SHAHADA-The Declaration of Faith

السبت, 27 فبراير 2010 02:16 |

SHAHADA
(The Declaration of Faith)

This Arabic phrase, shahada, also called kalima, is a simple statement; sincerely believing in the meanings of it and the faith behind it can change one's life for ever. It consists of two parts: first half is tawheed the unity and oneness of Allah. This fundamental concept of Islam is expressed by Allah himself in His book Qur'an: "He, Allah is one. Allah is He on Whom all depend. He begets not, nor is He begotten, And none is like Him."

[The Holy Qur'an, Surah 112:1-4]

The second part of kalima is risalah: the acceptance of Prophethood. Muslims accept that all Prophets were chosen by Allah to deliver His literal word, the basic message of His oneness to all nations, in their own languages, at different times. Adam was the first Prophet and Muhammad the final of all messengers to mankind. This belief is central to Islam.

There are certain conditions of the shahadah, without which it is considered to be meaningless:

Ilm: Knowledge of the meaning of the Shahadah, its negation and affirmation.
Yaqeen: Certainty – perfect knowledge of it that counteracts suspicion and doubt.
Ikhlaas: Sincerity which negates shirk.
Sidq: Truthfulness that permits neither falsehood nor hypocrisy.
Mahabbah: Love of the Shahadah and its meaning, and being happy with it and its requirements.
Inqiad: Submission to its rightful requirements, which are the duties that must be performed with sincerity to Allah (alone) seeking only Allah's pleasure.
Qubool: Acceptance that contradicts rejection.

The True Islam is based on the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah. Sunnah is an Arabic word which means the words and actions or examples of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Six Articles of Belief
Tawheed: Monotheism (Oneness of Allah)
Prophethood and Messengership
Holy Books
Angels
The Final Judgement Day
Predestination

Five Pillars of Islam
Shahadah: Declaration of Faith
Salah: Prayer
Zakah: Charity, paying of alms and giving to the poor
Sawm: Fasting, obligatory during the Month of Ramadan
Hajj: Pilgrimage to Makkah

The Last Messenger - Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
Prophet Muhammad was the last and final Messenger of Allah. No prophet shall come after Muhammad (peace be upon him)
Allah chose Muhammad to reveal His Last Message to mankind - The Holy Qur'an - and gave Muhammad complete guidance for people of all the worlds. Muhammad (peace be upon him) received the Noble Qur'an from Allah through the Angel Jibril.

Rightly Guided Caliphs
Abu Bakr Siddeeque
Umar ibn al-Khattab
Uthman ibn Affan
Ali ibn Abi Talib

Islamic Laws (Shari'ah)
The Laws based purely on the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah of the Prophet, as embodied in the Hadith, as a source of the Shari'ah.

Allah says in the Holy Quran: The Messenger (Muhammad) believes in what has been revealed to him by his Lord, and so do the believers. They believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. They say: "We make no distinction between Allah's Messengers." And they say: "We hear and obey. Grant us Your forgiveness, Lord; to You shall all return."