The Shahaadah - Testimony of Faith (Part 1)

The Testimony of Faith

"La ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah"

What Does It Mean?

This is the first principle in the belief in Tawheed (Oneness and Uniqueness of Allah). Allah is One in His Lordship, One in His Godship and One and Unique in His Actions and Names and Attributes. Nothing is like Allah. When someone accepts Allah as the only true God Who deserves to be worshipped, then he must negate all worship to anyone (or anything) other than Allah. This is the meaning of laa ilaaha illal-laah: “There is no true God but Allah.” It is composed of negation and affirmation statements. The statement “but Allah” confirms that Allah is the only true God who deserves to be worshipped.

Allah is All-Just and All-Wise. He created us and wants us to know of Him and worship Him alone. He doesn’t leave us without guidance. This is part of His Mercy. He, Most Exalted, sent Messengers and Prophets to convey a single message: man must submit to the Will of His Creator, Allah, and worship none but Him.

This is the essence of Islam. It is the same message conveyed by Adam, Ibrahim (Abraham), Moosa (Moses), ‘Eesa (Jesus) and finally to mankind until the Day of Resurrection by Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon them all). These Messengers and Prophets were created human beings. They were not divine. In the final revelation to all mankind, man is called to testify that: “There is no true God but Allah and Muhammad is the true Messenger of Allah.” This testimony is the key to Paradise. But there is no key except that it has ridges. If you come with the key that has the right ridges, the door will open for you, otherwise it will not. In order to achieve Paradise through this testimony, one must fulfill certain conditions that constitute the “right ridges” for this key statement. These conditions are:

1. Knowledge (Al-'Ilm)

Knowledge of Allah and knowledge about the nature, concepts and methodology of worship are essential to the practice as well as the understanding of Islam. The beneficial knowledge is the one that leads to complete disassociation from false deities and to the devotion of intentions to Allah alone. Allah, the Most High, says:

“And know that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and ask forgiveness for your sins, and also for the sin of believing men and believing women. And Allah knows well your moving about, and your place of rest in your home” (47:19).

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

“He who died knowing (fully well) that there is no true God worthy of being worshipped except Allah entered al-Jannah (Paradise).” [Collected by Muslim].

2. Certainty (Al-Yaqeen)

The testimony has to be made without any suspicion regarding its meaning. Allah, the Exalted, says:

“Only those are the believers who have believed in Allah and His Messenger and never since doubted”. (49:15).

The Prophet (PBUH) said:

“I bear witness that there is no true God worthy of being worshipped except Allah, and I am His Messenger. The slave of Allah who would meet Him without harboring any doubt about his (testimony) would enter al -Jannah (Paradise).”[Collected by Muslim].

3. Purity and Sincerity (Al-Ikhlaas)

The intention of accepting Islam and performing all acts of worship must be purely devoted to Allah:

“Say, (O Muhammad): Verily, I am commanded to worship Allah (alone) by obeying Him and doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah’s sake only and not to show off, and not to set up rivals with Allah in worship.” (39:11).

So, when one declares this testimony, he should be doing so solely for the sake of Allah, not for anyone else. Purity and sincerity is the opposite of Shirk (associating others in that which is due to Allah alone). The one who proclaims this Shahadah (testimony) for any worldly gain has failed to meet this condition of sincerity of worship and has failed to meet Allah’s command, when He says:

“Worship Allah, making the Religion pure and sincere for Him.”(39:14)

The Prophet (PBUH) said:

“Allah has forbidden the Fire upon one who says laa ilaaha illal-laah seeking by this
the Face of Allah.” [An agreed upon hadith].

4. Truthfulness (As-Sidq)

Truthfulness paves the way for a meaningful understanding of this declaration. It strengthens the drive of man towards achieving knowledge about his Creator, Allah. The hypocrites utter the declaration, but they conceal rejection in their hearts:

“They said with their tongues what is not in their Hearts.” (48:11).

The heart is like the king and the limbs are the soldiers. The Prophet (PBUH) said:

“Truly there is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed) the whole
body becomes good but if it gets spoilt the whole body becomes spoilt.” [Part of a hadith collected by Al-Bukhaaree & Muslim].

When the love of Allah fills the heart, truthfulness and honesty fill it too, but when desire gets to the heart, the way for corruption and hypocrisy becomes opened and man will utter what is not really in his heart. The whole and sound heart is the one free from: a) association of anyone /anything in the worship of Allah, b) false pride and arrogance c) envy d) misery e) love for this life f) love for leadership and domination g) lust h) bid’ah (innovation in religion) This is the kind of heart that fulfills the declaration of Shahadah. This is known in the Qur’an as "Al-Qalb as-Saleem,"the clean, sound, safe and whole heart,” and it is the thing that really counts on the Day of Reckoning:

“The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail except him who brings to Allah a clean heart.”(26: 88-89).

5. Love (Al-Mahabah)

Love means:
a) to love Allah and His Messenger, Muhammad (), more than all else.
b) To love what Allah and His Messenger () love.
c) To hate or dislike what Allah and His Messenger () hate or dislike in all matters that are related to Islam.

The Prophet (PBUH) said:

“Whoever possesses (the following) three qualities will relish the sweetness (delight) of Eemaan (Faith): The one to whom Allah and His Messenger () becomes dearer than anything else; that he loves a person for Allah alone (i.e. to purely seek Allah and His Pleasure); that he hates to revert to Kufr (disbelief) after Allah has rescued him from it as he hates to be thrown into Hell.” [Collected by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim].

The love of Allah and His Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) must be translated into following their orders. This negates following innovators and/or their innovations, those who introduce concepts and/or ways that are not according to Islamic teachings: like the mystics of Sufism and their so-called "Tareeqas (ways)" which have nothing to do with Islam. Their ideas originated from Hindu concepts. They elevate their Sufi Sheikhs and leaders (Aqtab) to divine levels. Similarly, the
Raafidhah (Rejectionist Shia) elevate 'Ali and other members of the household of the Prophet () to divine levels, invoking them besides, or to the exclusion of Allah:

"And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe love Allah more (than anything else)." (2:165)

In the following narration, Abdullah bin Mas'ud () said:

"The Prophet () said one statement and I said another. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Whoever dies while still invoking anything other than Allah as a rival to Allah, will enter Hell (Fire)." And I said, "Whoever dies without invoking anything as a rival to Allah, will enter Al-Jannah (Paradise)." [Collected by Al-Bukhaaree].

The Love of Allah and His Message of Islam is related to the Knowledge of Him and of His Names and Attributes. The more the person knows of Allah, the love of Him becomes stronger. This makes the believer eager to meet Allah, see Him, and listen to His Words in the Hereafter. This becomes the goal and all the worldly attachment gets weaker and weaker. The spirit is lifted up. It aims high towards its Creator. It would not trap itself on any road that would lead to other than the submission to Allah alone. The person becomes motivated to comply with Allah’s command to the best of his abilities. This produces the true happiness in this life and in the Hereafter.

6. Compliance (Al-Inqiyaad)

The testimony is fulfilled by obedience to Allah and His Messenger Muhammad () and by safeguarding against what Allah forbids:

“Whoever submits his face to Allah (i.e. follow Islam), while he is doing good (i.e. obey Allah and His Messenger Muhammad () in all respects) has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold” (31:22).

The compliance to the declaration of the Shahadah must be free of hesitation. Rather it is a matter of full submission. This is well illustrated in the saying of Allah:

“It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and his Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and his Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error.”[33:36].

The decrees of Allah and His Messenger are not subject to human evaluation. The Message is a Revelation. What it contains is for the benefit of man. Therefore, man’s submission in Islam is for his own good.

7. Acceptance (al-Qubool)

It is not enough to recognize the greatness of Islam and that it is the Truth, but this recognition must be ascertained by humble acceptance and humility. The adherence to the meaning of this declaration safeguards the believer from false pride, arrogance and disdainfulness:

“Truly when it was said to them: laa ilaaha illal-laah (None has the right to be worshipped but Allah), they puffed themselves up with pride (i.e. denied it).”(37:35).

The Muslim must realize that this declaration stands against bigoted and blind imitation and calls for an acceptance of the teachings of Islam according to the understanding of those who followed the correct path. They are the companions and those who follow their footsteps until the day of resurrection. This path is known as the Path of as-Salafus-Saalih (righteous predecessors). The Prophet () gave amazing parables for those who accept and those who reject the guidance and teachings of Islam. He said:

“The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which was fertile soil that absorbed rain water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance. (And) another portion of it was hard and held the rain water and Allah benefited the people with it and they utilized it for drinking, making their animals drink from it and for irrigation of the land for cultivation. (And) a portion of it was barren which could neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation (then that land gave no benefit). The first is the example of the person who comprehends Allah’s religion and gets benefit (from knowledge) which Allah has revealed through me (the Prophet) and learns and then teaches others. The last example is that of a person who does not care for it and does not take Allah’s guidance revealed through me (he is like that barren land). [Collected by Al-Bukhaaree].