The Confession of a Muslim (Shahada)
"Ash Hadu An La Ilaha Illal Lahu Wah Dahu La Shareeka Lahu Wa Ash Hadu An-na Muhammadan 'Abduhu Wa Rasuluhu."
(I testify that there is no deity except Allah alone. And I testify that Muhammad (SAW) is His servant and Messenger)
This great confession means that you have to pledge a convenant with [Allah (SWT)], the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the Ruler of ALL that exists, the Lord of Majesty and Highness, on four conditions:
1st Condition
A confession with your heart that the Creator (of EVERYTHING) is Allah (SWT), it is that you have to say: "I testify that the Creator of all the universe including the 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 (SWT) Alone) is the Sustainer, and the Giver of Security, etc." And this is called (your confession for the) "Oneness of the Lordship of Allah (SWT)," Tawheed ar-Rububiyya.
Confession 2
A confession with your heart that the Creator (of everything) is Allah (SWT), it is that you have to say: "I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah (SWT) Alone." The word "Worship" (i.e. ibadah) carries a great number of meanings in the Arabic language: It conveys that all kinds of worship are meant for Allah (SWT) (and none else, whether it be an angel, Messenger, Prophet Jesus (AS) - son of Mary (AS), Ezra (AS), Muhammad (SAW), saint, idol, the sun, the moon and all other kinds of false dieties). So pray to none but Allah (SWT), invoke none but Allah (SWT), offer an animal as sacrifice to none but Allah (SWT), …etc. and that means, - ALL that Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (SAW) order you to do, (in His Book, The Quran and in the Sunnah [legal ways of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)] you MUST do, and all that Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (SAW) forbid you, you MUST NOT do. And this is called (your confession for that) "Oneness of the worship of Allah (SWT)," Tawheed-al-Uluhiyya. And that you (mankind) worship none but Allah (SWT).
Condition 3
A confession of the heart that you have to say: "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 Quran) or as Your Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has named or qualified You, with his statemnt, I confirm that all those (names and qualifications) are for You without changing their meanings or neglecting them completely or giving resemblance to others." As Allah (SWT) said,
"There is nothing like unto Him and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer." (Ash-Shura 42:11)
This Holy verse confirms the quality of hearing and the quality of sight of Allah (SWT) without resemblance to others, and likewise. He (SWT) also said,
"…To one whom I have created with Both My Hands…" (Sad 38:75)
and He (SWT) also said,
"…The Hand of Allah is over their hands…" (Al-Fath 48:10)
This confirms two Hands for Allah (SWT), but there is NO similarity for them (i.e. we can NOT imagine what they look like or HOW they are). Similarly Allah (SWT) said,
"The Most Beneficient (Allah) Istawa (rose over) the (Mighty) Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty)." (Ta-Ha 20:5)
So He (SWT) rose over the Throne really in a manner that suits His Majesty. And Allah (SWT) is over His Throne over the seventh heaven, as the slave-girl pointed towards the heavens, when Allah’s Messenger (SAW) asked her as to where Allah (SWT) is? He only comes down over the first (nearest) heaven to us on the day of ‘Arafat (Hajj, i.e. the 9th of Dhul Hijjah), and also during the last third part of the night as mentioned by the Prophet (SAW), but He (SWT) is with us by His Knowledge only, not by His Personal-Self (Bi-Dhatihi). It is not like that, as some people say that Allah (SWT) is present everywhere here, there, and even inside the breasts of men. He (SWT) sees and hears all that we do or utter, etc. And this is called (your confession for the) "Oneness of the Names and Qualities of Allah" Tawheed-al-Asma was-Sifat and this is the right Faith, the faith which was followed by the Messengers of Allah (AS) [from Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus (AS) to Muhammad (SAW) and the companions of Muhammad (SAW)] and the righteous followers of these Messengers (AS).
Confession 4
A confession with your heart that you have to say: "O Allah! I testify that Muhammad (SAW) is Your Messenger." that means that none has the right to be followed after Allah (SWT), but Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as he is the last of His Messengers. As Allah (SWT) said,
"Muhammad (SAW) 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." (Al-Ahzab 33:40)
"…And whatsover the Messenger [Muhammad (SAW)] gives you, take it and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it)… " (Al-Hashr 59:7)
And Allah (SWT) said,
"Say (O Muhammad (SAW) to mankind): ‘If you (really) love Allah, then follow me...’" (Al-Imran 3:31)
As for others than Muhammad (SAW), their statements are to be taken or rejected as to whether these are in accordance with Allah’s (SWT) Book (i.e. the Quran) or with the Sunnah (legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements, etc.) of the Prophet (SAW), (i.e. Sunnah or not). As the Divine Inspiration has stopped after the death of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and it will not resume except at the time of the Descent of Jesus (AS), son of Mary (AS) and he [i.e. Jesus (AS)] 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 (SAW). (Sahih Bukhari)
It is essential to utter, La ilaha ill Allah, Muhammad-ur-Rasul Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah (SWT), and Muhammad (SAW) is the Messenger of Allah). As it has come in the statement of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to his uncle Abu Talib at the time of the latter’s death: "O uncle, if you utter it (La ilaha ill Allah, Muhammad-ur-Rasul Allah, none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and Muhammad (SAW) is the Messenger of Allah), then I shall be able to argue on your behalf before Allah, on the Day of Resurrection." Similarly, when Abu Dhar Al-Ghiffari (RA) embraced Islam, he went to Al-Masjid-al-Haram and he proclaimed it loudly in front of the Quraish infidels until he was beaten severely.
