The First Pillar<\/strong><\/h3>\nMuslim Profession of Faith<\/h4>\n
The Shahada is the Muslim profession of faith and the first of the \u2018Five Pillars\u2019 of Islam. The word shahada in Arabic means \u2018testimony.\u2019 The shahada is to testify to two things:
\n(a) Nothing deserves worship except God (Allah).
\n(b) Muhammad is the Messenger of God (Allah).<\/p>\n
A Muslim is simply one who bears witness and testifies that \u201cnothing deserves worship except God and Muhammad is the messenger of God.\u201d One becomes a Muslim by making this simple declaration.<\/p>\n
It must be recited by every Muslim at least once in a lifetime with a full understanding of its meaning and with an assent of the heart. Muslims say this when they wake up in the morning, and before they go to sleep at night. It is repeated five times in the call to prayer in every mosque. A person who utters theshahada as their last words in this life has been promised Paradise.<\/p>\n
Many people ignorant of Islam have misconceived notions about the Allah, used by Muslims to denote God. Allah is the proper name for God in Arabic, just as “Elah”, or often “Elohim”, is the proper name for God in Aramaic mentioned in the Old Testament. Allah is also His personal name in Islam, as “YHWH” is His personal name in Judaism. However, rather than the specific Hebrew denotation of “YHWH” as “He Who Is”, in Arabic Allah denotes the aspect of being \u201cThe One True Deity worthy of all worship\u201d. Arabic speaking Jews and Christians also refer to the Supreme Being as Allah.<\/p>\n
(a) Nothing deserves worship except God (Allah).<\/strong><\/p>\nThe first part of this testimony states that God has the exclusive right to be worshipped inwardly and outwardly, by one\u2019s heart and limbs. In Islamic doctrine, not only can no one be worshipped apart from Him, absolutely no one else can be worshipped along with Him. He has no partners or associates in worship. Worship, in its comprehensive sense and all its aspects, is for Him alone. God\u2019s right to be worshipped is the essential meaning of Islam\u2019s testimony of faith: L\u0101 \u2018il\u0101ha \u2018ill\u0101 All\u0101h. A person becomes Muslim by testifying to the divine right to worship. It is the crux of Islamic belief in God, even all of Islam. It is considered the central message of all prophets and messengers sent by God – the message of Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Moses, the Hebrew prophets, Jesus, and Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon them. For instance, Moses declared:
\n\u201cHear, O Israel The Lord our God is one Lord.\u201d (Deuteronomy 6:4)
\nJesus repeated the same message 1500 years later when he said:
\n\u201cThe first of all the commandments is, \u201cHear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord.\u201d (Mark 12:29)
\n\u2026and reminded Satan:
\n\u201cAway from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.\u201d (Matthew 4:10)<\/p>\n
Finally, the call of Muhammad, some 600 years after Jesus, reverberated across the hills of Mecca, \u2018And your God is One God: there is no god but He.\u2019(Quran 2:163). They all declared clearly:
\n\u201cWorship God! You have no other god but Him.\u201d (Quran 7:59, 7:73; 11:50, 11:84; 23:32)
\nBut by a mere verbal profession alone, one does not become a complete Muslim. To become a complete Muslim one has to fully carry out in practice the instruction given by Prophet Muhammad as ordained by God. This brings us to the second part of the testimony.<\/p>\n
(b) Muhammad is the Messenger of God (Allah).<\/strong><\/p>\nMuhammad was born in Mecca in Arabia in the year 570 CE. His ancestry goes back to Ishmael, a son of Prophet Abraham. The second part of the confession of faith asserts that he is not only a prophet but also a messenger of God, a higher role also played by Moses and Jesus before him. Like all prophets before him, he was a human being, but chosen by God to convey His message to all humanity rather than one tribe or nation from among the many that exist. For Muslims, Muhammad brought the last and final revelation. In accepting Muhammad as the \u201clast of the prophets,\u201d they believe that his prophecy confirms and completes all of the revealed messages, beginning with that of Adam. In addition, Muhammad serves as the preeminent role model through his life example. The believer\u2019s effort to follow Muhammad\u2019s example reflects the emphasis of Islam on practice and action.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
All practicing Muslims accept belief in the \u2018Six Articles of Faith\u2019 and are obliged to follow the \u2018Five Pillars.\u2019 They are: 1. Muslim profession of faith orshahada. 2. Ritual Prayer or salah. 3. Obligatory Charity or zakah. 4. Fasting or sawm. 5. Pilgrimage or hajj. The First Pillar Muslim Profession of Faith The Shahada … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[117],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7151","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-doctrine-and-sects"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false,"gform-image-choice-sm":false,"gform-image-choice-md":false,"gform-image-choice-lg":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Site Admin","author_link":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/en\/author\/admin2\/"},"uagb_comment_info":1,"uagb_excerpt":"All practicing Muslims accept belief in the \u2018Six Articles of Faith\u2019 and are obliged to follow the \u2018Five Pillars.\u2019 They are: 1. Muslim profession of faith orshahada. 2. Ritual Prayer or salah. 3. Obligatory Charity or zakah. 4. Fasting or sawm. 5. Pilgrimage or hajj. The First Pillar Muslim Profession of Faith The Shahada…","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcT0IL-1Rl","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1622,"url":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/en\/the-first-pillar-of-islam-the-muslim-profession-of-faith\/","url_meta":{"origin":7151,"position":0},"title":"The First Pillar of Islam: The Muslim Profession of Faith","author":"ASKM","date":"03\/26\/2016","format":false,"excerpt":"By Imam Kamil Mufti All practicing Muslims accept belief in the \u2018Six Articles of Faith\u2019 and are obliged to follow the \u2018Five Pillars.