A
Muslim expresses his/her faith (Iman) in the following words:
Ash-hadu anla ilaha illal-Lahu Wahdahu
la Sharika Lahu wa-ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu
The English translation of the Shahadah
is as follows:
I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except
Allah, the One, without any partner. And I bear witness
that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.
The declaration of faith consists of two distinct parts,
i.e., the absolute belief in the Unity of Allah (God) and
the belief in the Holy Prophet Muhammad as a mortal human
being and the Messenger of Allah.
Islam's fundamental belief is the Unity of God. All other
beliefs hang on this belief. Therefore the acknowledgement
and 'bearing witness' of this is the key to the Muslim faith.
Unless this is observed one cannot be a Muslim. A Muslim
accepts Allah as the only God, and only Master, Lord and
Ruler with no partner sharing in any way His Being, Powers
and Attributes. He is One; He is Unique; He is not the father
of any one, nor He has or had any father. He is Almighty
and Self-Sustaining. He is there forever, and will be there
forever.
A Muslim believes in Allah as the Ruler and must not disobey
Him. In fact everything that exists in the universe obeys
Him. He is the Fashioner of all the Universes that may exist.
The belief in the Prophet Muhammad (on whom be peace) as
the servant and Messenger of Allah completes one’s
faith. The Holy Prophet was the greatest of all the Prophets
of Allah, yet he was only a human being with no share in
Divinity. This is a very important belief that keeps Muslims
from associating partners with Allah. This part of the Declaration
of Faith where reinforces the first part of Allah being
the only Supreme Being with no partners also establishes
the absolute authority of the Holy Prophet as the Messenger
of Allah, who must be obeyed as well in all the matters
of faith. The Holy Prophet is the last prophet who brought
us the last Book (the Holy Quran) to be followed. He lived
among his people for a long time and his life is documented
in utmost detail. He lead his followers by example. The
way he lived his life and admonished his followers to live
their lives is called Sunnah of the Holy Prophet. The second
part of the Declaration of Faith makes obeying and following
the advice of the Prophet Muhammad equally important to
the belief in absolute Unity of Allah. This declaration
make one to completely submit to the Will of Allah and that
is why one who declares this belief is called a Muslim -
one who completely submits to the will of Allah.
