Is the Tashahhud and the sitting for it an essential pillar (rukn) of the prayer?
Chapter on the Description of Prayer
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
The Tashahhud and sitting for it are essential pillars of the prayer. This view is held by Umar, his son, Abu Mas'ud al-Badri, Al-Hasan, and Al-Shafi'i. The evidence is the command of the Prophet (peace be upon him), who said: "Say: At-tahiyyaatu lillah" (All compliments are for Allah). A command implies obligation. Furthermore, the Prophet (PBUH) continuously performed it. It is related that Ibn Mas'ud said they used to say something else until the Prophet (PBUH) corrected them, indicating the obligation was established after it was not previously obligatory.
Supporting text
Malik and Abu Hanifa do not consider it obligatory, although Abu Hanifa made sitting for the duration of the Tashahhud obligatory. Their evidence is that the Prophet (PBUH) did not teach it to the Bedouin, implying it was not obligatory. This is refuted by noting the Bedouin's action might have occurred before the Tashahhud became obligatory, or that the Prophet (PBUH) did not object as he did not see him acting improperly in omitting it.