Nurain
Junior Member
:salam2:
Dear brothers and sisters,
I feel as Muslims we ought to know this, have it inscribed in our hearts. May we understand the testimony that we make and accept it wholly in our hearts, in sha Allaah. <3 :tti_sister:
Understand what the shahadah affirms and denies.
Allaah taela says in the Qur'an:
"So know that there is no God save Allaah, and ask forgiveness for your sin."
(Surah Muhammad: 19).
Similarly, our Prophet salallaahu 'alayhe wa sallaam had said:
“Whoever dies knowing that there is no one worthy of worship except Allaah shall enter Paradise.”
(Recorded in Sahih Muslim).
The shahadah itself is a testimony. When one testifies something, it is only proper the one knows with certainty what one is testifying for!
Allaah taela says in the Qur'an:
"Except him who bears witness unto the truth knowingly."
(Surah Al-Zukhruf: 86).
The opposite of doubt and uncertainty. Being steadfast and firmly believing in the testimony we make, with hearts which do not waver. The believers in the Qur'an are described as "those who have belief in Allah and then their hearts waver not".
Allaah taela says in the Qur'an:
"the (true) believers are those only who believe in Allah and His messenger and afterward doubt not, but strive with their wealth and their lives for the cause of Allah. Such are the sincere."
(al-Hujjarat : 15).
Similarly, or beloved Prophet salallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam said:
"No one meets Allah with the testimony that there is none worthy of worship but Allah and I am the Messenger of Allah, and he has no doubt about hat statement, except that he will enter Paradise." (Recorded by Muslim.)
Allaah taela has described the hypocrites as those with hearts wavering:
"They alone seek leave of thee (not to participate in jihad) who believe not in Allah and the Last Day and whose hearts feel doubt, so in their doubt they waver."
(al-Tauba: 45).
The shahadah is NOT a shahadah without its unconditional acceptance. How often now do we see, some Muslims, accepting part of what Allaah commands and leaving behind what they do not deem fit for them!? - is this due to pride? This beautiful Deen is not for us to pick and choose!
"Do you believe in part of the book and reject part of it? And what is the reward of those who do so, except humiliation in the life of this world, and on the Day of Resurrection they will be sent to the most dreadful doom." (al-Baqarah: 85).
I have met muslim ladies not wearing hijab, with this excuse: Why wear hijab? Sometimes those not wearing hijab are better than those wearing hijab - look at them! It is what is in my heart which matters."
I'm sure my dear brothers and sisters, you have experienced the same. How do we tell these people? We must submit to our Lord's commands - this is not a buffet table where you can avoid the prawn when you have sensitive skin! The true status for the ladies as described above are as such: wear the hijab first, correct your intention progressively.
People must never ever say: "So what if I don't pray? I have a good heart." This is not the way to go!
Moving on to the next,
This implies the actual physical enactment with our deeds of our shahadah. In fact, this is one of the main meanings of the word Islam itself, "the submission to the will and commands of Allah." This is what Allaah commands in the Qur'an,
"Turn unto Him repentant, and surrender unto Him" (al-Zumar: 54).
Allaah has praised those who submit to His command by their actions. Allaah says,
"Who is better in religion than he who surrenders his purpose to Allaah while doing good" (al-Nisa: 125).
Actually, Allaah has clearly made it a condition of faith that one submits to the command of Allaah and His messenger. Allaah says,
"But nay, by your Lord, they will not truly believe until they make you [the Messenger of Allaah] judge of what is in dispute between them and find within themselves no dislike of which you decide, and submit with full submission" (al-Nisa: 65)
Unfortunately, there are many that claim that there is no relationship between faith and deeds.
Saying it honestly, actually meaning what we say - and not lying. This is the testimony of faith we speak of. If we can't be truthful in this - what good will any of our other speeches be?