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 of (La ilaha ill Allah, Muhammad-ur-Rasul Allah, none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and Muhammad (SAW) is the Messenger of Allah). So whoever has confessed this (with 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, back-biting, etc., or otherwise the limbs, all other parts and organs of his body will testify against him that he was a liar in his words which he pledged to Allah (SWT). In case he commits the above sins, he should know that it is a sin that obliges him to repent to Allah (SWT), and ask His Forgiveness, as (his) body parts (i.e. skin, private parts, hands, tongue, ears, etc.) will testify to the above mentioned crimes (i.e. actions) against his self on the Day of Resurrection.
And with the confession of this great sentence (i.e. principle) a person enters into the fold of (i.e. Embraces) the Islamic religion accordingly, it is essential for him to believe in all the Messengers of Allah (AS) and not to differentiate between them. As it is mentioned in His Book, Allah (SWT) said,
"Do then those who disbelieve think that they can take MY slaves (i.e. the angels; Allah’s Messengers Jesus, son of Mary, etc.) as ‘Auliya (lords, gods, protectors, etc.) besides Me? Verily, We have prepared Hell as an entertainment for the disbelievers (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism). Say [O Muhammad (SAW)]: ‘Shall We tell you the greatest losers in respect of (their) deeds?’ Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life, while they thought they were acquiring good by their deeds?"
"They are those who deny the Ayat (proof, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of their Lord and the meeting with Him (in the Hereafter). So their words are in vain, and on the Day of Resurrections, We shall not give them any weight."
"That shall be their recompense, Hell; because they disbelieved and took My Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, revelations, etc.) and My Messengers by way of jest and mockery."
"Verily! Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds, they shall have the Gardens of Al-Firdaus (Paradise) for their entertainment."
"Wherein they shall dwell (forever). No desire will they have to be removed therefrom."
"Say (O Muhammad (SAW) to mankind): If the sea were ink for (writing) the Words of my Lord, surely the sea would be exhausted before the Words of my Lord would be finished even if We brought (another sea) like it for its aid."
"Say [O Muhammad (SAW)]: I am only a man like you, it has been inspired to me that your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God, - i.e. Allah). So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord." (Al-Khaf 18:102-110)
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 Rakat prayer, and act upon the five principles of Islam, as narrated by Umar (RA) in the Book, Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Hadith No.7,
Narrated Ibn Umar (RA): Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said:
Islam is based on the following FIVE (principles):
1. To testify La ilaha ill Allah wa anna Muhammad-ur-Rasul-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah (SWT) and that Muhammad (SAW) is Allah’s Messenger).
2. To OFFER the (compulsory) prayers DUTIFULLY and PERFECTLY (Iqamat-as-Salat). (i.e. OFFER DUTIFULLY and PEFECTLY does not mean sometimes when you get the chance, it means EVERYDAY, FIVE TIMES, ON TIME at their STATED fixed times!!!)
3. To PAY Zakat. (i.e. yes it DOES say PAY PAY PAY!!!)
4. To perform Hajj (i.e. pilgrimage to Makkah once in a lifetime if one can afford it).
5. To OBSERVE fast during the month of Ramadan. (i.e. OBSERVE means DO IT!!!)
One must also believe in the six articles of Faith:
1. Allah (SWT)
2. His Angels
3. His Messengers (AS)
4. His revealed Books
5. the Day of Resurrection, and
6. Al-Qadar (Divine Preordainment’s i.e. whatever Allah (SWT) has ordained must come to pass).]
IMPORTANT NOTE
The acceptance of the righteous deeds is stipulated with the following two basic conditions which MUST be fulfilled:
1. The intentions while doing such deeds must be TOTALLY for Allah’s (SWT) sake ONLY without ANY show off or gaining praise or fame, etc.
2. Such a deed must be performed in accordance with the Sunnah (legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements, etc.) of Allah’s Messenger, Muhammad bin Abdullah (SAW), the last (END) of ALL the Prophets and the Messengers (AS).
Information from
Interpretation of the Meanings of The Noble Quran
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