Description of the Prayer from Its Beginning to Its End
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 1|Book 1|Chapter 46
وَقَالَ رَجُلٌ لِأَمِيرِ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: يَا اِبْنَ عَمِّ خَيْرِ خَلْقِ اَللَّهِ مَا مَعْنَى رَفْعِ رِجْلِكَ اَلْيُمْنَى وَ طَرْحِكَ اَلْيُسْرَى فِي اَلتَّشَهُّدِ قَالَ «تَأْوِيلُهُ اَللَّهُمَّ أَمِتِ اَلْبَاطِلَ وَ أَقِمِ اَلْحَقَّ» قَالَ فَمَا مَعْنَى قَوْلِ اَلْإِمَامِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَقَالَ «إِنَّ اَلْإِمَامَ يُتَرْجِمُ عَنِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ يَقُولُ فِي تَرْجَمَتِهِ لِأَهْلِ اَلْجَمَاعَةِ أَمَانٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ عَذَابِ اَللَّهِ يَوْمَ اَلْقِيَامَةِ.
A man asked Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام: "O’ cousin of the best of Allah’s سبحانه وتعالى creation, what is the meaning of raising your right foot and placing your left during the tashahhud (testimony in prayer)?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Its meaning is: 'O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, let falsehood perish and establish the truth.'" The man then asked: "What is the meaning of the Imam's statement 'Peace be upon you' during the salutation?" Imam Ali عليه السلام replied: "The Imam speaks on behalf of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, and his translation for the people of the congregation is, 'You are granted safety from Allah’s سبحانه وتعالى punishment on the Day of Judgment.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh