The conditions of the Shahadah and what invalidates a persons Shahadah
Many Muslims wrongly believe that they can behave in whatever way they wish or that they can have whatever belief system they want and still remain in the fold of Islam.
Brothers and sisters the Shahadah "Ash-hadu allaa ilaaha illaallaah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa Rasooluh. ".("I bear witness that there is no deity worthy to be worshiped but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.") has several conditions for it to be accepted from you and there are several things which can invalidate the shahadah.
As a Muslim you should wish to hold onto your shahadah and this should learn what its conditions are so that your shahadah is accepted and you should know what invalidates it so that you do not invalidate your shahadah and go outside the fold of Islam.
The Shahadah is the dividing line
between unbelief (kufr) and Islam. It is also
called the kalimah (word). Whoever says it with
truthfulness will enter the Gardens of Paradise
It is [a kalimah] that Allah Himself has
testified to, as have the angels and those who
possess knowledge from amongst His creation.
Allah the Most High said:
"Allah bears witness that none has the right to
be worshiped except Him; as do the angels and
those who possess knowledge. He maintains His
creation upon justice. None has the right to be
worshiped except Him, the All-Mighty, All-Wise."
[Soorah Aal-Imraan 3:18]
It is a concise declaration that contains few
letters; light upon the tongue, yet heavy in the
scales.
Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam, who said:
"A person from my ummah will be summoned in
front of everyone on the Day of Resurrection.
Ninety-nine scrolls will be unfurled for him,
each scroll extending as far as the eye can see.
Then it will be said: Do you deny any of this
[i.e. your bad deeds]? So the man will reply:
No, 0 Lord. Then it will be said: Do you have
any excuse or any good deed? The man, in a state
of terror, will answer: No. It will then be
said: Rather, you do have some good deeds and no
injustice will befall you this Day. So a
parchment will be taken out for him, upon which
there will be the testification of laa ilaaha
illallaah and the testification that Muhammad is
the Slave and Messenger of Allah. The man will
say: 0h Lord, what is this parchment in
comparison to those scrolls! It will be said to
him: No injustice shall befall you. The scrolls
will then be placed in one of the scales and the
parchment in the other; the scrolls will be
light in weight, whereas the parchment will be
heavy." ( Reported by at-Tirmidhee (no.2641),
from Abdullaah ibn Amr radhiyallahu anhu. It was
declared to be saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee in
as-Saheehah (no.135).
The Conditions of the Shahadah
1 Knowledge (Al-ilm)
Knowledge (al-ilm) of its meaning, what it
negates and affirms. If a person says it without
knowing its meaning, nor what its requirements
are, then he will not benefit by it, because he
has not believed in what it requires. Rather, he
is like someone who speaks in a language that he
does not understand.
2 Certainty (Al-Yaqeen)
The
heart must be firmly certain of the meaning of Shahadah without a
blemish of doubt.
Allah the Exalted says:" Verily, the believers are only those
who truly
believe in Allah and His Messenger, and then doubt not. (Quran 49:15).
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "I bear
witness that
there is no god but Allah, and I am the Messenger of Allah. No slave
meets Allah with this testimony, having no doubt in it but shall enter
Jannah."( Muslim) :
3
Sincerity (Al-Ikhlaas)
Exclusively worshiping Allah, which is contrary
to shirk.
This is what laa ilaaha illallaah points towards.
Allah, the Exalted, said:" And they were not commanded but to
worship
Allah, being sincere in devoting religion to Him." (Quran 98:5).
Abu Hurairah said:" I asked the Messenger of Allah, peace be
upon him:
Messenger of Allah! Who will be most fortunate to enjoy your shafa'ah
(intercession) on the Day of Resurrection? The Messenger of Allah,
peace be upon him, said: I was certain that no one else would ask me
about this other than you, because I have noticed your keenness for
hadeeth. The most fortunate of men who will enjoy my shafa'ah on the
Day of Resurrection is the one who says: (La Ilaha Illa Allah) "None
has the right to be worshiped except Allah", sincerely from his
heart.."(Musnad al-Imam Ahmad.)
