Shahada: Confession of a Muslim. The significance
Shahada: Confession of a Muslim Dr. Muhammed Taqi-udin Al- Hilali
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 IV: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):
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:
(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).]
Posted from appendix of the book The Noble Quran by. Dr.Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al-Hilali, Ph.D. & Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan
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