Should I say 'Sayyidina' in the tashahhud?

Shaykh Bali's answer has two parts — not in the fixed words of the salah and the adhan, but there is no objection to saying it outside of these two.

How the question comes up

An argument breaks out in the mosque over salawat upon the Prophet. One person says — if you don't say 'Sayyidina', the respect is diminished. Another says — that is an extra word.

In the middle, ordinary worshippers are left torn. Sitting in salah, they wonder — which one is safe to say without making a mistake?

The question is really born of love. People want to place the Prophet ﷺ as high as they possibly can.

Shaykh Bali gave his answer standing on a very clear principle.

The Shaykh's answer

In words that have been fixed by the Shariah, a person cannot add anything of his own — even if he feels he is honoring the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

The Companions themselves asked — we have learned how to greet you, but how should we send salawat upon you? The Prophet ﷺ then taught them the words. 'Sayyidina' does not appear in any of the narrated wordings.

The same applies to the adhan — one must not say "I bear witness that our master Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." However, there is no objection to saying it outside the adhan and the salah; there, one may say "Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ."

The evidence — the words in which salawat was taught

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; and grant barakah, as You granted barakah to Ibrahim and his family. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)Copy

The Prophet ﷺ himself said — I am the sayyid of the children of Adam. So there is no question that he is a sayyid; the question is only about adding to the fixed words of worship.

What to do

1. Recite the salawat in the words narrated for the tashahhud — just as the Prophet ﷺ taught.
2. Do not add 'Sayyidina' in the adhan either — the words of the adhan are also fixed.
3. Outside the salah and the adhan, you may say 'Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ'; there is no objection to it.
4. If someone does it differently, do not get drawn into an argument; gently let them know the evidence.

Monthly Ruqyah Course

★ 12 live ruqyah sessions ★ Recorded video of every session ★ Separate session notes for every session ★ A diagnosis package worth 500 taka for just 150 taka ★ A chance to consult with the raqi in a group ★ A separate Telegram group ★ A separate discussion group for brothers and sisters ★ Separate sessions for different problems ★ A guidelines and Q&A segment in every session

The course hadiya is just 490 taka. To join, write Session in a message — I will send you the form link in sha Allah.

Source: Based on a talk by Shaykh Wahid Abdussalam Bali

Translation and compilation: Raqi Faisal Ahmed Sabit — Al Qur'an Ruqyah Healing Center