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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Questions On the Third Testimony Tashahhud of the Holy Imam Ali Al Ridha (a.s.) MUSTADRAK AL WASSAIL - VOL 2 H5 It is in Fiqh Al Ridha (a.s.) that in the fourth cycle of the prayer he (a.s.) used to recite the following as well in Tashahhud I bear witness that You (s.w.t.) are the best Nourisher and Muhammad (s.a.w.) is the best Messenger and Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) is the best Trustee.

Surely, for the Shia, one statement of any one of the Holy Infallibles (a.s.) would prove to be sufficient. There is no need to give proof upon proof for the Shia. The others would rather act upon the instruction of the Imams other than the twelve Divine Imams of the Holy Ahl Ul Bayt (a.s.). SO WHY HAVE THEY TOLD US TO RECITE ONLY TWO TESTIMONIES?

Okay so I consider that, surely there must be some evidence to suggest that the Namaaz that we have been taught to us, with only two testimonies, is correct. Yes there is, but it has been misconstrued. AL KAFI VOL 2 P 547 (The narrator) said: 'I asked Abu Ja'far (a.s.): 'What is the minimum acceptable in Tashahhud?' He (a.s.) replied: 'Two testimonies'.

As you can clearly see, in this Hadeeth, which is being used to justify the recitation of two testimonies in preference to three, the question is quite clear - What is the MINIMUM that is acceptable? The answer is also quite clear - TWO. So, what is the maximum? AL KAFI VOL 3 P 337 And in another narration from Safwan from Mansoor from Bakr Bin Habib says that I said to Abu Ja'far (a.s.): 'What shall I say in Tashahhud and in Qunoot?' He (a.s.) replied: 'Say the best of what you have learnt.

If it had been fixed, the people would have perished!' Tashahhud is clearly not fixed, for had it been so, we would have perished. Is this because if it had been fixed at three, then the oppressive governments of the adversaries would have put us to death for this? We, the Shiites have been killed for things even less that this, in history. Is this because if it had been fixed at two, the value of our Namaaz would have not been worthy of mention on the Day of Judgment?

And so what is the best - two or three? Why are they forcing us to fix it at two? Who are they to fix it when the Holy Infallibles (a.s.) have clearly left it unfixed? CONCLUSION Let us now look at these three Hadeeth once again for the conclusion.