The Prophet (peace be upon his) said, "No one bears testimony to there being no one worth of worship save Allah, sincerely from his heart, except that Allah makes the Hell-fire forbidden for him." (Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
We are all familiar with those who say the testimony of faith yet they are not saying it honestly. They do not believe in it but they are simply saying it in order to protect themselves or to get some gain from doing so; these are the hypocrites. Allah has described them in the opening of the Qur'an with the following words,
"And of mankind are some who say, 'We believe in Allah and the Last Day,' when they believe not. They think to beguile Allah and those who believe, and they beguile none save themselves, but they perceive not. In their hearts is a disease, and Allah increases their disease. A painful doom is theirs because they lie" (al-Baqarah: 8-10).
Obviously, the shahadah of those who become Muslims simply to benefit from being Muslim and not because they believe in Islam will be rejected by Allah in the Hereafter. They will face a painful punishment due to their lying.
Doing it only for the sake of Allaah, not alongside something/someone else, not because of something/someone else.
Allaah says in the Qur'an:
"Worship Allah, making religion pure for him" (al-Zumar: 2).
And Allah also says,
"And they are ordained not else than to serve Allah, keeping religion pure for Him, as men by nature upright and to establish worship and to pay the poor-due. That is true religion" (al-Bayinah: 5).
And our beloved Prophet sallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam says:
"Allah has forbidden for the Hell-fire anyone who says, 'There is no one worthy of worship except Allah,' and say so desiring the face [and pleasure] of Allah." (Recorded by Muslim).
At this point, we question ourselves - are we Muslims or are we Muslims for partents, for cultural sake, for line of descendants' sake? Lets ponder on this.
Love! <3
The true believer, the one meeting the conditions of the shahadah puts no one whatsoever as an equal to Allah in his love. Allah says in the Qur'an,
"Yet of mankind are some who take unto themselves (objects of worship which they set as) rivals to Allah, loving them with a love like (that which is due to) Allah only. However, those who believe are stauncher in their love of Allah" (al-Baqarah: 165).
And elsewhere Allah says:
"Say: If your fathers, or your sons, or your brethren, or your wives, or your tribe, or the wealth you have acquired, or merchandise for which you fear that there will be no sale, or dwellings you desire are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His way: then wait till Allah brings His command to pass. Allah guides not wrongdoing folk" (al-Tauba: 24).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever has three characteristics has tasted the sweetness of faith. [The first of these] is that he loves Allah and His Messenger more than he loves anyone else..." (Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.).
Feeling love for Islam, reciting the shahadah which comes from the heart SubhanAllaah! Islam is not a chore, it is not routine.
The shahadah is NOT MERELY an affirmation, but it is AFFIRMATION + NEGATION. In surah al-Baqarah Allaah says:
"And he who rejects false deities and believes in Allah has grasped a firm handhold which will never break" (al-Baqarah: 256).
Our beloved Prophet salallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam said:
"Whoever says there is no one worthy of worship except Allah and denies whatever is worshipped besides Allah, then his wealth and blood are protected and his accounting will be with Allah." (Recorded by Muslim).
Sure, Gods, many Gods there are now but 99% of HOAX! Only Allaah is worthy of worship, only Him.
The shahadah is our banner until death.
Our beloved Prophet salallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam said:
" A man spends a long time doing the deeds of the people of Paradise and then he ends his deeds with the deeds of the people of the Hell-fire. And a man spends a long time doing the deeds of the people of the Hell-fire and then he ends his deeds with the deeds of the people of Paradise." (Recorded by Muslim)
In another hadeeth, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
"By the One beside whom there is no other God, one of you does the actions of Paradise until there is just a hand span between him and Paradise and then the book [preordainment] overtakes him and he does the actions of the people of Hell and he enters into it."
(Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
And Allah says in the Qur'an,
"O believers, observe your duty to Allah with right observance, and die not except as Muslims "O believers, observe your duty to Allah with right observance, and die not except as Muslims [in complete state of surrender, submission, obedience to Allah]" [in complete state of surrender, submission, obedience to Allah]"
(al-Imran: 102).
Please read here.
BarakAllaahu feekum.
Dear brothers and sisters,
I feel as Muslims we ought to know this, have it inscribed in our hearts. May we understand the testimony that we make and accept it wholly in our hearts, in sha Allaah. <3 :tti_sister:
NINE CONDITIONS OF SHAHADAH
#1. KNOWLEDGE ('ILM)
Understand what the shahadah affirms and denies.
