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In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful
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In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful
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The words that are spoken when one becomes a Muslim, are few but so
significant. With the utterance of these words, a person acknowledges Allah as
the Creator and Sustainer of all, and the messenger ship of His Prophet (peace
be upon him). With these words, which come from the heart, a person steps from
disbelief and ignorance to knowledge, light and guidance. A person can only
reach this state by the Mercy and Guidance of Allah the Almighty.
" There is no God worthy of worship except Allah
and Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His
Messenger "
These are the words that a person says to enter the
fold of Islam. The Shahadah, or declaration of faith, is a covenant that the
person makes with Allah: that he/she will continue to obey Allah, and walk in
the footsteps of our Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). It is the first step to
complete obedience to the Lord of all.
From the time of making Shahadah, the person is treated and respected like a
Muslim by all Muslims, even if he/she was previously an enemy of Islam. There
are many examples of this in the history of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
The bond of faith is much stronger than the bond of blood. When a person becomes
a Muslim they enter the community of Muslims, regardless of their race or
background. A feeling of love and harmony abides between people who sincerely
seek to practice Islam according to the Qu'ran and Sunnah. Such people are in a
race to do good and be those with whom Allah is pleased.
The significance of the Shahadah is further highlighted, when we ponder on the
fact that we repeat it every time we pray. How many of us, really think about it
during prayer? It becomes a usual thing and maybe sometimes we say the words
without contemplating their meaning.
When we say there is no god worthy of worship except Allah, it means that we
disdain obedience and servitude to anyone or anything except Allah. It means
that we fear no one and nothing except Allah: that our greatest feeling of love
and gratitude are kept for Allah, because we know that He is the real Provider
of all we have. It means that we do not seek the pleasure or acceptance of
anyone or anything except Allah. This means that the Muslim becomes strong and
independent. The ridicule, scorn, sneers and insults of people bear no
importance. The Muslim remains calm and secure in times of panic because they
know that there is no help except from Allah. In times of grief and distress,
the Muslim remains steadfast and courageous, knowing that calamity can only
occur with the permission of Allah and that He, in His Mercy has promised not to
bear a sincere soul, with more than it can bear.
When we say that Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah, we acknowledge his right to
be respected, obeyed and revered. We follow in his footsteps, knowing that he
was the best of creation and hope to achieve Paradise and be close to him and
the other prophets, Inshaa Allah.
Truly the Shahadah is not a empty phrase, it is not just a few words spoken but
is coupled with sincerity of intention and determination to struggle, strive and
sacrifice along the straight path.
{The Religion in the sight of Allah is Islam}
(Qur'an 3:19) {If anyone
desires a religion other than Islam (Submission to Allah), Never will it be
accepted of him; and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have
lost (their selves in the hell fire)}(Qur'an
3:85)
