What is the ruling on the prayer of someone who says in their middle and final Tashahhud, "Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah," without "and His blessings," and says, "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," without "alone without partner"? And what is the sufficient wording for each of the middle and final Tashahhud?

The scholars have two forms of Tashahhud (testification of faith) in prayer: an obligatory one and a recommended one.

As for the obligatory one: It is the sufficient and agreed-upon minimum. If the worshipper omits a word that is omitted in some narrations, his Tashahhud is valid. The minimum sufficient Tashahhud is: "All greetings are for Allah, peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah, peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger," or "that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." It is better not to omit "and all prayers and good things" because it is affirmed in all narrations.

As for the recommended one: It is to recite the Tashahhud in its entirety, using any of the forms narrated from the Prophet (peace be upon him), and varying between them.

The first Tashahhud does not differ from the second except by the addition of the Salat (prayer) upon the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the second. The minimum sufficient Salat is "O Allah, bless Muhammad," but it is better to adhere to the narrated wording such as: "O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim, indeed You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, grant favors to Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You granted favors to Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim, indeed You are Praiseworthy and Glorious." Even if one does not recite it at all, his prayer is valid, as it is not obligatory according to the preponderant opinion.