Is it permissible to recite any *Tashahhud* verified from the Prophet (peace be upon him), and what is the minimum sufficient formulation?
Chapter on the Description of Prayer
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
Reciting any *Tashahhud* verified from the Prophet (peace be upon him) is valid. Ahmad explicitly stated that the *Tashahhud* of Abdullah (Ibn Mas'ud) is most pleasing to him, but reciting others is permissible because the Prophet (peace be upon him) teaching varied forms to the Companions indicates the validity of all of them, analogous to the differing valid readings of the Quran. The minimum sufficient formulation, according to this principle, is: 'All compliments are for Allah, peace be upon you, O Prophet, and mercy of Allah, peace be upon us and upon 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 His Messenger' or ending with 'and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.' Ahmad indicated hope for validity if one says 'and that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger' without preceding it with 'I bear witness' (*wa an shuhada*).
Supporting text
Some companions of Ahmad held that omitting even one letter or a conjunction (*waw*) necessitates repeating the prayer, based on the saying that the Companions memorized the *Tashahhud* like the letters of the Quran. However, the former view is stronger, implying that adherence to the wording and letters is preferable (the preferred version being that of Ibn Mas'ud), but flexibility is allowed, similar to how Abdullah permitted changing words in Quranic recitation when reciting to him (e.g., substituting 'the wretched' with 'the orphan' or 'the sinner'). Whatever is common across all verified narrations must be recited.