Ruling on Reciting Durood Sharif in the First Tashahhud

Question

In the first Tashahhud, should the worshipper only recite the Tashahhud or can he also recite Durood Sharif?

Answer

الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!

In the units of prayer which are three or four, it is preferable to limit oneself during the first Tashahhud to the following words only:
«التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْکَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِیُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَکَاتُهُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَی عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصَّالِحِينَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ»

Translation:
All verbal acts of worship are for Allah, all physical and financial acts of worship are also for Allah alone. O Prophet, peace be upon you, may Allah’s mercy and blessings descend upon you. Peace be upon us and upon Allah’s righteous servants as well. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and Muhammad, peace be upon him, is Allah’s servant and His Messenger.

The ruling on reciting Durood Sharif

It is best to limit oneself to only these words in the first Tashahhud.
However, if someone recites the following Durood Shareef at this point, there is no objection:
«اللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَی آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ کَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَی إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَی آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّکَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللّٰهُمَّ بَارِکْ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَی آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ کَمَا بَارَکْتَ عَلَی إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَی آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّکَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ»

Translation:
O Allah! Send mercy upon Muhammad ﷺ and his family, as You sent mercy upon Ibrahim (Abraham) and his family. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.
O Allah! Send blessings upon Muhammad ﷺ and his family, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and his family. Indeed, You are Worthy of Praise, Great and Glorious.

Scholars’ Disagreement

◈ Some scholars have considered reciting Durood Sharif in the first Tashahhud as mustahabb (recommended act).
◈ But the more correct view seems to be that it is more appropriate to limit oneself to the words “At-tahiyyatu…” in the first Tashahhud.
◈ However, if someone recites Durood Sharif as well, it is permissible and there is no harm in it.
◈ Especially when the Imam sits for a longer time in Tashahhud, in that case, reciting Durood Sharif is better.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب