mercy. Thus, in the last sentence of our prayer, we wish for everyone to receives His peace, mercy and endless blessings. This salutation includes the individuals or angles on the right and left of the person praying and all those who are in contact with him.
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[1] . Quran 47: 19:
فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
Therefore, know that there is no other God but Allah.
[2] . Quran 3: 18:
شَهِدَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ وَأُولُو الْعِلْمِ قَائِمًا بِالْقِسْطِ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
Allah, whilst standing firm for a just system, bears witness that there is certainly no God but He. And so do the angles and the seekers of knowledge. There is no God but He, the mighty, the wise.
[3] . Quran 8: 2:
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
Verily, believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts quake, and when His signs are recited to them, it increases them in faith, and in their Lord do they trust.
[4] . Quran 13: 28:
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
Those who have believed and their hearts are set at rest by the remembrance of Allah. Verily by Allah’s remembrance the hearts are set at rest.
[5] . Quran 3: 53:
رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا بِمَا أَنزَلْتَ وَاتَّبَعْنَا الرَّسُولَ فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ
Our Lord, we have believed in what You have revealed, and we follow the Messenger, so record us among the witnesses.
[6] . Quran 3: 18:
شَهِدَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ وَأُولُو الْعِلْمِ قَائِمًا بِالْقِسْطِ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
Allah, whilst standing firm for a just system, bears witness that there is certainly no God but He. And so do the angles and the seekers of knowledge. There is no God but He, the mighty, the wise.
[7] . Quran 4: 41:
فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جِئْنَا مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٍ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ عَلَىٰ هَٰؤُلَاءِ شَهِيدًا
How will it be, then, when We bring from every people a witness and We bring you a witness over those.
[8] . Quran 33: 56:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
Verily Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet, O you who believe, send blessings on him, and send salutations out of submission.
[9] . Quran 32: 24:
وَجَعَلْنَا مِنْهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُوا وَكَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا يُوقِنُونَ
And because they endured patiently and believed in our signs, we appointed from among them leaders who guided people by Our command.
[10] . Quran 59: 23:
هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْمَلِكُ الْقُدُّوسُ السَّلَامُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْمُهَيْمِنُ الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ الْمُتَكَبِّرُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
He is Allah beside Whom none has the right to be worshipped but He, the Sovereign, the Holy, the One Free from all defects, the Giver of security, the Dominant over all things, the Invincible All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! He is above all that they associate as partners with Him.
[11] . Quran 33: 43:
هُوَ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَلَائِكَتُهُ لِيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ وَكَانَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيمًا
It is He who along with his angles sends blessings upon you to bring you from the darkness towards the light and is Merciful towards the believers.
[12] . Quran 10: 25:
وَاللَّهُ يَدْعُو إِلَىٰ دَارِ السَّلَامِ وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
And Allah calls mankind to the Abode of Peace and He guides whomever He pleases unto the straight path.
[13] . Quran 19: 62:
لَّا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًا إِلَّا سَلَامًا وَلَهُمْ رِزْقُهُمْ فِيهَا بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيًّا
They shall hear no idle talk, but only Peace. Therein they shall have their sustenance every morning and evening.
[14] . Quran 16: 32:
الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ طَيِّبِينَ يَقُولُونَ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمُ ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
Those whom the angles take their life whilst they are pure and say to them: “Peace be upon you, enter paradise because of what you used to do”.
[15] . Quran 25: 75:
أُولَٰئِكَ يُجْزَوْنَ الْغُرْفَةَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا وَيُلَقَّوْنَ فِيهَا تَحِيَّةً وَسَلَامًا
Those shall be rewarded with high stations because they were patient, they shall be met therein with welcome and salutations.
[16] . Quran 36: 58:
سَلَامٌ قَوْلًا مِّن رَّبٍّ رَّحِيمٍ
Peace, as a word from the Compassionate Lord.
[17] . Quran 24: 61:
فَسَلِّمُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِكُمْ تَحِيَّةً مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ مُبَارَكَةً طَيِّبَةً
Salute at yourselves with a greeting from Allah, blessed and good.
[18] . Quran 27: 59:
قُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَسَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ عِبَادِهِ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَىٰ
Say: “Praise be to Allah, and peace be on His servants whom He has chosen”.
[19] . Quran 24: 61:
فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُم بُيُوتًا فَسَلِّمُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِكُمْ
And so you enter houses, salute yourselves.