The Shahaadataan

How important is the shahaadah to Muslims?

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• Muslims bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah ﷻ and that Muhammad ﷺ is the Messenger of Allah ﷻ.

This phrase of tawheed (Islamic monotheism) is important to Muslims. It is called the shahaadah.

• Ash-Shahaadah in Arabic means, to bear witness to something that one believes is true.
• In the Sharee’ah it means to testify that none deserves to be worshipped except Allah ﷻ and Muhammad ﷺ is the Messenger of Allah ﷻ . By saying Laa ilaaha illallaah, Muslims affirm that none deserves to be worshipped except Allah ﷻ . Muslims worship Allah ﷻ and do not associate partners with Him.

Allah ﷻ says in the Qur’aan

“So know, [O Muhammad], that there is no deity except Allah and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and the believing women.” (Soorat Muhammad:19)

• The two pillars that support the testimony Laa ilaaha illallaah are: negation and affirmation. Negation by ‘Laa ilaaha’ illallaah’ means rejecting all forms of shirk. Affirmation by saying ‘illallaah’, affirms that Allah ﷻ alone deserves to be worshipped. Both pillars are mentioned when Allah ﷻ says,

“So whoever disbelieves in taaghoot and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.” (Soorat al-Baqarah: 256)

• Negation: “So whoever disbelieves in taghoot.”
• Affirmation: “And believes in Allah.”
• When Muslims obey the Messenger of Allah ﷻ , they also obey Allah ﷻ . Muslims must follow the Prophet ﷺ because he explained the practices of Islam in detail. Muslims also believe that Muhammad ﷺ is the final messenger and there will be no prophet after him.

Allah ﷻ says in the Qur’aan

“Say, [O Muhammad], “If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Soorat Aali Imraan: 31)

• The two pillars that support the testimony Muhammadur- Rasoolullah are: to believe and accept his message, and to believe that he is the messenger of Allah ﷻ .

Allah ﷻ says in the Qur’aan

“And whatever the Messenger has given you- take; and what he has forbidden you- refrain from.” (Soorat al-Hashr: 7)

• Muslims do not attribute qualities to Muhammad ﷺ that belong only to Allah ﷻ , such as:

1. Knowledge of the unseen.
2. The ability to harm or benefit.
3. The ability to remove hardship.

No part of the shahaadah will be accepted without the other.

Discussion questions for comment

1. Explain the meaning of shahaadah according to :
   -The Arabic language .
   -The Sharee’ah .
2. What are the two pillars that support the testimony Laailaaha illallaah.
3. What are the two pillars that support the testimony Muhammadur Rasoolullaah.

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