\u2019 \u00a0They are: 1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Muslim profession of faith orshahada. 2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ritual Prayer or salah. 3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Obligatory Charity or zakah. 4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fasting or sawm. 5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pilgrimage or hajj. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Five Pillars of Islam"","block_context":{"text":"The Five Pillars of Islam","link":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/en\/category\/the-five-pillars-of-islam\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/pillar-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/pillar-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/pillar-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/pillar-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/pillar-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8451,"url":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/de\/die-erste-saeule-des-islam-das-muslimische-glaubensbekenntnis\/","url_meta":{"origin":7151,"position":1},"title":"Die erste S\u00e4ule des Islam: Das muslimische Glaubensbekenntnis","author":"Site Admin","date":"06\/20\/2020","format":false,"excerpt":"All practicing Muslims accept belief in the Six Articles of Faith and are obliged to follow the Five Pillars. These are: 1. The creed of the Muslims or Shahada 2. The ritual prayer or Salah 3. The obligatory alms or Zakah 4. The fasting or hem 5. The pilgrimage or\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Glaubenslehre und Sekten"","block_context":{"text":"Glaubenslehre und Sekten","link":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/de\/category\/glaubenslehre-und-sekten\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6158,"url":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/en\/first-level-lesson-6-the-five-pillars-of-islam-in-brief\/","url_meta":{"origin":7151,"position":2},"title":"First Level [Lesson 6] “The Five pillars of Islam in brief”","author":"Site Admin","date":"03\/28\/2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The Five Pillars of Islam \u26a1\ufe0fAllah has mandated five acts upon which the whole religion of Islam is built. Due to their importance, the Prophet stated : \u2066\ud83d\udcab\ud83d\udcabthe Messenger of Allah (\ufdfa) said: (The superstructure of) al-Islam is raised on five (pillars), testifying (the fact) that there is no god\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Article"","block_context":{"text":"New Article","link":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/en\/category\/new-article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IMG_20200329_004726_228.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IMG_20200329_004726_228.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IMG_20200329_004726_228.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IMG_20200329_004726_228.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1725,"url":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/en\/how-to-become-a-mulslim\/","url_meta":{"origin":7151,"position":3},"title":"How to become a Muslim?","author":"Site Admin","date":"07\/02\/2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Benefits of Converting to Islam There are many benefits of converting to Islam.\u00a0 Some of them are: Forming a personal and direct relationship with God by worshiping Him alone, without the need of intermediaries.\u00a0 One feels this personal relationship and is aware that God knows everything and is there to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Islam"","block_context":{"text":"Islam","link":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/en\/category\/main-services\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6117,"url":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/en\/first-level-lesson-4-the-testimony-of-faith\/","url_meta":{"origin":7151,"position":4},"title":"First Level [Lesson 4] “The Testimony of Faith","author":"Site Admin","date":"03\/24\/2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The Testimony of Faith (Shahada in arabic) \ud83d\udd36 Shahada is believing by heart and saying by tongue : (Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Allah w ash-hadu ann Muhammad rasool Allah) \u26a1\ufe0fAsh-hadu means \u201ci bear witness\u201d \u26a1\ufe0fan means \u201cthat\u201d \u26a1\ufe0fLa: There is no; ilaha: god (deity); illa: except; Allah: Allah (God)\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Article"","block_context":{"text":"New Article","link":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/en\/category\/new-article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/FB_IMG_1584417101441.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/FB_IMG_1584417101441.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/FB_IMG_1584417101441.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/FB_IMG_1584417101441.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1724,"url":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/en\/what-muslim-believe\/","url_meta":{"origin":7151,"position":5},"title":"What Do Muslims Believe?","author":"ASKM","date":"07\/02\/2014","format":false,"excerpt":"[vc_row][vc_column width=\"1\/1\"][image type=\"none\" float=\"none\" info=\"none\" info_place=\"top\" info_trigger=\"hover\" src=\"418\" alt=\"Muslim child\"][text_output] Muslim testament of faith The fundamental message of Islam is simple: To worship Allah (Arabic word for God) alone. The Quran (the\u00a0revealed scripture of Islam) states: \u00a0\u201cSay, He is Allah , (who is) One, Allah , the Eternal Refuge. 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