Beginners guide to Islam (Vol-01)

Declaration of 'Faith' (ٱلشَّهَادَةُ)

To enter the fold of Islam, one must declare his faith. If one believes that there is only one being who is worthy of worship and Allah is that being and no other being is to be worshipped except Him and believes that Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is the slave and final Messenger of Allah, then he must testify :

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ

"I testify that there is no being truly worthy of worship except Allah and I also testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."

This is the declaration of faith, in Arabic it is called (ٱلشَّهَادَةُ) "the testimony". After declaring ones faith, he enters the fold of Islam.

Explanation of (ٱلشَّهَادَةُ) "the testimony"

There are two parts of the testimony -

1. There is no being truly worthy of worship except Allah.
"لا إله إلا الله"

There are two parts of it as well, the first part (لا إله) is to deny any other being as a true deity who is worthy of any worship. The second part (إلا الله) on the other hand is to confirm that Allah is indeed the only being worthy of all worship.

2. "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."

"محمد رسول الله"

This part is to confirm that Muhammad (ﷺ) is not a deity who is to be worshipped rather he is a slave of Almighty Allah and indeed the final Messenger of Allah whom He (Allah) sent for all the creation. Allah said in His book,

[21:107]

وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَٰكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ

"We sent you not, but as a Mercy for all creatures."

He is not to be worshipped but he must be followed. He was sent as a teacher and to him was the Quran revealed. Allah mentions in the Quran,

[88:21]

فَذَكِّرْ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٌ

"So remind, [O Muhammad]; you are only a reminder."

Imam Muslim (may Allah have mercy on his soul) recorded in his Sahih that the Prophet (ﷺ) said :

'بعثني معلّما'

"Allah sent me as a teacher."

Imam Ibn Majah (may Allah have mercy on his soul) has recorded the following words on the authority of Sayyiduna 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr (رضي الله عنهم):

'بعثت معلّما'

"I have been sent as a teacher"

Conditions of "لا إله إلا الله"

1. To know the meaning of "لا إله إلا الله"
(There is no deity truly worthy of worship except Allah).

2. To be certain of its authenticity in the heart in a manner that there is no doubt at all.

3. To strongly believe in it and to never reject it in any way.

4. To be firm on it and and submit to its claim.

5. To be sincere of it so that any form of disbelieve and polytheism is not accepted.

6. To have a correct intention of accepting and following it for the sake of Allah and not for any other worldly gains.

7. To love the testimony so that any claim against it is hated in the heart.

Condition of "محمد رسول الله"

1. To believe in the heart that Muhammad (ﷺ) is the slave, Prophet and Messenger of Allah.

2. To testify verbally that he (ﷺ) is the final Messenger of Allah and no other Prophet or Messenger will be sent after him.

3. To believe him (ﷺ) and believe in his (ﷺ) examples as the ultimate truth.

4. To love him (ﷺ) more than anything in the world and to defend him (ﷺ) in every situation.

5. To prioritise his (ﷺ) words over anyone's word.

6. To follow him (ﷺ) in every aspect of life.