And Abū Ḥanīfah, Aḥmad, and the majority of the scholars maintained that the tashahhud transmitted by Ibn Masʿūd is superior. Many factors give it precedence: unanimous agreement on its soundness and its multiple chains of transmission, the fact that it is the most authentic and the most widely known wording, the Prophet’s ﷺ instruction that it be taught to the people, and the precision with which its phrasing has been preserved.

6 – A broader exposition of the tashahhud’s wording—more expansive than the earlier lexical notes—so that the worshipper may attend to its meanings:

– at-taḥiyyātu lillāh (all acts of reverence belong to Allah): taḥiyyah means a greeting of veneration. These are expressions of exaltation that are due to Allah alone, owned by Him and exclusive to Him, and they embrace every greeting that the praying Muslims offer to Allah in this humble sitting.

– aṣ-ṣalawāt (the prayers): this includes the obligatory and supererogatory prayers and every act of worship intended to magnify Allah. All of these are for Allah alone; He alone deserves them and is worshipped through them, and they are not fitting for anyone else.

– aṭ-ṭayyibāt (the pure things): this covers every righteous deed and utterance. All of them belong to Allah, for everything that issues from Him—act or word—is pure, and every pure action or statement that emanates from His creatures is His due; He is Pure and accepts only what is pure.
A deed or word is not deemed pure until two conditions are met: sincerity to Allah Almighty and conformity to the Messenger ﷺ.

– as-Salām (the All-Peace): one of Allah’s Most Beautiful Names. He is free from imperfection and defect and grants safety to His creation from calamities and afflictions. This noble, comprehensive Name appears in the phrase “ʿalayka ayyuhā an-nabī” (upon you, O Prophet)—a supplication for him ﷺ to be safeguarded from every deficiency and harm. He is addressed with the title “Prophet,” derived either from his conveying revelation from Allah or from his elevated rank—two notions that are inseparable.

– wa raḥmatu-llāhi wa barakātuhu (and the mercy of Allah and His blessings): barakāt is the plural of barakah, meaning increase and growth; it refers to the special favor and bounty with which Allah distinguished and honored him ﷺ.