1st Pillar Of Islam The ‘Shahaadah’ Or Declaration Of Faith

To be a Muslim, one must believe in and pronounce the words that mean, “there is no deity worthy of being worshiped except Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم is His Messenger.” This declaration testifies that Almighty Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ exists, that He is dissimilar and superior to His creation and that none is worthy of worship but Him. It also testifies that He عَزَّوَجَلَّ is the Creator and Owner of all that exists and the Disposer of all affairs. Allah Almighty عَزَّوَجَلَّ says in the Holy Quran:

أَلَا إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَن فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ وَمَا يَتَّبِعُ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ شُرَكَاءَ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَخْرُصُونَ

Indeed all those in the heavens and all those in the earth are in Allah’s control; and what do those who pray to the partners instead of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ), follow? They do not follow anything except assumption, and they only make guesses. [Yunus 10:66]

The “Shahaadah” is to testify that the beloved Prophet Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم is among the Prophets, who conveyed Almighty Allah’s revelation to humankind. Almighty Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ says:

وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا الْفَتْحُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

And they say, “When will this decision take place, if you are truthful?” [Sajdah 32:28]

In fact, it is stated in the majestic Quran that the Beloved Prophet Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم is the last of Almighty Allah’s Messengers. Allah Almighty عَزَّوَجَلَّ Says:

مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن رَّسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا

Muhammad (صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم) is not the father of any man among you but he is the Noble Messenger of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) and the Last of the Prophets (Prophet Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم is the Last Prophet. There can be no new Prophet after him.); and Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) knows all things. [Ahzab 33:40]

The Holy Quran also confirms that the Beloved and Blessed Prophet Muhammad’s صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم words are infallible and are conveyed from Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, the Most Exalted. Almighty Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ says:

وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ۝ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ

And he does not say anything by his own desire. It is but a divine revelation, which is revealed to him. [Najm 53:3]

Thus, the Glorious Quran and Sunnah traditions of the Final Prophet Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم, are the basis of the religion of Islam, and they define every aspect of the Islamic way of life.