Musnad Ahmad

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught me the words of Tashahhud just as he would teach a surah of the Noble Qur'an, while my hand was in the blessed hand of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): «التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ» "All verbal, physical, and financial acts of worship are for Allah alone. O Prophet (peace and blessings be upon you)! Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allah descend upon you. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah, and that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His servant and His Messenger." As long as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was among us, we used to say these words. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away, we started saying «السَّلَامُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ».