SHAHADA: CONFESSION OF A MUSLIM

Lâ ilâha ill-Allâh, Muhammad-ur- Rasûl-Allâh
(None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah).

To become a Muslim or to embrace Islam, you must first understand the reality of the meaning of the first fundamental principle of Islam, i.e. Lâ ilâha ill-Allâh, Muhammad-ur-Rasûl-Allâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). So it is essential to explain something of the meanings of this great sentence (i.e principle) in some detail:

Lâ ilâha ill-Allâh, Muhammad-ur- Rasûl-Allâh
"None has the right to be worshipped 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 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 Alone) is the Sustainer, and the Giver of security, etc." And this is called (your confession for the) "Oneness of the Lordship of Allah," - Tauhid-ar-Rubûbiya.

Point II: A confession with your heart that you have to say: "I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah 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 [and none else, whether it be an angel, Messenger, Prophet 'Iesa (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 SAW order you to do, (in His Book, the Qur'ân and in the Sunna (legal ways of Prophet Muhammad ) you must do, and all that Allah and His Messenger SAW forbid you, you must not do. And this is called (your confession for the) "Oneness of the worship of Allah," - Tauhid-al-Uluhiya. And that you (mankind) worship none but Allah.

Point III: A confession with your 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 Qur'ân) or as Your Prophet Muhammad 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 Allah said:

"There is nothing like unto Him and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer." (V. 42:11).
This holy Verse confirms the quality of hearing and the quality of sight for Allah without resemblance to others, and likewise He also said:
"To one whom I have created with Both My Hands," (V.38:75)
and He also said:
"The Hand of Allah is over their hands." (V.48:10)
This confirms two Hands for Allah, but there is no similarity for them. Similarly Allah said:
"The Most Beneficent (Allah) Istawa (rose over) the (Mighty) Throne." (V.20:5).

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 ) asked her as to where Allah is. He only comes down over the first (nearest) heaven to us on the day of 'Arafât (Hajj, i.e. the 9th of Dhul-Hijja), and also during the last third part of the night as mentioned by the Prophet SAW , but He is with us by His Knowledge only, not by His Personal-Self (Bi-Dhâtihi). It is not like that, 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, etc. And this is called (your confession for the) "Oneness of the Names and Qualities of Allah" - Tauhîd-al-Asma was-Sifat and this is the right Faith, the Faith which was followed by the Messengers of Allah [from Nûh (Noah), Ibrâhim (Abraham), Mûsa (Moses), Da'ud (David), Sulaimân (Solomon), 'Iesa (Jesus) to Muhammad alai-hiss-salaam and the Companions of Prophet Muhammad ] and the righteous followers of these Messengers alai-hiss-salaam .

Point IV: A confession with your heart that you have to say: "O Allah! I testify that Muhammad is Your Messenger." That means that none has the right to be followed after Allah, but the Prophet Muhammad as he is the last of His Messengers. As Allah 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." (V.33:40).
"And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad ) gives you, take it and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain from it,"(V.59:7).
And Allah said:
"Say (O Muhammad to mankind): 'If you (really) love Allah, then follow me.' " (V.3:31)
As for others than Muhammad, their statements are to be taken or rejected as to whether these are in accordance with Allah's Book (i.e. the Qur'ân) or with the Sunna (legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements, etc.) of the Prophet SAW or not. As the Divine Inspiration has stopped after the death of Prophet Muhammad and it will not resume except at the time of the Descent of 'Iesa (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 Hadîth (i.e. narration of Prophet Muhammad). (Sahih-Al-Bukhari, Vol. 3, Hadîth No. 425).

B. It is essential to utter: Lâ ilâha ill-Allâh, Muhammad-ur-Rasûl Allâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.) As it has come in the statement of the Prophet Muhammad to his uncle Abû Tâlib at the time of the latter's death: "O uncle, if you utter it (Lâ ilâh ill-Allah, Muhammad-ur-Rasûl Allah, none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah), then I shall be able to argue on your behalf before Allah, on the Day of Resurrection." Similarly, when Abû Dhar Al-Ghiffari embraced Islam, he went to Al-Masjid-al-Harâm (i.e. the Ka'ba) 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 the 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 Lâ ilâha ill-Allâh Muhammad Rasul Allah - none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and Muhammad 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, 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 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 Allah and not to differentiate between them. As it is mentioned in His Book, Allah said:
"Do then those who disbelieve think that they can take My slaves [i.e. the angels; Allah's Messengers; 'Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), etc.] as Auliyâ' (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 ): '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 Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of their Lord and 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 Ayât (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, 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 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 exhausted even if we brought (another sea) like it for its aid.
"Say (O Muhammad ): I am only a man like you, it has been inspired to me that your Ilâh (God) is One Ilâh (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." (V. 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 Rak'at prayer, and act upon the five principles of Islam, as narrated by lbn 'Umar Rahiallahu'anhu in the Book, Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.1 Hadîth No.7:-
Narrated lbn 'Umar Rahiallahu'anhu : Allah's Messenger SAW said: Islam is based on the following five (principles):
1. To testify Lâ ilâha ill-Allâh wa anna Muhammad-ur-Rasul-Allâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Messenger).
2. Perform Iqâmat As-Salât[].
3. To pay Zakât[].
4. To perform Hajj. (i.e. pilgrimage to Makka).
5. To observe Saum (fast) during the month of Ramadân.
[and must believe in the six articles of Faith, i.e. to believe in:
(1) Allah, (2) His angels, (3) His Messengers, (4) His revealed Books, (5) the Day of Resurrection,and (6) Al-Qadar (Divine Preordainments i.e. whatever Allah 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 sake only without any show off or gaining praise or fame, etc.
(2) Such a deed must be performed in accordance with the Sunna (legal ways, orders, acts of worship. statements, etc.) of Allah's Messenger Muhammad bin 'Abdullah, the last (end) of all the Prophets and the Messengers alai-hiss-salaam .

SEE also

·  FAITH

·  ALLAH