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The Meaning Of "Ash-Shahadatan"Dr Saleh -As Saleh THERE IS NO TRUE GOD BUT ALLAH AND MUHAMMAD IS
ALLAH'S MESSENGER ASH-SHADATAN
is the declaration that represents the belief in the oneness of Allah (Tawheed).
It is composed of negation and confirmation phrases. The phrase "There
is no true god…" negates all false deities, while the phrase "but
Allah", confirms that Allah is the only True God worthy of being
worshipped. Allah is All-just and
All-wise. He creates us and wants us to know him and worship him alone. The
submission of man to his creator, Allah, is the essence of Tawhid. When
someone submits to Allah, he must negate and disassociate from any worship to
anyone (or anything) other than Allah. This is the purity of worship and it is
all embedded in the declaration of Ash-Shahadatan. This declaration is
the key to Al Jannah (Paradise). The conditions that fulfil the
declaration of Ash-Shahadatan are like the "teeth" that allow the key
to function. These conditions are: 1 KNOWLEDGE:
about whom we are worshipping and about the nature, concepts, and
methodology of worship is critical for understanding Islam. Knowledge in Islam
calls for complete disassociation from false deities and for the purification of
intentions: "So know that La
ilaha illal’lah (none has the right to be worshiped except Allah) and ask
forgiveness for your sins…" (Qur’an 47:19) The prophet (Salla Allahu
Aleihi Wassal’am) said: "He who died knowing
(full well) that there is no true God worthy of being worshipped except Allah,
entered Al Jannah. (Sahih Muslim) 2 SATISFACTION:
The declaration must be made without any suspicion regarding its meaning.
Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) says: "Only those are the
believers who have believed in Allah and his messenger and never since
doubted." (Qur’an 49:15) The Prophet (Salla Allahu
Aleihi Wassal’am) "I bear witness that
La illah illal’lah, (There is no God but Allah) and I am
his Messenger. The slave of Allah who would meet him (Subhanahu Wata’Ala)
without harboring any doubts about this (Ash-Shahadatan) would enter Al Junnah."
(Sahih Muslim) 3 PURITY:
The intention behind the performance of any kind of Islamically
prescribed 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, not show off, and not to set up
rivals with Allah in worship}." (Qur’an 39:1) 4 HONESTY:
Paves the way for meaningful understandings of Tawheed and
strengthens the drive towards achieving knowledge about Allah. The hypocrite
utters Ash Shahadatan, but conceals rejection in his heart: "They say with their
tongues what is not in their hearts." (Qur’an 48:11) The prophet (Salla Allahu
Aleihi Wassal’am) said: "There is none who
testifies sincerely (from his heart) that there is no God worthy of being
worshipped except Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, except
that Allah will save him from the hell-fire." (Sahih Muslim and Bukhari) 5 ACCEPTANCE:
Adherence to the meaning of Ash-Shadatan safeguards the believer from false and
arrogance which Allah forbade: "Truly, when it was
said to them: La
illaha illal’lah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), they puffed themselves
up with pride (i.e. denied)." (Qur’an 37:35) 6 SUBMISSION:
Is fulfilled by obedience to Allah and his Messenger (Salla Allahu Aleihi
Wassal’am) "Whoever submits his
face (himself) to Allah (follows Islam), while he is doing good (obeys Allah and
his messenger in all aspects) has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold."
(Qur’an 31:22) 7 LOVE OF ALLAH AND HIS
MESSENGER: The
declaration of Ash-Shahadatan requires that the person loves Allah (Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassal’am) and his
Messenger (Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassal’am) more than anything else, and loves what Allah and his messenger love, and hates or dislikes what Allah and his Messenger hate or dislike (what negatively affects the person’s attachment to Islam) "And of mankind are
some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (And’daad) (to
Allah). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe love Allah more
(than all else)." (Qur’an 2:165) The prophet (Salla Allahu
Aleihi Wassal’am) said: "Whoever possesses
(the following) of three qualities will relish the sweetness (delight) of Eemaan
(Faith): The one to whom Allah and his messenger (Salla Allahu Aleihi
Wassal’am) becomes dearer than anything else: that he loves a person for Allah
Alone (i.e. purely seeking 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 in
hell." (Sahih Muslim & Bukhari) The love of Allah and his
messenger must translate to a real following of the commands of Allah and that
of the Prophet Muhammad (Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassal’am). This negates the
following of any innovator who introduces concepts/ways that are not in
accordance with Islamic teachings: like the mystics of Sufism and their
so-called Tareeqahs (ways) which has nothing to do with Islam. Their thoughts
originated from Hindu concepts. MUHAMMAD IS ALLAH’S MESSENGER This is the second part of
the declaration of Ash-Shahadatan. This means that: A
Whatever Allah had told us about Muhammad (Salla Allahu Aleihi
Wassal’am) must be true: "O prophet Muhammad
(Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassal’am) Verily, We have sent you as a witness, and a
bearer of glad tidings and a Warner, And as one who invites to Allah (i.e., to
worship none but Allah) by his leave, and as a lamp spread light." (Qur’an
33:45-46) B
We must worship Allah as taught by Muhammad (Salla Allahu Aleihi
Wassal’am): This clear order from Allah: "And whatsoever the Messenger, Muhammad (Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassal’am) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it) and Fear Allah. Verily Allah is severe in punishment." (Qur’an 59:7) The rulings, orders,
disciplines, advice, recommendations, approvals, actions, and orders as they are
related to Islam, are know as the Sunnah of the Prophet (Salla Allahu Aleihi
Wassal’am). The authentically related Sunnah is inspired by Allah (Subhanahu
Wata’Ala) |
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