Do we say al-salaamu ‘alayka ayyhu’l-nabiyyu or al-salaam ‘ala al-nabi in the tashahhud?

The scholars of the Standing Committee were asked:

It was narrated that Ibn Mas’ood (radiAllahu 'anhu) said: The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu 'alayhi wa salam) taught me the tashahhud with my hand between his hands, just as he taught me a soorah from the Qur’an: “Al-tahiyyaatu Lillaahi wa’l-salawaatu wa’l-tayyibaat al-salaamu ‘alayka ayyuha’l-nabiyyu… (All compliments, prayers and good words are for Allah, peace be upon you, O Prophet…).” (That was) when he was still among us. When he passed away, we started to say, “al-salaam ‘ala al-nabi (peace be upon the Prophet (salAllahu 'alayhi wa salam)).”

Many people say the latter version and teach others to do likewise. 

Is It Too Much?

In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate.

Surely the prayer is a timed prescription for the believers. (4:103)

Once, a man of considerable age, great stature, and high social position said to me: ‘The prayer is OK, but five times a day is too much; it bores and wearies.’