Shahadah

Question 1

What is the Shahadah and what does it say?

Answer 1

the Islamic statement of faith: ‘There is no god but God, and Muhammad is his messenger’
is the creed of Islam

Question 2

What does the word Shahadah mean?

Answer 2

to witness or to testify

Question 3

How does the Pillar of shahadah differ to the other Sunni Pillars?

Answer 3

the other four are active pillars which are commanded in the Qur’an.
the shahadah simply sums up the beliefs of Islam
also about faith (iman) rather than just practice (ibadah)

Question 4

why is shahadah important?

Answer 4

• it is the creed of Islam which sums up the faith
• proclaimed to become a Muslim (no ceremonies such as baptism)
• shows rejection of polytheism
• called from the minaret of the mosque by the muezzin 5 times a day
• good Muslims recite at least 5 times a day in their salah prayers
• consequences- if Muhammad is prophet, Qur’an is word of God- have to follow teachings of Qur’an
• first words a baby hears, last when dying

Question 5

How is the Shi’a shahadah different?

Answer 5

also believe is required to become a Muslim, but add ‘Ali is the vicegerent of God’
is not one of the Obligatory Acts

Question 6

SofA for shahadah

Answer 6

Surah 3 says that Islam’s basic belief is that ‘There is no God but He, the Exalted in Power’

Muslim scholars have declared that shahadah ‘is the central pillar even though it is the only ‘‘non-action’’ pillar.’