There is a lot of talk in chat rooms about the story of the tashahhud. The author of the article about it calls on people to focus on their prayer and to think of the background of the story of the tashahhud.
In this article it says that the dialog in the tashahhud began with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when he was travelling in the company of Jibril (peace be upon him) on his way to Sidrat Al-Muntaha (the most remote lote tree), during the Mi`raj (his miraculous ascent to heaven).
At some place, Jibril (peace be upon him) stopped and the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to him: Is it here that a close friend leaves his friend? Jibril (peace be upon him) said: Each of us has a known position, O Messenger of Allah. If you go forward you will be fine but if I go forward I will be burned. And Jibril (peace be upon him) became like a worn-out saddle cloth out of fear of Allah.
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) went on to Sidrat Al-Muntaha and drew close to it, then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “At-tahiyyatu Lillahi wa’s-salawatu wa’t-tayyibat (All compliments, prayers and pure words are due to Allah).” The Lord of Glory replied: “Al-salamu `alayka ayyuha’n-Nabiyyu wa rahmat-Allahi wa barakatuhu (Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings).” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied: “As-salamu `alayna wa `ala `ibad-Illah is-salihin (Peace be upon us, and on the righteous slaves of Allah).” Jibril (peace be upon him) – or it was said: the angels who are close to Allah – said: “Ash-hadu an la ilaha ill-Allah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasul-Allah (I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah).”
Do we think of this sublime dialog when we recite the tashahhud? Do we feel that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) remembered us there at Sidrat Al-Muntaha? Was it because of his compassion that he remembered us there?
How much we love you, O Messenger of Allah. How much we wish that we could see you in our dreams, even if you are rebuking us. What matters is having the joy of seeing you. May Allah send blessings upon you, O my Beloved, O Messenger of Allah.
After this, will you recite the tashahhud as you used to recite it before? After this will you send blessings upon the Messenger of Allah in As-Salah Al-Ibraheemiyyah with the same apathy?
After this, will you not send many blessings upon your beloved, Prophet Muhammad? You will certainly be rewarded if you send blessings upon him, but you will not be sinning if you do not. So do you want reward?
O Allah, have mercy on the reader and the publisher of this message, and make him one of those whom You ransom from the Fire.