4 Truthfulness (As-Sidq)
Truthfulness (as-sidq), which prevents
hypocrisy
(nifaaq). Indeed, the
hypocrites uttered it with their tongues, but did not inwardly believe
in what it signified.
The Messenger of Allah said: "Anyone
testifies that
there is no god but
Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, truthfully from his
heart, Allah would forbid his admittance to the Fire."(Muslim)
5
Love and affection (Al-Mahabbah )
Love (al-mahabbah) for this kalimah and having love and
pleasure for
whatever it necessitates. This is contrary to the [state of the]
hypocrites.
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "There are
three
(qualities), whoever possesses them, will taste the sweetness of Iman
(belief): to love Allah and His Messenger more than anyone else, to
love the Muslim only for the sake of Allah, and to dread returning to
kufr (apostasy) as he dreads being thrown in fire." ( Bukhari and
Muslim.)
Allah says to His Messenger (peace be upon him)
Say (O Muhammad SAW to mankind): "If you (really) love Allah
then
follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Quran and the
Sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allah is
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (3:31)
Allah says: "Allah shall bring forth a people whom He loves
and they
love Him." (Quran 5:54)
The Prophet, peace be upon him, also said: "None of you shall
(really)
believe until I become dearer to him than his own father, and son and
all mankind." ( Bukhari and Muslim.)
6
Submission (Al-Inqiyaad) internally and externally
Submissive compliance (al-inqiyaad), by fulfilling its rights
- which
are the obligatory actions - with sincerity to Allah and seeking His
good pleasure. This is its requirement.
Allah, the Exalted, says: "And he who submits himself
to
Allah, and does good, he has surely grasped a strong handle." ( Quran
31:22).
Allah also says:" And turn you to your Rabb, and submit
yourselves to
Him." (:Quran 39:54).
7
Acceptance and conformity (Al-Qubool )
Acceptance (al-qabool), which prevents rejection.
This is achieved by acting upon what Allah has commanded and
abandoning whatever He has prohibited.
Abu Musa al-Ash'aree reported that the Prophet, peace be upon
him said:
"The parable of guidance and knowledge which Allah has sent me with is
like a rain which fell on a land. A patch of that land received the
water and produced much herbage and grass. And a patch which was
barren. The latter retained water wherewith Allah extended benefits to
men: they drank from it, irrigated and planted their vegetation. And a
patch which was a sandy plain, it neither retained water nor produced
herbage. This is parallel to the person who conceived the religion of
Allah and benefited from the Message with which Allah has sent me,
whereby he learns and taught others. The other person turned away from
it (from my Message), and rejected the guidance of Allah with which I
am sent.." Bukhari and Muslim.)
Allah says "Indeed in the Messenger of Allah
(Muhammad peace
be upon him) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in
(the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah
much."(33:21)
And Allah also says in Surah Al-Hashr
....And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him)
gives
you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it) , and
fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment. (59:7)
Again Allah says:
O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger
(Muhammad peace be upon him), and those of you (Muslims) who
are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves,
refer it to Allah and His Messenger ( peace be upon him), if you
believe in Allah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable
for final determination.(4:59)
And Allah says:
But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make
you (O
Muhammad ) judge in all disputes between them, and find in
themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with
full submission.
In the next verse Allah again tells his Messenger
Say (O Muhammad peace be upon him): "Obey Allah and
the
Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him)." But if they turn
away, then Allah does not like the disbeliever's (3:32)
Islam unites together people of different colours,
languages,
races. and nationalities into one brotherhood.
Allah says: "Indeed the Believers are but brothers." [Quran 4
9:10]
Before Islam people in Arabia were dived into
different
tribes. Some of them were at constant war with each other, Islam came
and Allah put peace and love in their hearts for each other.
Allah the Most High said: "And remember the favor of Allah
upon you,
for you were once enemies to one another but He joined your hearts
together in love, so that by His Grace you became brothers." [Soorah
Aal-Imraan 3:103]
And Allah the Most High said: "He it is that has strengthened
you with
His help and with the Believers. And moreover, He has united their
hearts with love and affection. If you had spent all that is in the
earth, you could not have united their hearts with love and affection.
