The Significance of Shahada (Kalima)
"Ashhadu Alla Ilaha Illa Allah Wa Ashhadu Anna Muhammad Rasulu
Allah"
"I bear witness that there is no deity other than
Allah(SWT)
and that Muhammad(SAW) is his servant
and Messenger."
These are the words (Kalimah) by which one declares his/her intention
to become a Muslim. A newly
reverted Muslim has to understand the meaning of this simple phrase and live
and act in accordance to its principles to be guaranteed admission into heaven.
Mere words are easily uttered, but
Allah(SWT)
considers what is in one’s heart and measures one’s deeds to judge between
his creatures.
Allah is He, than Whom there is no other god;- Who knows (all things)
both secret and open; He, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Allah is He, than Whom there is no other god;- the Sovereign, the Holy One,
the Source of Peace (and Perfection), the Guardian of Faith, the Preserver
of Safety, the Exalted in Might, the Irresistible, the Supreme: Glory to
Allah! (High is He) above the partners they attribute to Him.
He is Allah, the Creator, the Evolver, the Bestower of Forms (or Colours).
To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names: whatever is in the heavens and on
earth, doth declare His Praises and Glory: and He is the Exalted in Might,
the Wise.
(The Holy Quran, Al-Hashr, 59:22-24) |
Someone, who simply repeats the Kalimah, is in the same position as
a student admitted to a prestigious University. They have both overcome
a great hurdle and are to be commended. However, unless they understand the
significance of the action they have undertaken, apply themselves, and work
earnestly toward realizing their goal, they will both fail: one in this life
and the other in the hereafter.
A true Muslim is someone, who is completely aware of the meaning of this
phrase, proclaims it with sincerity and devotion, and acts and lives in
accordance to its requirements. Muslims are not allowed to take partners
or intercessors (prophets, saints, righteous people, idols) with
Allah(SWT); they are to worship,
obey, and rely solely on
Allah(SWT) and His revelations;
they must accept
Allah's(SWT) laws (religious and
social) and orders (permissible and forbidden); and they should not put anyone
or anything ahead of their obligations toward
Allah(SWT).
A Muslim is always cognizant of the fact that the mere rejection of one of
a single Word of Allah(SWT) -- revealed
in the Holy Quran or taught by the Holy Prophet
Muhammad(SAW) -- is
equivalent to denouncing faith. This means that a Muslim will not declare
human laws, man-made doctrines, or superstitious ideas superior to
Allah's(SWT) teachings. Indeed,
every Muslim must realize that
Allah's(SWT) laws are a reflection
of His perfection and have been revealed for all ages and all societies.
When Muslims fall short in the practice of their religion, they are
to return to Allah(SWT) , the most
Merciful, with sincere repentance and ask for forgiveness.
The believers should not be affected with the incorrect notion that the belief
in God is enough to attain salvation. We should remember that even
the pagan Arabs, living at the time of the
Prophet(SAW), believed in and worshipped
Allah(SWT)! They faulted in
having taken idols and intercessors to bring them closer to
Allah(SWT):
If thou ask them, who it is that created the heavens and the earth. They
will certainly say, "Allah". Say: "Praise be to Allah!" But most of them
understand not.
(The Holy Quran, Luqman, 31:25) |
Give this warning to those in whose (hearts) is the fear that they will
be brought (to judgment) before their Lord: except for Him they will have
no protector nor intercessor: that they may guard (against evil).
(The Holy Quran, Al-Anaam, 6:51) |
Allah(SWT) has instructed us to
believe solely in him, worship him, and ask him for help and guidance. Muslims
should avoid all satanic rituals of attributing special powers to the dead,
visiting the shrines of righteous people for blessing, asking religious scholars
for intercession, or seeking favors from fortune tellers. These are
pagan and superstitious rituals contradictory to the concept of "there
is no deity other than
Allah(SWT)":
Revile not ye those whom they call upon besides Allah, lest they out of
spite revile Allah in their ignorance. Thus have We made alluring to each
people its own doings. In the end will they return to their Lord, and We
shall then tell them the truth of all that they did."
(The Holy Quran, Al-Anaam, 6:108) |
Also contrary to the idea of "there is no deity other than
Allah(SWT)" is the practice
of willfully accepting, following, and promoting any doctrine or idea
that contradicts Islam. This means that we should not follow or promote
any man-made concept that belies the revelations contained in the Holy Quran
or authentic teachings of the Holy
Prophet(SAW). A person who
does so reneges on his/her pledge to only obey and worship
Allah(SWT):
But those who reject Faith and belie our Signs (revelations),- they shall
be companions of Hell-fire."
(The Holy Quran, Al-Maeda, 5:86) |
The phrase,
"Muhammad(SAW) is his servant
and Messenger", indicates that the person taking this solemn oath has
accepted the divine origin of the Holy Quran and the teachings of the Holy
Prophet(SAW). Muslims believe
that Hadhrat Muhammad(SAW) of Arabia
was the last of the
Prophets(pbut) to be commissioned
and the perfect role model for us to follow:
Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger
of Allah and the Last of the prophets; and Allah is cognizant of all
things.
(The Holy Quran, Al-Ahzab, 33:40) |
Verily in the messenger of Allah ye have a good example for him who looketh
unto Allah and the Last Day, and remembereth Allah much.
(The Holy Quran, Al-Ahzab, 33:21) |
In the Holy Quran, we are told that Hazrat
Muhammad(SAW) was given the Quran
and the Wisdom [2:151] to understand and explain it [14:4]
to us. We are ordered to obey
him(SAW) [3:32] and accept whatever
he(SAW) gives us and abstain from
whatever he(SAW) forbids us
[24:7], because he only conveyed what was given to him by
Allah(SWT) [53:3].
The believers should have no doubt that
Allah(SWT) has kept
His promise and protected his Word (revelations) from corruption.
Indeed, the same early Muslims, who protected the Holy Quran, also
had a hand in protecting the authentic Hadith of the
Prophet(SAW). After all, they had
been instructed by Allah(SWT)
and His
Messenger(SAW) to
recite and memorize both the holy Quran and the explanation (wisdom)
given to
Rasulollah(SAW):
And bear in mind that which is recited in your houses of the revelations
of Allah and wisdom. Lo! Allah is Subtile, Aware.
(The Holy Quran, Al-Ahzab, 33:34) |
We ask
Allah(SWT) to bestow
his mercy upon the sincere seekers of salvation; to guide them to the true
path of Islam; to clarify for them the meaning of the Shahada; and
to protect them from the whispers of the accursed Satan.
Our Lord! make of us Muslims, bowing to Thy (Will), and of our progeny
a people Muslim, bowing to Thy (will); and show us our place for the celebration
of (due) rites; and turn unto us (in Mercy); for Thou art the Oft-Returning,
Most Merciful.
(The Holy Quran, Al-Baqara, 2:128) |
Amen.