Allaah taela says in the Qur'an:
"So know that there is no God save Allaah, and ask forgiveness for your sin."
(Surah Muhammad: 19).
Similarly, our Prophet salallaahu 'alayhe wa sallaam had said:
“Whoever dies knowing that there is no one worthy of worship except Allaah shall enter Paradise.”
(Recorded in Sahih Muslim).
The shahadah itself is a testimony. When one testifies something, it is only proper the one knows with certainty what one is testifying for!
Allaah taela says in the Qur'an:
"Except him who bears witness unto the truth knowingly."
(Surah Al-Zukhruf: 86).
#2. CERTAINTY (YAQEEN)
The opposite of doubt and uncertainty. Being steadfast and firmly believing in the testimony we make, with hearts which do not waver. The believers in the Qur'an are described as "those who have belief in Allah and then their hearts waver not".
Allaah taela says in the Qur'an:
"the (true) believers are those only who believe in Allah and His messenger and afterward doubt not, but strive with their wealth and their lives for the cause of Allah. Such are the sincere."
(al-Hujjarat : 15).
Similarly, or beloved Prophet salallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam said:
"No one meets Allah with the testimony that there is none worthy of worship but Allah and I am the Messenger of Allah, and he has no doubt about hat statement, except that he will enter Paradise." (Recorded by Muslim.)
Allaah taela has described the hypocrites as those with hearts wavering:
"They alone seek leave of thee (not to participate in jihad) who believe not in Allah and the Last Day and whose hearts feel doubt, so in their doubt they waver."
(al-Tauba: 45).
#3. ACCEPTANCE (QABOOL)
The shahadah is NOT a shahadah without its unconditional acceptance. How often now do we see, some Muslims, accepting part of what Allaah commands and leaving behind what they do not deem fit for them!? - is this due to pride? This beautiful Deen is not for us to pick and choose!
"Do you believe in part of the book and reject part of it? And what is the reward of those who do so, except humiliation in the life of this world, and on the Day of Resurrection they will be sent to the most dreadful doom." (al-Baqarah: 85).
I have met muslim ladies not wearing hijab, with this excuse: Why wear hijab? Sometimes those not wearing hijab are better than those wearing hijab - look at them! It is what is in my heart which matters."
I'm sure my dear brothers and sisters, you have experienced the same. How do we tell these people? We must submit to our Lord's commands - this is not a buffet table where you can avoid the prawn when you have sensitive skin! The true status for the ladies as described above are as such: wear the hijab first, correct your intention progressively.
People must never ever say: "So what if I don't pray? I have a good heart." This is not the way to go!
Moving on to the next,
#4. SUBMISSION AND COMPLIANCE (INQIYAD)
This implies the actual physical enactment with our deeds of our shahadah. In fact, this is one of the main meanings of the word Islam itself, "the submission to the will and commands of Allah." This is what Allaah commands in the Qur'an,
"Turn unto Him repentant, and surrender unto Him" (al-Zumar: 54).
Allaah has praised those who submit to His command by their actions. Allaah says,
"Who is better in religion than he who surrenders his purpose to Allaah while doing good" (al-Nisa: 125).
Actually, Allaah has clearly made it a condition of faith that one submits to the command of Allaah and His messenger. Allaah says,
"But nay, by your Lord, they will not truly believe until they make you [the Messenger of Allaah] judge of what is in dispute between them and find within themselves no dislike of which you decide, and submit with full submission" (al-Nisa: 65)
Unfortunately, there are many that claim that there is no relationship between faith and deeds.
#5. TRUTHFULNESS (AS-SIDQ) - as opposed to hypocrisy and dishonesty
Saying it honestly, actually meaning what we say - and not lying. This is the testimony of faith we speak of. If we can't be truthful in this - what good will any of our other speeches be?