However, Allah has united them. Indeed Allah is the All-Mighty,
All-Wise." [Soorah al-Anfaal 8:62- 63].
Allah has stated in the
Holy
Quran:
"... whoever disbelieves in false deities
and
believes in Allah, hath
grasped the most trustworthy handhold, that will never break..." (2:256)
The Invalidators of Islam
The Invalidators of Islam
You should know, dear Muslim brother/sister , that Allah made it obligatory upon all His slaves to enter Islam and hold on to it, and warned them against following other than Islam. He also sent His Prophet Muhammad to call mankind to it. Allah has informed us in the Quran that guided are those who follow the teachings of Islam, and misguided are those who reject them. He warned us in many Verses against the causes of apostasy and all forms of Shirk and disbelief Religious scholars have mentioned that there are a number of invalidators that are bound to take one out of the fold of Islam. For the sake of attaining salvation in the Hereafter, I have briefly cited in the following pages, with some explanation, the ten most critical of these invalidators so that you will avoid them and make others aware of them.
1 . To associate others with Allah in worship.
The Quran says:
"Allah forgives not (the sin of) setting up partners with Him in worship, but He forgives whom He pleases other sins than this." (Soorah 4: 1
"Whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, Allah will forbid him Paradise, and the Fire will be his abode. For the wrongdoers there are no helpers." (Soorah 5:72)
Forms of worship include calling upon the dead, seeking their assistance, offering sacrifices to them, and taking vows in their names.
2. To set up intermediaries between oneself and Allah, seeking their intercession and putting absolute trust in them. Those who do so are unanimously considered disbelievers.
3. Not to accuse polytheists and those who commit Shirk of disbelief, to be in doubt as to their being disbelievers, or to approve of their beliefs.
4. To believe that the Prophet's guidance is not complete or perfect or that other people's ruling and judgment is better than his. Those who prefer the rule of false gods are blatant disbelievers.
5 . Those who hate anything that the Prophet came with are also disbelievers even if they act upon them. The Quran says:
"That is because they hate that which Allah sent down, so He has made their deeds fruitless." (Soorah 47:9)
6. Those who ridicule anything that Islam came with, such as punishment and reward in the Hereafter, are disbelievers. The Quran says:
"Say: 'Was it at Allah, and His Signs, and His Messenger, that you were mocking? Make no excuse; you have rejected Faith after you had accepted it." (9:65,66)
7. Magic in all its forms, including turning someone away from somebody that he or she loves, and making someone love someone or something he or she does not normally like. Whoever practices magic or approves of it is a disbeliever, as evidenced by the Quranic Verse that says:
"But neither of these (two angels) taught anyone (such things) without saying, We are only for trial, so disbelieve not (by learning this magic from us)." (Soorah 2:102)
8. To take the disbelievers for friends, give them support and assistance against the Muslims is an act of disbelief. The Quran says:
"And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily Allah guides not a people unjust." (Soorah 5:51)
9. Those who believe that it is in their power or authority to for sake the law of Islam are disbelievers. The Quran says:
"And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers." (Soorah 3:85)
10. To turn away from Islam and to stubbornly refuse to learn its teachings or act upon them. The Quran says:
"And who does more wrong than he who is reminded of the Signs of his Lord, then he turns away there from? Verily from those who transgress We shall exact (due) retribution." (Soorah 32:22)
The fourth point mentioned above also includes those people who believe that man-made laws are better than the Islamic Law.
It also includes people who believe that the Islamic Law is not suitable to be implemented in the present century or who falsely claim that Islam or Islamic laws make Muslims backwardness or less advanced in some spheres of life.
It also includes those who falsely claim that Islamic laws are not applicable in other spheres of life apart from regulating one's personal life with one's Lord.
It also includes those who believe that it is permissible to dispense with the Islamic Law in matters relating to the social life and the boundary limits for the lawful and the unlawful even if they do not believe that other laws are not better than the Islamic Law. For this means that they have made lawful what Allah had already made unlawful. Whoever makes lawful what Allah has declared unlawful is a disbeliever with the unanimous agreement of all Muslim scholars.
In all of these invalidators, there is no difference between one who does them jokingly, seriously, or in fear, except for one who is compelled against his will. All of these matters are very dangerous and many of them are occurring amongst the some Muslims of today. Therefore, it is necessary for the Muslim to beware of them and fear for himself concerning them.
Brothers and sisters the Shahadah also comes with a pledge of Allegiance
Narrated 'Ubada bin As-Samit:
who took part in the battle of Badr and was a
Naqib (a person heading a group of six persons),
on the night of Al-'Aqaba pledge: Allah's
Apostle said while a group of his companions
were around him, "Swear allegiance to me for:
1. Not to join anything in worship along with
Allah.
2. Not to steal.
3. Not to commit illegal sexual intercourse.
4. Not to kill your children.
5. Not to accuse an innocent person (to spread
such an accusation among people).
6. Not to be disobedient (when ordered) to do
good deed."
The Prophet added: "Whoever among you fulfills
his pledge will be rewarded by Allah. And
whoever indulges in any one of them (except the
ascription of partners to Allah) and gets the
punishment in this world, that punishment will
be an expiation for that sin. And if one
indulges in any of them, and Allah conceals his
sin, it is up to Him to forgive or punish him
(in the Hereafter)." 'Ubada bin As-Samit added:
"So we swore allegiance for these." (points to
Allah's Apostle) (Bukhari Volume: 1, Book
Number: 2, Hadith Number: 17)
Narrated Jarir bin Abdullah:
I gave the pledge of allegiance to Allah's
Apostle for the following:
1. offer prayers perfectly
2. pay the Zakat (obligatory charity)
3. and be sincere and true to every Muslim.
(Bukhari Book Number: 2, Hadith Number: 54)
Narrated Ziyad bin'Ilaqa:
I heard Jarir bin 'Abdullah (Praising Allah). On
the day when Al-Mughira bin Shu'ba died, he (Jarir)
got up (on the pulpit) and thanked and praised
Allah and said, "Be afraid of Allah alone Who
has none along with Him to be worshiped.(You
should) be calm and quiet till the (new) chief
comes to you and he will come to you soon. Ask
Allah's forgiveness for your (late) chief
because he himself loved to forgive others."
Jarir added, "Amma badu (now then), I went to
the Prophet and said, 'I give my pledge of
allegiance to you for Islam." The Prophet
conditioned (my pledge) for me to be sincere and
true to every Muslim so I gave my pledge to him
for this. By the Lord of this mosque! I am
sincere and true to you (Muslims). Then Jarir
asked for Allah's forgiveness and came down
(from the pulpit).(Bukhari 4: Volume: 1, Book
Number: 2, Hadith Number: 55)
Unfortunately the Islamic state was destroyed in 1924 and since then we have had no khalif.
However we will have it one day and in the meantime those Muslims should take note of this pledge of Allegiance and the need for a khalif. Thus even in the absence of the Khalif a Muslim should sincerely adhere to the conditions that Muslims used to pledge to. So a persons loyalty should be with the true Muslims.
Thus a Muslim should not be aiding in the killing of Muslims or the Invasion of Muslim lands. We should be working for the reestablishment of the Khailifate (Islamic state) under one leader (Khalif).
We should know we have our own flag and our own nation. We are one nation (one Ummah) of almost 1.5 billion. We may be scattered all around the globe but our loyalty should be with each other. Thus we should not be in the armed forces of the non Muslims. Even in the Armed forces of the Muslim countries we can not obeying orders which are against Islam or call for fighting on bases of nationalism, or spreading of man made laws and unIslamic practices.
As Muslims we should allow Islam to change us
into the kind of human beings that our creator
loves and not try and change Islam to fit us.
Therefore some old habits and ways of thinking
will have to be left behind. It will take time
to leave old habits and ways of thinking but as
you become more Allah conscious, you will start
leaving those old habits and ideas which are not
in accordance to Islam.
We should strive to be the perfect Muslims but we should remember that people do mess up from time to time and end up committing sins
We should remember that Allah is most merciful and if we sincerely repent from a sin, Allah will forgive us.
Allah loves to see his slaves turn to Him in sincere repentance. Allah knows who is sincere in repentance.
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