“In brief, its legal status is the same as that of the final tashahhud—as will be discussed—and there is no conclusive proof that would justify distinguishing between the two. On the contrary, its explicit mention in the hadith of the man who prayed badly, as noted earlier, actually points to an even greater particularity for the middle tashahhud.” (1) This report comes from a number of Companions: • Among them is Abd Allah b. Masud, who said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach us the tashahhud just as he would teach us a surah of the Quran.” Ahmad narrates it (1/394) through the chain: Sharik – Jami b. Abi Rashid – Abu Wa il – from him. The isnad is sound. Al-Haythami cites it in Majma (2/140) with the additional wording: “He would say, ‘Learn it, for there is no prayer without the tashahhud.’” He then remarks: “Al-Tabarani relates it in al-Awsat; in his chain is Sa d b. Sinan, whom Ibn Ma in judged weak. Al-Bazzar transmits it with trustworthy narrators, and although some of them are disputed, that does not harm the report, God willing.” A similar wording is found in the two Sahihs through another route, and it will be mentioned shortly, God willing. • Also among them is Abd Allah b. Abbas with the same wording as Ibn Masud. Muslim (2/14), al-Nasai (1/188) and Ahmad (1/315) narrate it through Abd al-Rahman b. Humayd – Abu al-Zubayr – Tawus – from him. Al-Layth likewise transmits it from Abu al-Zubayr via Sa id b. Jubayr and Tawus; Muslim and others record it as will appear [p. 895]. • Among them, too, is Jabir b. Abd Allah. His report is related by al-Nasai (1/175), Ibn Majah (1/292) and al-Tahawi (1/156).