What is the full Attahiyat?
The full Attahiyat prayer in Arabic is:
“Attahiyyatu lillahi wassalawatu wattayyibatu. Assalamu ‘alayka ayyuhan nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. Assalamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibadillahis salihin. Ashhadu alla ilaha illallahu wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh.”
The English translation is:
“Greetings, prayers, and good things belong to Allah. Peace be on you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be on us and the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.”
At-Tahiyyat (Tashahhud) in Arabic
Arabic:
التحياتُ للهِ والصلواتُ والطيباتُ،
السلامُ عليكَ أيها النبيُّ ورحمةُ اللهِ وبركاته،
السلامُ علينا وعلى عبادِ اللهِ الصالحين،
أشهدُ أن لا إلهَ إلا اللهُ،
وأشهدُ أنَّ محمدًا عبدُهُ ورسولُه
Salat Alan-Nabi (Salawat Ibrahimiyya)
Arabic:
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.
English Translation:
O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad S.A.W,
As you sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim.
Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.
O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad,
as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim.
Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.
Rabbi-j‘alni Supplication (Dua from Surah Ibrahim)
Arabic:
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي،
رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ،
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ.
English Translation:
My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and from my descendants as well.
Our Lord, accept my supplication.
Our Lord, forgive me, my parents, and the believers
On the Day when the account is established.
After this, you will turn your neck to the right side of your shoulder first, look into your shoulder and say Asalamualaiakum warahmatullah, and then turn your neck to the left side of your shoulder, look into your shoulder and say the same salam again. Now your prayer has been completed.
What Does Each Line of Attahiyat Mean?
The first line expresses sending greetings, prayers, and good things towards Allah.
The second line sends peace and blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
The third line extends the greeting of peace to oneself and all righteous servants of Allah.
The fourth line bears witness to the oneness of Allah and that Muhammad (SAW) is His final messenger.
What is the meaning of Attahiyat?
The word “Attahiyat” in Arabic means greetings or salutations. It comes from the word “hayat”, meaning “life”. So Attahiyat means “to give life or greetings to someone”.
In the context of Islamic prayer, Attahiyat refers to all expressions of reverence, honor, prayers, and good things that are due to Allah. It establishes the concept that all forms of worship and submission belong rightfully to Allah alone.
The prayer demonstrates that the highest sentiments of love, devotion, obedience, and praise are for Allah. It reinforces a Muslim’s consciousness of Allah’s lordship during the act of worship.
Is Attahiyat a conversation?
No, Attahiyat is not a conversation per se, but rather a prayerful supplication. However, it does embody the believer communing with and consciously acknowledging the glory of Allah, as well as conveying prayers and peace upon the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
In the first line, the worshipper sends their purest greetings, veneration, and tributes towards Allah.
The subsequent lines then offer salutations upon Prophet Muhammad (SAW), oneself, and the righteous servants of Allah. So in essence, it is the worshipper addressing both Allah and Prophet Muhammad (SAW) with utmost love and respect.
Its recital creates a profound sense of connecting with Allah’s divine presence. But being a prayer rather than a dialogue, the exchange is one-sided, with the believer expressing their deepest devotion.
What is Attahiyat and salawat, and dua?
Attahiyat: This refers to the opening line of the prayer, which sends greetings, honor, and reverence to Allah.
Salawat: This refers specifically to the phrase “Assalamu ‘alayka ayyuhan nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,” meaning “Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings”. This is the salutation upon Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
Dua: Any supplicatory prayer or act of invocation towards Allah is called a dua. So the entirety of Attahiyat prayer embodies a beautiful dua communicating the highest sentiments of love and devotion towards Allah and His noble Messenger Muhammad (SAW).
Why is Attahiyat so special?
There are several reasons why Attahiyat holds such a special place in Islamic prayers:
1. It Affirms the Central Beliefs of Islam
Attahiyat incorporates the shahadah (testimony of faith) – the central creed that constitutes a Muslim. It emphasizes tawheed – the absolute oneness and lordship of Allah.
2. Shows Reverence to Allah and His Prophet
It allows Muslims to consciously revere both Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) through beautiful words of love, honor, and salutation.
3. Part of Obligatory Muslim Prayers
Attahiyat forms an essential part of the ritual prayers that are obligatory for Muslims to perform five times daily. It gives profound meaning to those worship acts.
4. Taught by the Prophet Himself
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) directly taught his companions this prayer, giving it an immense blessing (barakah). Muslims take pride in emulating exactly how the Prophet prayed.
5. Universal Islamic Prayer
All Muslims around the world today recite this same prayer in their native languages, fostering an incredible sense of religious solidarity across all cultures and schools of thought.
Is the first tashahhud obligatory?
Yes, according to the majority of Islamic scholars, reciting the first tashahud prayer in the second and last rakat is obligatory. Tashahhud refers to the testimony and supplication part of the prayer, which includes Attahiyat and Salawat upon the Prophet (SAW).
Therefore, any ritual prayer that is more than two rakats (units) must contain the sitting posture to recite tashahhud in the second rakat. Omitting it deliberately can invalidate the prayer.
Reciting tashahhud connects the various steps of prayer into one unified whole. The physical movements of prayer are paired with meaningful supplications to Allah. It fulfills an essential pillar of prayer beyond just forms.
What do you read after Tashahhud?