The Prophet (peace be upon his) said, "No one bears testimony to there being no one worth of worship save Allah, sincerely from his heart, except that Allah makes the Hell-fire forbidden for him." (Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
We are all familiar with those who say the testimony of faith yet they are not saying it honestly. They do not believe in it but they are simply saying it in order to protect themselves or to get some gain from doing so; these are the hypocrites. Allah has described them in the opening of the Qur'an with the following words,
"And of mankind are some who say, 'We believe in Allah and the Last Day,' when they believe not. They think to beguile Allah and those who believe, and they beguile none save themselves, but they perceive not. In their hearts is a disease, and Allah increases their disease. A painful doom is theirs because they lie" (al-Baqarah: 8-10).
Obviously, the shahadah of those who become Muslims simply to benefit from being Muslim and not because they believe in Islam will be rejected by Allah in the Hereafter. They will face a painful punishment due to their lying.
#6. SINCERITY (AL-IKHLAS)
Doing it only for the sake of Allaah, not alongside something/someone else, not because of something/someone else.
Allaah says in the Qur'an:
"Worship Allah, making religion pure for him" (al-Zumar: 2).
And Allah also says,
"And they are ordained not else than to serve Allah, keeping religion pure for Him, as men by nature upright and to establish worship and to pay the poor-due. That is true religion" (al-Bayinah: 5).
And our beloved Prophet sallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam says:
"Allah has forbidden for the Hell-fire anyone who says, 'There is no one worthy of worship except Allah,' and say so desiring the face [and pleasure] of Allah." (Recorded by Muslim).
At this point, we question ourselves - are we Muslims or are we Muslims for partents, for cultural sake, for line of descendants' sake? Lets ponder on this.
#7. LOVE (MAHABBAH)
Love! <3
The true believer, the one meeting the conditions of the shahadah puts no one whatsoever as an equal to Allah in his love. Allah says in the Qur'an,
"Yet of mankind are some who take unto themselves (objects of worship which they set as) rivals to Allah, loving them with a love like (that which is due to) Allah only. However, those who believe are stauncher in their love of Allah" (al-Baqarah: 165).
And elsewhere Allah says:
"Say: If your fathers, or your sons, or your brethren, or your wives, or your tribe, or the wealth you have acquired, or merchandise for which you fear that there will be no sale, or dwellings you desire are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His way: then wait till Allah brings His command to pass. Allah guides not wrongdoing folk" (al-Tauba: 24).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever has three characteristics has tasted the sweetness of faith. [The first of these] is that he loves Allah and His Messenger more than he loves anyone else..." (Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.).
Feeling love for Islam, reciting the shahadah which comes from the heart SubhanAllaah! Islam is not a chore, it is not routine.
#8. DENIAL OF FALSE WORSHIP
The shahadah is NOT MERELY an affirmation, but it is AFFIRMATION + NEGATION. In surah al-Baqarah Allaah says:
"And he who rejects false deities and believes in Allah has grasped a firm handhold which will never break" (al-Baqarah: 256).
Our beloved Prophet salallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam said:
"Whoever says there is no one worthy of worship except Allah and denies whatever is worshipped besides Allah, then his wealth and blood are protected and his accounting will be with Allah." (Recorded by Muslim).
Sure, Gods, many Gods there are now but 99% of HOAX! Only Allaah is worthy of worship, only Him.
#9. ADHERENCE (ASTAQEEM)
The shahadah is our banner until death.
Our beloved Prophet salallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam said:
" A man spends a long time doing the deeds of the people of Paradise and then he ends his deeds with the deeds of the people of the Hell-fire. And a man spends a long time doing the deeds of the people of the Hell-fire and then he ends his deeds with the deeds of the people of Paradise." (Recorded by Muslim)
In another hadeeth, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
"By the One beside whom there is no other God, one of you does the actions of Paradise until there is just a hand span between him and Paradise and then the book [preordainment] overtakes him and he does the actions of the people of Hell and he enters into it."
(Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
And Allah says in the Qur'an,
"O believers, observe your duty to Allah with right observance, and die not except as Muslims "O believers, observe your duty to Allah with right observance, and die not except as Muslims [in complete state of surrender, submission, obedience to Allah]" [in complete state of surrender, submission, obedience to Allah]"
(al-Imran: 102).
Please read here.
BarakAllaahu feekum.
