Conditions and Meaning of the Shahada

Conditions and Meaning of the Shahada

La Illaaha il'Allah

tawhid1 It’s meaning - There is none who has the right to be worshipped except Allaah.
Its pillars are:

The negation phrase “ there is no deity worthy of worship (Laa Ilaaha)
The confirmation phrase “ except Allaah (IllaaAllaah)

The phrase: “there is no deity worthy of worship” negates all other false objects of worship while the phrase “except Allaah” confirms that there is only one true God worthy of worship who has no partners.

The conditions of the Shahaadah (testimony of Faith) are eight:

1. `Ilm (Knowledge): Knowledge of it’s meaning - what is confirmed by it and what is negated by it. As previously stated it was mentioned that the meaning of: “There is none that has the right to be worshipped except Allaah” is that all other objects of worship that mankind set up as partners with Allaah are false.

2. Yaqeen (Certainty): Certainty of it’s meaning, free from doubt or suspicion. This means on must be upon certainty that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah.

The First Pillar

Muslim Profession of Faith

The Shahada is the Muslim profession of faith and the first of the ‘Five Pillars’ of Islam. The word shahada in Arabic means ‘testimony.’ The shahada is to testify to two things:

The complete statement of the creed of the Muslim is:
"Ash-shadu anna Laa elaha illa lah. Ash-shadu anna Muhammadar Rasoolulah."
(I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger).

The Five Pillars of Islam

Islam has five primary obligations, or pillars of faith, that each Muslim must

fulfill in his or her lifetime. They are as follows:

Shahadah, profession of faith, is the first pillar of Islam. Muslims bear witness to the oneness of God by reciting the creed "There is no God but God and Muhammad is the Messenger of God." This simple yet profound statement expresses a Muslim's complete acceptance of and total commitment to Islam.

Salah, prayer, is the second pillar. The Islamic faith is based on the belief that individuals have a direct relationship with God. The world's Muslims turn individually and collectively to Makkah, Islam's holiest city, to offer five daily prayers at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and evening. In addition, Friday congregational service is also required. Although salah can he performed alone, it is meritorious to perform it with another or with a group. It is permissible to pray at home, at work, or even outdoors; however it is recommended that Muslims perform salah in a mosque.

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