Shahadah

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For other uses, see Shahada (disambiguation).

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The Shahadah (Arabic: الشهادة aš-šahādah audio (help·info), from the verb šahida "to testify") is the Islamic creed. The Shahadah 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.

Contents

[edit] Recitation

Image:Shahadah.jpg
Shahadah audio (help·info)

Arabic text:

أشهد أن] لا إله إلاَّ الله و [أشهد أن ] محمد رسول الله]

Romanization:

[ʾašhadu ʾan] lā ilāha illā-llāh, wa [ʾašhadu ʾanna] muḥammadan rasūlu-llāh

English rendering:

"[I testify that] there is no god (ilah) but God (Allah), and [I testify that] Muhammad is the messenger of God."

An alternative rendering is:

"[ I testify that ] there is none worthy of worship except God, and [I testify that] Muhammad is the messenger of God."[1]

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 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 Shia Muslims add Alīyun wali Allah (علي ولي الله("Ali is the friend of God") at the end of the Shahadah. This testifies that Ali is also the Leader of the Believers, along with Allah and Muhammad as seen in Qur'an 5:55. Though this form of the Shahadah is recited daily by Nizari Ismai'lis, many other Shi'a Muslims view it as Mustahab (recommended) , but not Wajib (obligatory).[citation needed]

[edit] History

Image:Flag of Jihad.svg
Flag featuring the first Kalimah, the Shahadah

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".

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.[citation needed]

[edit] Conditions of the Shahadah

Image:Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg
The flag of Saudi Arabia, displaying the Shahadah.

There are seven critical conditions of the Shahadah, without which it is considered to be meaningless:[citation needed]

  • 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.

[edit] Flags

Image:Flag of Somaliland.svg
The flag of Somaliland, featuring the Shahadah

Several national flags display the Shahadah:

[edit] Differences

Image:Minaretgranada.jpg
Minaret in Granada displaying the Shahadah in Kufic script

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 Indonesian Muslims pray "Allah il Allah" when appealing for God's help. This is an altered form of the first part of the Shahadah.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ USC-MSA Compendium of Muslim Texts. Retrieved on 2006-09-12.

[edit] External links

ar:شهادتان

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