[Q 480] Adding “Sayyidunā” in Durood Sharif and Tashahhud

QUESTION:

What is the ruling on adding the word “Sayyidunā” (our master) before the blessed name of the Holy Prophet ﷺ in Durood Sharif and Tashahhud?

ANSWER:

When reciting Durood Sharif (salutations upon the Prophet ﷺ) in ṣalāh (prayer), adding the word Sayyidunā (our master) before the blessed name of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ is afḍal (more virtuous), as it expresses additional adab (respect) and taʿẓīm (honour), which is desired and praiseworthy in Sharī‘ah.

However, since the words of the Tashahhud are manṣūṣ (explicitly established by ḥadīth), the scholars have stated that it is not permissible to add or omit any words within it. Therefore, in the Tashahhud, only the exact words transmitted in the aḥādīth should be recited, without any addition.

It is stated in Radd al-Muḥtār:

“وَالأَفْضَلُ الإِتْيَانُ بِلَفْظِ السِّيَادَةِ كَمَا قَالَهُ ابْنُ ظَهِيرِيَّةَ، وَصَرَّحَ بِهِ جَمْعٌ، وَبِهِ أَفْتَى الشَّارِحُ لِأَنَّ فِيهِ الإِتْيَانَ بِمَا أُمِرْنَا بِهِ، وَزِيَادَةَ الإِخْبَارِ بِالْوَاقِعِ الَّذِي هُوَ أَدَبٌ، فَهُوَ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ تَرْكِهِ.”

(Radd al-Muḥtār, Vol. 2, Page 274, Quetta edition)

Translation: “And it is more virtuous to use the title of leadership (Sayyid) as stated by Ibn Zuhayriyyah, and a group of scholars have explicitly mentioned it. The commentator (Ibn ‘Ābidīn) also issued a fatwa upon it because doing so fulfils what we have been commanded, and it additionally expresses a truthful statement of respect, which is etiquette. Therefore, it is more virtuous than omitting it.”

In Bahār-e-Sharīʿat, it is mentioned:
“In Durood Sharif, it is better to say the word Sayyidunā (our master) along with the blessed names of the Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) and Sayyidunā Ibrāhīm (عليه السلام).”

(Bahār-e-Sharīʿat, Vol. 1, Part 3, Page 531, Maktaba-tul-Madīnah)

Mufti Muhammad Amjad ‘Alī A‘ẓamī رحمہ الله تعالى states after mentioning the Tashahhud:
“Nothing should be added to or omitted from it. These are the exact words that form the Tashahhud.”

(Bahār-e-Sharīʿat, Vol. 1, Part 3, Page 505, Maktaba-tul-Madīnah)

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 26th October 2025