Shahada:Confession of a Muslim
by Dr. Muhammed Taqi-udin Al- Hilali
Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem
"PIVOTAL QUOTE"
And with the confession of this Great Sentence (i.e. Principle) a person enters in the fold of (i.e. embraces) the Islamic Religion accordingly, it is essential for him to believe in all the Messengers of Allaah and not to differentiate between them.
La ilaha ill Allaah, Muhammad-ur- Rasul-Allaah
[None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah, and Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam = May the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is the Messenger of Allaah ].
We have noticed that most of the Europeans and others, who embrace Islam, do not understand the reality of the meaning of the first fundamental principle of Islam, i.e. "La ilaha ill Allaah (None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah - and Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) is the Messenger of Allaah." So I consider it essential to explain something of the meanings of this Great Sentence (i.e. Principle) in some detail:
La ilaha ill Allaah, Muhammad-ur-: Rasulullah
"None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah ..... and Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) is the Messenger of Allaah" It has three aspects : A, B and C.
Aspect A: It is that, you have. to pledge a covenant with (Allaah), 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 1: A confession with your heart that the-Creator (of everything) is Allaah, 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 Allaah.. He is the Organizer and Planner of all its affairs. It is He Who gives life and death, and He (i.e. .Allaah -Alone) is the Sustainer, and the Giver of Security, etc. "And this is called your confession for the Oneness of the Lordship of Allaah," -- "TAUHID Ar-Rububiyya".
Point 2: A confession with your heart that you have to say: "I testify that: None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah 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 Allaah (and none .else, whether it be an angel, Messenger, Prophet, Jesus-son of Mary, Ezra, Muhammad, saint, idol, the sun, the moon and all other kinds of false deities). So pray to none but Allaah, invoke none but Allaah, ask for help from none (unseen) but Allaah, swear by none but Allaah, offer an animal as sacrifice to none but Allaah,...etc., and that means - all what Allaah and His Messenger (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) order you to do, (in His Book. The Qur'an and in the As-Sunna (Legal ways of Prophet Muhammad , sallalahu alayhi wa sallam ) you must do, and all that Allaah and His Messenger (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) forbid you, you must not do." And this is called (your confession for the) "Oneness of the Worship of Allaah."-- "Tauhid Al-Uluhiyya''. And that you (mankind) worship none but Allaah.
Point 3: A confession with your heart that you have to say: "O Allaah! 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'an) or as Your Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) has named or qualified You, with his statement,"
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 Allaah said: "There is nothing like unto Him and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer." (Qur'an 42:11).
This Holy Verse confirms the quality of hearing and the quality of sight for Allaah without resemblance to others (the creation), and likewise.
He also said: "To one whom I have created with Both My Hands," ( Qur'an 38:75).
and
He also said: "The Hand of Allaah is over their hands." (Qur'an 48: 10)
This confirms two Hands for Allaah, but there is no similarity (i.e. they are NOT like human hands) for them. Similarly >
Allaah said: "The Most Beneficent (Allaah) "Istawa" (rose over) the (Mighty) Throne." (Qur'an 20:5).
So He rose over the Throne really in a manner that suits His Majesty. And
Allaah is over His Throne over the seventh Heaven, as the slave-girl pointed towards the Heavens, when Allaah's Messenger (Muhammad sallalahu alayhi wa sallam ) asked her as to where Allaah is?
He only comes down over the first (nearest) Heaven to us on the Day of 'Arafat (Hajj, i.e. the 9th of Dhul-Hijja), and also during the last third part of the night as mentioned by the
Prophet (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam), but He is with us by His Knowledge only, not by His Personal-Self (bidhatihi). It is not like that, as some people say that Allaah is present everywhere, here. there, and even inside the breasts of men.
He 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 Allaah" "Tauhid Al-Asma was-Sifat" and this is the Right Faith, the faith which was followed by the Messengers of Allaah (from Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus to Muhammad ( peace of Allaah be upon them all) and the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) and the righteous followers of these Messengers (peace of Allaah be upon them all).
Point 4:A confession with your heart that you have to say: "O Allaah! I testify that Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) is Your Messenger." That means that none has the right to be followed after Allaah. but the Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam), as he is the Last of His Messengers. As Allaah said:
"Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) is not the father of any man among you but he is the Messenger of Allaah and the last (end) of the Prophets and Allaah is Ever All-Aware of everything" ( Qur'an 33:40).
"And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam ) gives you, take it and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain from it,"(Qur'an 59:7).
And Allaah said: "Say (O Muhammad, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam, to mankind): If you (really) love Allaah, then follow me." (Qur'an 3:31).
As for others than Muhammad ( sallalahu alayhi wa sallam ), their statements are to be taken or rejected as to whether these are in accordance with Allaah's Book (i.e. the Qur'an) or with the Sunna (legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements, etc.) of the Prophet (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) or not. As the Divine Inspiration has stopped after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) and it will not resume except at the time of the Descent of Jesus, son of 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 the Prophet Muhammad, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam ]
[sahih-Al-Bukhari Vol. 3, Hadith No. 425]
Aspect B:. It is essential to utter,
"La ilaha ill Allaah, Muhammad-ur-Rasul Allaah"
["None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah, and Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) is the Messenger of Allaah "].
As it has come in the statement of the Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) to his uncle Abu Talib at the time of the latter's death: "O uncle, if you utter it ('None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah, and Muhammad, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam, is the Messenger of Allaah'), then I shall be able to argue on your behalf before Allaah, on the Day of Resurrection." Similarly, when Abu Dhar Al-Ghifari 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.
Aspect 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 of "None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah. and Muhammad, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam, is the Messenger of Allaah"].
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. 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 Allaah. In case he commits the above sins, he should know that it is a sin that obliges him to repent to Allaah, 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 in the fold of (i.e. embraces) the Islamic Religion accordingly, it is essential for him to believe in all the Messengers of Allaah and not to differentiate between them. As it is mentioned in His Book,
Allaah said: "Do then those who disbelieve think that they can take My Slaves (i.e. the angels; Allaah'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 Allaah--Islamic Monotheism). Say (O Muhammad, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam): 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".
"Those are they who deny the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of their Lord and in the meeting with Him (in the Hereafter). So their works are in vain, and on the Day of Resurrection, 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 Allaah Islamic--Monotheism), and do righteous deeds, they shall have the gardens of Al-Firdaus (Paradise) for their entertainment."
"Wherein they shall dwell (for ever). No desire will they have to be removed there from."
"Say ( O Muhammad, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam ! to Mankind): If the sea were ink ( with which to write) 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, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam ), I am only a man like you, it has been inspired to me that your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God -- i.e. Allaah). 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." (The Qur'an 18: 102-1 10).
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 (may Allaah be pleased with him) in the Book, Sahih Al-Bukhari. Vol. I Hadith No.7 : Narrated Ibn 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him), Allaah's Messenger , sallalahu alayhi wa sallam, said: Islam is based on (the following five (principles):
1. To testify La ilaha ill Allaah wa anna Muhammad-ar-Rasul Allaah (None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah and that Muhammad, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam, is Allaah's Messenger).
2. To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly (Iqamat-as -Salat).
3. To pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory charity).
4. To perform Hajj (i.e. Pilgrimage to Makka).
5. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan.
and must believe in the six Articles of Faith, i.e. to believe in:
(I) Allaah,
(2) His Angels,
(3) His Messengers,
(4) His Revealed Books,
(5) the Day of Resurrection, and
(6) Al-Qadar (Divine Preordainments i.e. whatever Allaah has ordained must come to pass).]
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