Question:
Does Tashahhud mean the at Tahiyyaat and darood (invoking blessings on the Prophet )have to be recited or only at Tahiyyaat. Ex: while praying 4 Rak'ahs, during the 2nd Rak'ah when we sit for Tashahhud do we recite at Tahiyyaat and darood or only at Tahiyyaat?
Fatwa:
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.
The majority of the jurists hold the opinion that it is better for a praying person not to invoke blessings on the Prophet, sallallaahu alyhi wa sallam, in his first Tashahhud (in the four and three-Rak'ah-prayers); there he reads only the known Tahiyyaat.
Some scholars permitted invoking blessings on the Prophet, sallallaahu alyhi wa sallam, in the first Tashahhud after having read the Tahiyyaat.
However, there is no disagreement in invoking blessings on the Prophet, sallallaahu alyhi wa sallam, in the last Tashahhud of a prayer after completing Tahiyyaat.
Allah Knows best.
Fatwa answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb