The Shahadah: Confession of Faith in Islam
- Categories: Da'wah to Non-Muslims -
The Shahadah: the first Pillar of
Islam (Declaration of the Islamic Faith):
However, the most
important and fundamental principle of truth in Islam and all
religions is the First Pillar of Islam as embodied in the Belief
and Confession of Islam. This needs further clarification as stated
below.
The Meanings
of Shahadah - Confession of a Muslim:
"La Ilaha Illallah Wa Anna
Muhammadan Rasul Allah" (none has the right to be worshiped but
Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
It is noticed that most of
mankind, who embrace Islam, do not understand the reality of the
meaning of the First fundamental Principle of Islam, i.e. "La Ilaha
Illallah Wa Anna Muhammadan Rasul Allah" (none has the right to be
worshiped but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. So
it is considered essential to explain something of the meanings of
this great principle in some detail:
"La Ilaha Illallah Wa Anna
Muhammadan Rasul Allah"
(None has the right to be
worshiped but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah) has
three aspects: A, B and C.
A.It is that, you have to pledge a
covenant with "Allah", the Creator of the heavens and earth, the
Ruler of all that exists, the Lord of Majesty and Highness on four
points (or conditions):
Point
I: A confession with your
heart that the Creator (of everything) is Allah; it is that you
have to say: "I testify that the Creator of all the universe
including stars, the planets, the sun, the moon the heavens, the
earth with all its known and unknown forms of life, is Allah. He is
the Organizer and Planner of all its affairs. It is He Who gives
life and death, and He (i.e. Allah Alone) is the Sustainer and the
Giver of Security". And this is called (your confession for the
"Oneness of the Lordship of Allah," - Tauhid-ar-Rububiyyah.
Point II:
A confession with your heart
that: I testify that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah
Alone," The word "Worship" (i.e. Ibadah) carries a great number of
meanings in the Islamic terminology: it conveys that all kinds of
worship are meant for Allah Alone and none else, whether it be an
angel, Messenger, Prophet 'Isa (Jesus) - son of Maryam (Mary),
Uzair (Ezra), Muhammad, saint, idol, the sun the moon and all other
kinds of false deities. So pray to none but Allah, invoke none but
Allah, ask for help from none (unseen) but Allah, swear by none but
Allah, offer an animal as sacrifice to none but Allah,…etc.. And
that means, - all that Allah and His Messenger Muhammad (P.B.U.H)
order you to do, (in the Qur'ân and in the Sunnah of Prophet
Muhammad (P.B.U.H) you must do, and all that Allah and His
Messenger Muhammad (P.B.U.H) forbid you, you must not do. And this
is called (your confession for the) "Oneness of the worship of
Allah," - Tauhid-al-Uluhiyyah. And
that you (mankind) worship none but Allah.
Point III:
A confession with your heart
that: "O Allah! I testify that all the best of names and the most
perfect qualities with which You have named or qualified Yourself
in Your Book (i.e. the Qur'ân) or as Your Prophet Muhammad
(P.B.U.H) has named or qualified You with his statement, I believe
that all those (names and qualities) are for You without changing
their meanings or neglecting them completely or likening them
(giving resemblance) to others." As Allah says:
"There is nothing like unto
Him and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer." [42:11]
{لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ
شَيْءٌۖوَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ
الْبَصِيرُ}
Transliteration:
Laysa Kamithlihi Shay'un Wa Huwa As-Samī`u Al-Başīru
This noble verse confirms the
quality of hearing and quality of sight for Allah without likening
them (giving resemblance) to others, and He also says:
"To one whom I have created
with Both My Hands," [38:75]
{لِمَا خَلَقْتُ
بِيَدَيَّ}
Transliteration:
Limā Khalaqtu Biyadayya
And He also says:
"The Hand of Allah is over
their hands." [48:10]
{يَدُ اللَّـهِ فَوْقَ
أَيْدِيهِمْ}
Transliteration:
Yadu Allāhi Fawqa 'Aydīhim
This confirms two Hands for
Allah, but there is no similarity for them. Similarly Allah
says:
"The Most Gracious (Allah)
rose over (Istawa) the (Mighty) Throne." [20:5]
{الرَّحْمَـٰنُ عَلَى
الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَىٰ}
Transliteration:
Ar-Raĥmānu `Alá Al-`Arshi Astawá
So He rose over the Throne
really in a manner that suits His Majesty. And Allah is over His
Throne over the seventh heaven, as the slave-girl pointed towards
the heavens, when Allah's Messenger (Muhammad (P.B.U.H) asked her
as to where Allah is. He only comes down over the first (nearest)
heaven to us during the last third part of every night and also on
the day of Arafah (Hajj, i.e. the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah), as mentioned
by the Prophet (P.B.U.H), but He is with us by His Knowledge only,
not by His Personal-self (Bi-Dhatihi). It is not as some people say
that Allah is present everywhere - here, there, and even inside the
breasts of men. He sees and hears all that we do or utter. And this
is called (your confession for the) Oneness of the Names and
Qualities of Allah" - Tauhid-al-Asma
Was-Sifat and this is the right Belief, the Belief which was
followed by the Messengers of Allah {from Nuh (Noah), Ibrahim
(Abraham), Musa (Moses), Dawud (David, Sulaiman (Solomon), 'Isa
(Jesus) to Muhammad (P.B.U.H) and the Companions of Prophet
Muhammad (P.B.U.H) and righteous followers of these
Messengers,(P.B.U.T).
Point IV:
A confession with your heart:
"O Allah! I testify that Muhammad (P.B.U.H) is Your Messenger."
That means that none has the right to be followed after Allah, but
Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) as he is the last of His Messengers. As
Allah says:
"Muhammad (P.B.U.H) is not the
father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allah and
the last (end) of the Prophets. And Allah is Ever All-Aware of
everything." [33:40]
{مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ
أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن رَّسُولَ اللَّـهِ
وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَۗوَكَانَ اللَّـهُ
بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا}
Transliteration: Mā
Kāna Muĥammadun 'Abā 'Aĥadin Min Rijālikum Wa Lakin Rasūla Allāhi
Wa Khātama An-Nabīyīna Wa Kāna Allāhu Bikulli Shay'in
`Alīmāan
"And whatsoever the Messenger
(Muhammad (P.B.U.H) gives you, take it and whatsoever he forbids
you, abstain from it." [59:7]
{وَمَا آتَاكُمُ
الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُوا}
Transliteration Wa
Mā 'Ātākumu Ar-Rasūlu Fakhudhūhu Wa Mā Nahākum `Anhu Fāntahū
And Allah says:
"Say (O Muhammad (P.B.U.H) to
mankind): 'If you (really, love Allah, then follow me (i.e. accept
Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur'ân and the Sunnah).
[3:31]
{قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ
تُحِبُّونَ اللَّـهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي}
Transliteration:
Qul 'In Kuntum Tuĥibbūna
Allāha Fa Attabi`ūnī
As for others than Muhammad
(P.B.U.H) their statements are to be taken or rejected as to
whether these are in accordance with Allah's Book (i.e. the Qur'ân)
and with the Sunnah (legal ways, orders, acts of worship,
statements) of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) or not. As the Divine
Revelation has stopped after the death of Prophet Muhammad
(P.B.U.H) and it will not resume except at the time of the Descent of Isa
(Jesus) - son of Maryam (Mary) and he (i.e. Jesus) will rule with
justice according to the Islamic laws, during the last days of the
world as it has been mentioned in the authentic Hadith (i.e. narration of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H)
Sahih-Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 2222).
B.
It is essential to utter: "La
Ilaha Illallah Wa Anna Muhammadan Rasul Allah" (none has the right
to be worshiped but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of
Allah). As it has come in the statement of Prophet Muhammad
(P.B.U.H) to his uncle Abu Talib at the time of the latter's death:
"O Uncle, if you utter it "La Ilaha Illallah Wa Anna Muhammadan
Rasul Allah" (none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and that
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah) then I shall be able to argue
on your behalf before Allah, on the Day of
Resurrection."
Similary, when Abu Dharr
Al-Ghifari embraced Islam, he went to Al-Masjid-al-Haram (i.e. the
Holy Mosque in Makkah.) and he proclaimed it loudly in front of the
Quraish infidels until he was beaten severely.
C.
