تشهد
tashahhud
tashahhud is the Arabic term for the act of reciting the testimony of faith during the Islamic prayer.
The term refers specifically to the sitting portion of the Islamic prayer (Salah) where the declaration of faith is recited. A formal recitation of the tashahhud includes several key phrases: التحيات لله (All greetings, blessings and good deeds are due to Allah), السلام عليك أيها النبي (Peace be upon you, O Prophet), السلام علينا و على عباد الله الصالحين (Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah), أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله (I bear witness that there is no God but Allah) and وأشهد أن محمداً رسول الله (I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah).
How do you pronounce it?
tashahhud
Did you know?
- While tashahhud is a ritual in prayer, the word is also used in legal contexts to refer to the act of giving a formal testimony or witness statement in court.
- In some traditions, the tashahhud is performed by pointing the right index finger toward the Qibla, a gesture symbolizing the oneness of God.
- Because the tashahhud involves addressing the Prophet, some scholars debate whether the phrase is a prayer to God or a direct greeting to the Prophet.
