Everything about Shahadah totally explained
The
Shahada (
Arabic: , from the verb "to testify") is the
Islamic
creed. The Shahada is the
Muslim declaration of belief in the
oneness of God and acceptance of
Muhammad as his final
prophet.
Recitation of the Shahadah is the most important of the
Five Pillars of Islam for Muslims and is performed daily.
Recitation
Arabic text:
»
Romanization:
»
English rendering:
» "I testify that there's no god worthy of worship but God (Allah), and I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God."
Some alternative renderings are:
» "I testify that there's none worthy of worship except God, and I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God."
"I bear witness that there's no god except for God (Allah), and Muhammad is the messenger of God."
This version constitutes an interpretation rather than a direct translation, as the words "worthy of worship" are not present in the Arabic.
A single honest recitation of the Shahadah in Arabic is all that's required for
a person to become a Muslim according to most
traditional schools.
In usage the two occurrences of
'ašhadu 'an (or similar) = "I testify that" are very often omitted.
History
One of the earliest surviving translations of the Shahadah into a foreign language is in
Greek, from the reign of
al-Walid I (86-96 AH,
705-
715 CE): Οὐκ ἔστι[νθεὸς εἰ μὴ ὁ θεὸς μόνος·] Μααμὲ[τἀπόστολος θεοῦ] (
Ouk esti[ntheos ei mē ho theos monos;] Maame[tapostolos theou]).(External Link
) "There is no god except for God alone; Muhammad is God's apostle",
for example "Allah" is translated as ὁ θεὸς and Muhammad is transliterated as Μααμὲτ.
The Shahada is the first of the
Six Kalimas. The Six Kalimas are recorded in various books of knowledge, and are recited and remembered by Muslims across the globe. The Kalimas were compiled for people to memorise and learn the basic fundamentals of
Islam.
Conditions of the Shahadah
There are seven critical conditions of the Shahadah, without which it's considered to be meaningless:
- Al-`Ilm: Knowledge of the meaning of the Shahadah, its negation and affirmation.
- Al-Yaqeen: Certainty – perfect knowledge of it that counteracts suspicion and doubt.
- Al-Ikhlaas: Sincerity which negates shirk.
- Al-Sidq: Truthfulness that permits neither falsehood nor hypocrisy.
- Al-Mahabbah: Love of the Shahadah and its meaning, and being happy with it.
- Al-Inqiad: Submission to its rightful requirements, which are the duties that must be performed with sincerity to God (alone) seeking His pleasure.
- Al-Qubool: Acceptance that contradicts rejection.
Flags
Several
national flags display the Shahadah:
The flag of Saudi Arabia, on a green background.
The unrecognized state of Somaliland.
From 1990 to 1992, the Islamic State of Afghanistan.
From 1997 to 2001, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, under the rule of the Taliban.
Per the 2004 draft constitution for Afghanistan, white script centered on a red background.
The flag of the Supreme Islamic Courts Council of Somalia.
Several other flags display the shahadah, such as the flag of Hamas.
Differences
It is considered correct to refer to previous figures such as prophets like Jesus (in Arabic, Isa) as Messengers (rasul), and a few groups (notably certain Sufi mystics) amend the declaration to mention prior prophets whose names are found in the Qur'an.
Sometimes اشهد ان 'ašhadu 'an = "I witness that" is prefixed to each half of the Shahadah.
Sometimes و wa = "and" is prefixed to the first word of the second half of the Shahada.
Some Indonesian Muslims pray "Allah il Allah" when appealing for God's help. This is an altered form of the first part of the Shahadah.
Some Shia Muslims add "and Ali is the beloved of Allah" (wa-Aliyun waliyu 'llah). Shias don't believe that this is obligatory, however, and that the standard Shahadah (There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger) is enough.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Shahadah'.
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