Shahadah is an Arabic word that means to ‘testify’ or ‘announce’.
In Islam, Shahadah is simply declaring that you believe in the truth by reciting:
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ #
Transliteration: “Ashhadu anna la ilaha illa Allah, Wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasool Allah.”
Translation: “I bear witness that there is no God but Allah (there is none worthy of worship but Allah), and Muhammad (SAW) is the Messenger of Allah.”
Shahadah is the basis of Islam and its main concept. #
It helps us declare our faith and belief in:
- The absolute oneness of God. There is No ONE worthy of worship other than Allah Almighty, and there is no God except Allah. He is alone.
- And that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is the last messenger from Allah. There will be no other Prophets or messengers sent after him.
What is ‘shirk‘ in Islam? #
Shirk is an Arabic word that signifies “partnership” or “associating someone with Allah Almighty”. The Quran strongly forbids people from equating partners with Allah Almighty and teaches them to recognize the oneness of Him.
Shirk is an unpardonable sin in Islam; if one dies in this state, they have rejected Islam and have left the faith. Allah Almighty mentions in the Quran in Surah An-Nisa (Chapter 4, verse 116):
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَـٰلًۢا بَعِيدًا ١١٦
Translation: Surely Allah does not forgive associating [others] with Him [in worship], but forgives anything else of whoever He wills. Indeed, whoever associates [others] with Allah has clearly gone far astray.
Also in Surah An-Nisa (Chapter 4, verse 48):
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱفْتَرَىٰٓ إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا ٤٨
Translation: Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating others with Him [in worship], but forgives anything else of whoever He wills. And whoever associates others with Allah has indeed committed a grave sin.
In numerous verses of the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty forbids creating rivals with Him, and He condemns those who regard them (rivals) as gods apart from Allah (SWT). In Surah Al-Baqarah (Chapter 2, verse 22), Allah Almighty says:
ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ فِرَٰشًۭا وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بِنَآءًۭ وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ رِزْقًۭا لَّكُمْ ۖ فَلَا تَجْعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ أَندَادًۭا وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ٢٢
Translation: [He is the One] Who has made the earth a place of settlement for you and the sky a canopy; and sends down rain from the sky, causing fruits to grow as a provision for you. So do not knowingly set up equals to Allah [in worship].
In Surah Ar-Ra’d (Chapter 13, verse 36), Allah Almighty says:
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَمِنَ ٱلْأَحْزَابِ مَن يُنكِرُ بَعْضَهُۥ ۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ ٱللَّهَ وَلَآ أُشْرِكَ بِهِۦٓ ۚ إِلَيْهِ أَدْعُوا۟ وَإِلَيْهِ مَـَٔابِ ٣٦
Translation: [The believers among] those who were given the Scripture rejoice at what has been revealed to you [O Prophet], while some [disbelieving] factions deny a portion of it. Say, “I have only been commanded to worship Allah, associating none with Him [in worship]. To Him I invite [all], and to Him is my return.”