After completing tashahhud, it is sunnah – the tradition of the Prophet (SAW) – to send additional prayers upon him by reciting:
“Allahumma Salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin kama salayta ‘ala Ibrahim wa ‘ala aali Ibrahim, innaka Hamid Majid. Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahim wa ‘ala aali Ibrahim, innaka Hamid Majid.”
This means:
“O Allah, bestow Your favor upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You have bestowed Your favor upon Abraham and the family of Abraham. Surely, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You have blessed Abraham and the family of Abraham. Surely, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.”
After this, additional personal supplications can be made directly to Allah before ending the prayer with salams.
Conclusion
Attahiyat Lillahi wa Salawatu is one of the most important Islamic prayers a Muslim regularly recites in their daily worship. Known also as Tashahhud, it develops a profound, contemplative consciousness of Allah and connectivity to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Through its recitation in every unit of prayer, a Muslim reaffirms their devotion to Allah alone and veneration of the Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) guidance. Understanding its deep significance allows believers to truly benefit from this meaningful supplication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Attahiyat is a sacred prayer recited during the sitting position in Salah. While not directly quoted in the Quran, it originates from the blessed conversation between Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and Allah during the miraculous journey of Mi'raj. This beautiful supplication begins with praising Allah and sending blessings upon the Prophet, making it an essential part of every Muslim's daily prayers.
Yes, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught Attahiyat to his companions after experiencing the Mi'raj, the night journey to the heavens. During this blessed journey, he had a direct conversation with Allah, and the words of Attahiyat reflect this divine dialogue. The Prophet instructed his followers to recite these words in their prayers, ensuring this precious gift would be preserved throughout generations.
Tashahhud, also known as Attahiyat, refers to the testimony of faith recited while sitting during prayer. Although the exact wording doesn't appear in the Quran, the concept of bearing witness to Allah's oneness and Muhammad's prophethood is a fundamental Quranic principle. The Prophet taught this specific formulation to his companions, and it has been faithfully transmitted through authentic Hadith collections, becoming an integral component of Islamic prayer.
Attahiyat holds extraordinary significance because it represents the actual words exchanged between Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and Allah during the Mi'raj. When we recite Attahiyat in our prayers, we're repeating the same blessed conversation that took place in the divine presence. This makes every prayer a spiritual connection to that miraculous moment, allowing believers to experience a piece of that sacred encounter five times daily.
Attahiyat means 'all greetings' or 'all salutations' in English. The word comes from the Arabic root 'tahiyyah' meaning greetings and respect. The full translation is: 'All compliments, prayers and pure words are due to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and all righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.' This beautiful supplication glorifies Allah and sends peace upon the Prophet in every prayer.
To recite Attahiyat correctly, sit in the Qa'dah position during prayer and recite: 'At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat. As-salamu alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu. As-salamu alayna wa ala ibadillahis-salihin. Ash-hadu alla ilaha illallah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu.' Pronounce each word clearly with proper Tajweed, especially the letter 'Ha' in 'illallah' and the double consonants. It's recommended to learn from a qualified Quran teacher who can correct your pronunciation. Qiratul Quran offers online classes specifically teaching prayer duas including Attahiyat with proper pronunciation and Tajweed.
You say Attahiyat during the sitting positions (Qa'dah) in Salah. In a two-rak'ah prayer like Fajr, you recite it once in the final sitting. In three-rak'ah prayers like Maghrib, you recite a shorter version after the second rak'ah and the complete version in the final sitting. In four-rak'ah prayers like Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha, recite the shorter Attahiyat after the second rak'ah and the complete Attahiyat with Durood Ibrahim in the final sitting. The timing and position for Attahiyat is essential for valid prayer, making it one of the fundamental components every Muslim must learn correctly.
Yes, Attahiyat is compulsory (wajib) in Salah according to the majority of Islamic scholars. The final sitting where Attahiyat is recited is an essential part of prayer, and omitting it intentionally invalidates the prayer. However, if forgotten unintentionally, the prayer remains valid but performing Sujood as-Sahw (prostration of forgetfulness) is required. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) specifically taught Attahiyat to his companions and instructed them to include it in their prayers, emphasizing its importance. Learning to recite Attahiyat correctly with proper pronunciation is therefore essential for every Muslim to ensure their daily prayers are performed correctly.
Attahiyat and Durood are two separate but related prayers recited during Salah. Attahiyat is the testimony (Tashahhud) that glorifies Allah and sends peace upon the Prophet, recited in every sitting position. Durood, also called Salawat or Durood Ibrahim, is the specific prayer asking Allah to send blessings upon Prophet Muhammad and his family, similar to how He blessed Prophet Ibrahim and his family. In the final sitting of prayer, you first recite Attahiyat, then immediately follow it with Durood Ibrahim before making dua and giving salam. Both are essential parts of completing Salah properly, though they serve different purposes in the prayer structure.
Yes, you can effectively learn Attahiyat online through structured Quran classes with qualified teachers. Online learning offers advantages including one-on-one instruction where teachers correct your pronunciation in real-time, video demonstrations showing proper sitting position and recitation, recorded sessions for practice and review, and flexible scheduling fitting your routine. Qiratul Quran offers specialized courses teaching essential prayer supplications including Attahiyat with proper Tajweed and pronunciation. Our Al-Azhar certified teachers ensure you learn the correct Arabic pronunciation, understand the meaning, and can recite confidently in your daily prayers. Learning Attahiyat online is especially beneficial for new Muslims, children, and anyone wanting to perfect their prayer recitation with expert guidance.
