Tashahhud (Testimony of Faith in Prayer)

Tashahhud (Arabic: تشهد) is the testimony of faith recited in the sitting position after the second sujud in the second and final rak'ah of the prayer. The word comes from "shahadah" (testimony) and contains the declaration of Allah's oneness and Prophet Muhammad's prophethood.

In Shia Islam, the tashahhud reads: "Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wahdahu la sharika lah. Wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh. Allahumma salli ala Muhammad wa ali Muhammad." (I bear witness that there is no god except Allah, Alone without partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. O Allah, bless Muhammad and Muhammad's family.) The addition of "wa ali Muhammad" (and Muhammad's family) is a central element in the Shia tashahhud, based on narrations from Ahl al-Bayt.

Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him) said: "When one of you sits for tashahhud, he should say: 'Bismillah wa billah, al-hamdulillah wa khayr al-asma'i lillah...'" (Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih by Shaykh al-Saduq, vol. 1). The complete Shia tashahhud includes praise of Allah, testimony to His oneness, testimony of the Prophet's mission, and salawat (blessings) upon the Prophet and his household.

Tashahhud is obligatory (wajib) in the second rak'ah and in the last rak'ah of any prayer. If one forgets tashahhud and rises to the next rak'ah, one should, according to Shia fiqh, complete the prayer and then perform two sujud sahw (prostrations of forgetfulness) after the prayer's conclusion.