Declaration of Faith in Islam - Part I
اشهد ان لا اله الا الله و اشهد انّ محمّد رسول الله
I bear witness that there is no god but God,
I bear witness that Mohammad is the Messenger of God
The Shahadah or Shahadatain (assertion/bearing witness) is the Muslim declaration of faith in the oneness of God and in acceptance of the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) as God's Messenger. This declaration of faith is the first of the ‘pillars" of Islam, and fundamental to a Muslim's spiritual life.
The Shahadah is not simply an affirmation of God’s existence but an acknowledgment that God is the only true reality. The assertion of the unity of God is through witnessing the truth in the depth of one’s being within the sanctuary of the heart. The prophets are the pure souls that through revelation witness the Truth, and become a conduit for the Word of God, revealing His Message and His Word to humans.
The Holy Qur’an states:
قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَى إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَهُكُمْ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاء رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا
Say: "I am but a man like yourselves, (but) the inspiration has come to me, that your Allah is one Allah. whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and, in the worship of his Lord, admit no one as partner (18:110).
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ
It was We Who created man, and We know what dark suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are nearer to him than (his) jugular vein (50:16).
This command to follow him was not just for the people of his time. It is for all people, in all times.
مُّحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ اللَّهِ
Mohammad is the Messenger of God (48:29).
وَاتَّبِعُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
Follow him that you can be guided (7:158).
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءكُمُ الرَّسُولُ بِالْحَقِّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ فَآمِنُواْ خَيْرًا لَّكُمْ وَإِن تَكْفُرُواْ فَإِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَكَانَ اللّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا.
O Mankind! The Messenger hath come to you in truth from God, believe in him: It is best for you. But if ye reject Faith, to God belong all things in the heavens and on earth: And God is All-knowing, All-wise. (4:170)
God tells us repeatedly, in numerous verses, that He has sent prophets through the ages to guide people to Him, naming many of the prophets He has sent in times past, and specifying that Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) is also His Prophet. The prophecy began with Abraham, and continued through the generations after him, and ended with Prophet Mohammad, the Seal of the Prophets.
إِنَّا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ كَمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى نُوحٍ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ مِن بَعْدِهِ وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإْسْحَقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالأَسْبَاطِ وَعِيسَى وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُونُسَ وَهَارُونَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ وَآتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ زَبُورًا
We have sent thee inspiration, as We sent it to Noah and the Messengers after him: we sent inspiration to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the Psalms. (4:163)
مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَكِن رَّسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا
Muhammad is not the father of any one of your men, but is God’s Apostle and the seal of all prophets. (33:40)