Shahadah
- For other meanings, see Shahada (disambiguation).
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Salafi/Kharijite Sixth pillar of Islam. This box: view • • edit</div> |
The shahadah (Arabic: شهادة translit: Shahādah) (Turkish: Şehadet) is the Islamic creed. It means "to testify" or "to bear witness" in Arabic.The shahadah is the Muslim declaration of belief in the oneness of God and in Muhammad as his final prophet. Recitation of the shahadah is one of the Five Pillars of Islam for Muslims.
- Arabic text:
- أشهد أن لا إله إلاَّ الله ، وأشهد أن محمد رسول الله
- 'ašhadu 'al-lā ilāha illā-llāh, wa 'ašhadu 'anna muħammadan rasūlu-llāh
- English translations:
- I testify that there is no god (ilah) but God (Allah), and I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
- I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.[1]
A single honest recitation of the shahādah in Arabic, in front of two Muslim witnesses, is all that is 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.
Some Shi'a Muslims add Alīyun wali Allah ("Ali is the vicegerent of God") at the end of the shahada. This is not compulsory for Shi'a; it is a matter of personal choice, although most Ayatollahs say it is preferable to add it.
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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[ν θεὸς εἰ μὴ ὁ θεὸς μόνος·] Μααμὲ[τ ἀπόστολος θεοῦ] (Ouk esti[n theos ei mē ho theos monos;] Maame[t apostolos theou]).[1] "There is no god except the single god; Muhammad is god's apostle", i.e. "Allah" is being translated as ὁ θεὸς μόνος "the single god".
Conditions of the Shahadah
There are seven critical conditions of the Shahadah, without which it is 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 counter-acts 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.
Differences
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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.[citation needed]
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 of the relatively small minority, labelled the "Quran Alone Muslims" or the "Quranis" consider the second part of the Shahadah incorrect and say it should not include Muhammad's name, one of the reasons being that the full Shahadah with Muhammad's name is never found in the Qur'an. One who does not believe in both parts of the Shahadah is considered to be outside of the fold of Islam.
Some Indonesian Muslims pray "Allah il Allah" or "Insya Allah" when appealing for God's help. This is an altered form of the first part of the Shahada.
See also
References
- ^ USC-MSA Compendium of Muslim Texts. Retrieved on 2006-09-12.
External links
Categories
Articles with unsourced statements | Five Pillars of Islam