It is essential that the limbs
and all other parts and organs of one's body testify to it, and
this is very important as regards its meaning (i.e. the meaning "La
Ilaha Illallah Wa Anna Muhammadan Rasul Allah" (none has the right
to be worshiped but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of
Allah). So whoever has confessed this (to his Lord), he shall not
commit sins like robbing, killing, stealing, illegal sexual
intercourse, eating pig meat, drinking alcoholic beverages, taking
undue advantage of orphan's property, cheating in trade, bribery
and earning money through illegal means, telling lies, backbiting
etc., or otherwise the limbs and all the other parts and organs of
his body will testify against him that he was a liar in his words
which he pledged to Allah. In case he commits the above sins, he
should know that it is a sin that obliges him to repent to Allah,
and ask His forgiveness, as (his) body (i.e. skin, private parts,
hands, tongue, ears, etc.) will testify to the above mentioned
crimes (i.e. actions) against himself on the Day of
Resurrection.
And with the confession this
great sentence (i.e. principle) a person enters in the fold of the
Islamic religion. Accordingly, it is essential for him to believe
in all the Messengers of Allah and not to differentiate between
them. As it is mentioned in His Book, Allah says:
"Say (O Muhammad) peace be
upon him: We believe in Allah and in what has been sent down to us,
and what was sent down to Ibrahim (Abraham), Ismail (Ishmael),
Ishaq (Isaac), Yaqub (Jacob) and Al-Asbat (the offspring of the
twelve sons of Yaqub (Jacob) and what was given to Musa (Moses),
Isa (Jesus) and the Prophets from their Lord We make no distinction
between one another among them and to Him (Allah) we have submitted
(in Islam)". [3:84]
Transliteration:
Qul 'Āmannā Billāhi Wa Mā 'Unzila `Alaynā Wa Mā 'Unzila `Alá
'Ibrāhīma Wa 'Ismā`īla Wa 'Isĥāqa Wa Ya`qūba Wa Al-'Asbāţi Wa Mā
'Ūtiya Mūsá Wa `Īsá Wa An-Nabīyūna Min Rabbihim Lā Nufarriqu Bayna
'Aĥadin Minhum Wa Naĥnu Lahu Muslimūna
Important
Note:
This confession of Islamic
faith and the acceptance of the righteous deeds depend on the
following two basic conditions which must be
fulfilled:
1) The intentions while doing such deeds must be totally for
Allah's sake only without any show-off or gaining praise or fame
etc.
2) Such a deed must be performed in accordance with Sunnah (legal
ways, orders, acts of worship, statements) of Allah's Messenger
Muhammad bin Abdullah, the last (end) of all the Prophets and the
Messengers (P.B.U.T.).
This introduction is necessary
for anyone who wishes to embrace Islam. After this confession he
(or she) should take a bath (i.e. Ghusl) and then offer a two
Rak'at prayer and act upon the five principles of Islam, as narrated by Ibn 'Umar in the Book, Sahih
Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 8.
The meaning
of Islam, Iman, (faith) and Ihsan (perfection):
Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) narrated: "One day while we were sitting with Allah's
Messenger (P.B.U.H) a man suddenly appeared before us, wearing a
very white dress and having very black hair, without any signs of
journey upon him, and none of us knew him. He approached until he
sat before the Prophet (P.B.U.H) with his knees touching the
Prophet's knees and he placed his hands on his thighs and said: "O
Muhammad inform me about Islam." Allah's Messenger (P.B.U.H)
said:
"Islam: is to bear witness
that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and that
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to offer the Salat, Pay Zakat,
fast during the month of Ramdan and to make Hajj (the pilgrimage to
Makkah) if you are able and have the means to make the journey."
The man said, "You spoke the truth." We were surprised at his
asking and confirming at the same time. He said, "Inform me about
Iman." The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said:
"Iman: is to believe in Allah,
His angels, His Books and Messengers, the Last Day and to believe
in the Divine Preordainment of all that is good and evil." He again
said, "You spoke the truth." He said, "Inform me about Ihsan." He
(P.B.U.H) said:
"Ihsan (perfection) is to
worship Allah as if you see Him; if you cannot see Him, surely He
sees you." He said "Inform me about the Hour (Doomsday)." He
(P.B.U.H) said, "The one asked has no more knowledge of it than the
questioner." He said, "Inform me about its signs." He said, "(Its
signs are) the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress and you
will see the barefooted, naked, impoverished shepherds competing
with each other in tall buildings." Then the stranger left. The
Prophet (P.B.U.H) remained seated for quite a while, then he asked
me, "O 'Umar, do you know who the questioner was?" I said, "Allah
and His Messenger know best." He said, "That was Jibrael, he came
to teach you your religion." (Muslim)