Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

It is said that while offering Salah you must feel that as if you are seeing Allah or Allah is observing you, But when we sits in Tahasshuid we have to recite At-Tahiyah and in At-Tahiyah we have to recite one sentence Ayyiannabiyou rahamatullahie wa barakatuhu that is "O Prophet peace be upon you", that means we are consulting with our Prophet in Salah at this time So what is the fact or meaning of this sentence please inform.

Assalamualikum wa rahamatullahie wa barakatuhu

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Meaning of tashahud in prayer

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Statement: It is said that while offering Salah you must feel that as if you are seeing Allah or Allah is observing you

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.300 Narrated by Abu Huraira

One day while Allah's Messenger (saws) was sitting with the people, a man came to him walking and said, "O Allah's Messenger (saws), what is ‘emaan’ (faith)?" The Prophet (saws) replied, "’Emaan’ is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Prophets, the meeting with Him, and to believe in the Resurrection." The man (further) asked, "O Allah's Messenger (saws), what is Islam?" The Prophet (saws) replied, "Islam is to worship Allah and not worship anything besides Him, to offer prayers perfectly, to pay the (compulsory) charity, i.e. Zakat, and to fast the month of Ramadan." The man again asked, "O Allah's Messenger (saws), what is ‘Ihsaan’ (i.e. perfection or benevolence)?" The Prophet (saws) said, "’Ihsaan’ (perfection) is to worship Allah as if you see Him (although He cannot be seen), and if you do not achieve this state of devotion, then (know with absolute conviction that) Allah Sees you." The man further asked, "O Allah's Messenger (saws), when will the ‘Hour’ be established?"

The Prophet (saws) replied, "The one who is asked about it does not know more than the questioner does, but I will describe to you its portents. When the lady slave gives birth to her mistress, that will be of its portents; when the bare-footed naked people become the chiefs of the people, that will be of its portents. The Hour is one of five things which nobody knows except Allah. Verily, the knowledge of the Hour is with Allah (alone). He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs." (Al-Quran 31.34) Then the man left. The Prophet (saws) told his companions "Call him back to me." They went to call him back but could not see him. The Prophet (saws) said, "That was Jibrael (a.s.) who came to teach you your religion."

Your Question: So what is the fact or meaning of this sentence please inform.Ref: Meaning of the ‘tashahud’ recited in prayer:

At tahiya tu lillahe was salawaato, wat tayyebato lillahe.

Every kind of salutes, all kinds of prayers, and all kinds of good and pure words and things, are for Allah Alone.

As Salaam alieka ya ayyo han nabi o, wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

(Allah told the Prophet(saws) these words on the Night of Mairaaj in His audience): May Peace, Mercy and Blessings of Allah be upon you, O Prophet (saws)

As Salaam o alayna wa a’la ibaa dallah hiss saleheen.

(The Prophet(saws) replied, as Allah Himself is the source of All Peace, and the Prophet (saws) could not possibly send Peace upon Allah): May Peace be upon me (saws), and the good, obedient or pious slaves of Allah.

Ash hado ann laa ilaha illahlah, wahdahu, laa sharika lahuu,

(The Prophet(saws) said to Allah in audience): I bear witness that there is no god, except Allah, Alone, He has no partners.

Wa ash hado anna Mohamed dan abdullahi wa Rasul Allah.

(And Allah replied): And I bear witness that (you, O) Mohamed, are the slave and Messenger of Allah

Allah humma salle a’la Mohamed din wa aa’le Mohamed, kama sallayta a’la Ibrahim wa ala aa’le Ibrahim

May Allah’s blessings be upon Mohamed (saws), and his ummah (or family or both), just like the blessing of Allah on Ibrahim and his ummah (or family or both)

Innaka Hameed un Majeed

For You are the All-Praiseworthy, the Glorious One.

Allah humma barik a’la Mohamed din wa aa’le Mohamed, kama barakta a’la Ibrahim wa ala aa’le Ibrahim

May Allah’s baraka be upon Mohamed (saws) and his ummah (or family or both) just like the baraka of Allah on Ibrahim and his ummah (or family or both)

Innaka Hameed un Majeed.

For You are the All-Praiseworthy, the Glorious One.

(Any Invocation to Allah)

Allah hum mag firli wale waaledayya war hum homa kama rabba yani saghira

O Allah, forgive me, and my parents, and have mercy upon them both, just as they had mercy on me when I was an infant.

Your Question:……that means we are consulting with our Prophet in Salah at this time

It is reported in authentic narrations that the Prophet Mohamed (saws) was honored by Allah Subhanah to approach the audience of the Lord Most Majestic on the blessed Night of Ascension (Mairaaj), and it was during this very Night of Ascension (Mairaaj) when Allah Subhanah declared the five obligatory prayers upon the Ummah of Prophet Mohamed (saws).

Upon the entrance of the Noble Prophet (saws) to the Lord’s audience, the Lord Most High Most Majestic greeted the Prophet (saws) with the following honorable salutation:

‘As Salaam alieka ya ayyo han nabi o, wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh’ ( May Peace, Mercy and Blessing of Allah be upon you,O Prophet (saws))

In absolute and total awe, and fear, and humility, and submission unto his Lord, the Prophet (saws) replied to the salutation of the Lord:

As Salaam o alayna wa a’la ibaa dallah hiss saleheen. (May Peace be upon me (saws), and (all) the good, obedient or pious slaves of Allah.)

Thus beloved brother in Islam, what is recited in the ‘tashahud’ is a replication and a commemoration of the honorable greeting and salutation of the Lord Most Majestic upon the Noble Prophet (saws), and the Prophet’s (saws) reply to the salutation.

Beloved brother, one cannot and does not consult with the Noble Prophet (saws) in their prayers in any way or format whatsoever; but one recites the ‘durood’ or salutation upon the Prophet (saws) as Commanded by Allah Subhanah.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 56:

56 Allah and His Angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect.

Al-Muwatta Hadith 9.70

Yahya related from Malik from Nuaym ibn Abdullah al-Mujmirthat, Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Zayd told him that Abu Masud al Ansari said, "The Messenger of Allah (saws) came to us at the gathering of Sad ibn Ubada. Bashir ibn Sad said to him, 'Allah has ordered us to ask for blessings on you, O Messenger of Allah (saws). How should we do it?' The Messenger of Allah (saws), remained silent until we wished we had not asked him. Then he (saws) told us to say, 'O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim, and give baraka to Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You gave baraka to Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. In all the worlds You are worthy of Praise and Glorious,'"

(Allahumma salli ala Muhammad wa ali Muhammad kama sallaita ala Ibrahim wa ala aale Ibrahim, wa barak ala Muhammad wa ali Muhammad kama barakta ala Ibrahim wa ali Ibrahim. Fi'l alamin, innaka Hamidu'm - Majid.)

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan