Shahadah
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For other meanings, see Shahada (disambiguation).
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Part of a series on the Islamic creed:  |
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| Sunni Five Pillars of Islam | |
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Shahādah - Profession of faith |
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| Sunni Six articles of belief | |
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Tawhīd - Oneness |
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| Shia Twelvers Principles of the Religion (Usul al-Din) |
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Tawhīd - Oneness |
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| Shia Twelvers Practices of the Religion (Furu al-Din) |
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Salah - Prayer |
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| Shia Ismaili 7 pillars | |
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Walayah - Guardianship |
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| Others | |
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Salafi/Kharijite Sixth pillar of Islam. |
The shahadah (Arabic: شهادة šahādah audio ) is the Islamic creed. It means "to testify" or "to bear witness" in Arabic. The shahadah is the Muslim declaration of belief in the oneness of God and in Muhammad as his final prophet. Recitation of the shahadah is one of the Five Pillars of Islam for Muslims and is said daily.
- Arabic text:
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- أشهد أن] لا إله إلاَّ الله و [أشهد أن ] محمد رسول الله ]
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- ['ašhadu 'an] lā ilāha illā-llāh, wa ['ašhadu 'anna] muħammadan rasūlu-llāh
- English rendering:
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- [ I testify that ] there is no god (ilah) but God (Allah), and [ I testify that ] Muhammad is the messenger of God.
Another rendering current amongst some English-speaking Muslims, but without a historical tradition, is
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- [ 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 translation, as the words "worthy of worship" are not present in the Arabic.
A single honest recitation of the shahādah 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 Shi'a 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. However, this isn't obligatory to recite, and many Shi'a Muslims view it as an innovation that is only Mustahab (recommended) to say, but not Wajib (obligatory).
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[edit] History
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".
[edit] Conditions of the Shahadah
There are seven critical conditions of the Shahadah, without which it is considered to be meaningless:
- Al-`Ilm: Knowledge of the meaning of the shahadah, its negation and affirmation.
- Al-Yaqeen: Certainty – perfect knowledge of it that counter-acts 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
Several national flags display the Shahadah:
- The flag of Saudi Arabia, on a green background.
- The unrecognized state of Somaliland.
- From 1990 to 1992, the Islamic State of Afghanistan.
- From 1997 to 2001, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, under the rule of the Taliban.
- Per the 2004 draft constitution for Afghanistan, white script centered on a red background.
- The flag of the Supreme Islamic Courts Council of Somalia.
[edit] Differences
| Beliefs |
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Allah – Oneness of God |
| Practices |
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Profession of Faith • Prayer |
| History & Leaders |
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Muslim history |
| Texts & Laws |
| Major branches |
| Culture & Society |
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Academics • Art • Philosophy |
| See also |
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 of the relatively small minority, labelled the "Quran Alone Muslims" or the "Quranis" consider the second part of the Shahadah incorrect and say it should not include Muhammad's name, one of the reasons being that the full Shahadah with Muhammad's name is never found in the Qur'an. One who does not believe in both parts of the Shahadah is considered to be outside of the fold of Islam. However, "Quran Alone Muslims" don't disagree with Muhammad being the Messenger of Allah, they just don't add it.
Some Indonesian Muslims pray "Allah il Allah" when appealing for God's help. This is an altered form of the first part of the Shahada.
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.
[edit] Famous recitals
The Shahadah was recited by former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein before his execution. He recited it twice, however, he was cut off the second time at "Muhammad" as the trap door was released. For further details see Execution of Saddam Hussein. This, to some Muslims, may have damned Hussein or caused Hussein to believe he was damned in his last moment, as finishing at this point decreed God to be both Allah and Muhammad, rather than correctly placing Muhammad at his subservient role as messenger.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ USC-MSA Compendium of Muslim Texts. Retrieved on 2006-09-12.
