What is Attahiyat?

Attahiyat is a very important ‘Dua’ we repeat in our daily prayers. It is the specific dua we recite in a prescribed way at the end of the last Rak’ah of the Prayer. A simple analogy can understand the importance of Attahiyaat. Every good story, speech, article or even a meeting ends at the final and essential most note. While salah is a meeting between a man and his Creator ALLAH SWT, it is justified to expect something marvelous which would end such a purposeful and extraordinary session. That is why salaah ends with a powerful praise cum dua.

التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ، وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ‏ وأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

All dominion and greatness is for Allah, and all the prayers, and all good speech and action is for Him. Peace be upon you O Prophet, and likewise the Mercy of Allah and His Blessings. And peace be upon us, and upon the pious servants of Allah. [1] I testify that there is none who has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.

I am sure that most of us are unaware that Attahiyat is a part of the conversation between Our Creator Allah, and our beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallalahualayhiwasallam during his journey of Al Isra Wal Miraj!

Yes, it is!

When Prophet Muhammad Sallalahualayhiwasallam met Allah, he didn’t say ‘Assalam Aleikum.’ What is someone going to say when he meets Allah? We can’t wish HIM peace because ALL sources of order are through HIM.

So Prophet Muhammad Sallalahualayhiwasallam said:
“Attahiyyaatu Lillahi Was Salawatu Wattayyibatu” (All compliments, all prayer and worship are for Allah)

Allah replied:
“Assalamu Alaika Ayyuhannabiyyu ‘Warahmatullahi Wabarka’tuhu” (Peace be upon you, Oh Prophet and Allah’s Mercy and Blessings).

To this, Prophet Muhammad sallalahualayhiwasallam replied: “Assalamu Alaina Wa’ala’Ibadillahis Saa’liheen” (Peace be on us and on all good slaves of Allah)
Note* Prophet Muhammad sallalahualayhiwasallam included “us” in his reply… (and on all good slaves of Allah)

And listening to this conversation between Allah and His Messenger sallalahualayhiwasalam the Angels said:
“Ash’had’u’un La ilahaillallahu Wa Ash’hadu Anna Muhammadun Abd’uhu Wa Rasooluh”
(I bear witness that no one is worthy of worship except Allah And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger).

SubhanAllah!!!!! Such a beautiful cocktail of salutations, Duas, and blessings involving ALLAH subhana hu was tala, His beloved Prophet Muhammad, and His angels. Even during such an overwhelming conversation, Prophet Muhammad did not forget to mention his ummahand to deliver blessings and peace to his ummah.
I now understand the importance of Attahiyat and this conversation in our daily prayers and how the Salah prescribed to us.

Indeed, no word is as beautiful as Allah, no example as beautiful as Rasulallah(SAW). No lesson as beautiful as Islam, no encyclopedia as perfect as Al-Quran, no prayer as perfect as Salah (Namaz), no charity as meaningful as Zakat, no diet as complete as fasting and no song as melodious as Adhaan. It’s just we who often fail to discover the beauty in every dimension of Islam.

I come across  this message in the book of (my whatsapp daily message) our brother
salmanurs