اشهد ان لا اله الا الله
I bear witness that there is no god but God,
و اشهد ان محمد رسول الله
I bear witness that Mohammad is the Messenger of God.
The Shahadah or Shahadatain (assertion/bearing witness) is the Muslim declaration of faith in the oneness of God and in acceptance of the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) as God’s Messenger. This declaration of faith is the first of the pillars of Islam, and fundamental to a Muslim’s spiritual life.
The Shahadah is not simply an affirmation of God’s existence but an acknowledgment that God is the only true reality. The assertion of the unity of God is through witnessing the truth in the depth of one’s being within the sanctuary of the heart. The prophets are the pure souls that through revelation witness the Truth, and become a conduit for the Word of God, revealing His Message and His Word to humans.
The Holy Qur’an states:
قُلۡ اِنَّمَاۤ اَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثۡلُكُمۡ يُوۡحٰٓى اِلَىَّ اَنَّمَاۤ اِلٰهُكُمۡ اِلٰـهٌ وَّاحِدٌ ۚ فَمَنۡ كَانَ يَرۡجُوۡالِقَآءَ رَبِّهٖ فَلۡيَـعۡمَلۡ عَمَلًا صَالِحًـا وَّلَايُشۡرِكۡ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهٖۤ اَحَدًا
Say: I am but a man like yourselves, (but) the inspiration has come to me, that your Allah is one Allah. whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and, in the worship of his Lord, admit no one as partner . Holy Qur’an (18:110)
وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا الۡاِنۡسَانَ وَنَعۡلَمُ مَا تُوَسۡوِسُ بِهٖ نَفۡسُهٗ ۖۚ وَنَحۡنُ اَقۡرَبُ اِلَيۡهِ مِنۡ حَبۡلِ الۡوَرِيۡدِ
It was We Who created man, and We know what dark suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are nearer to him than (his) jugular vein. Holy Qur’an (50:16)
This command to follow him was not just for the people of his time. It is for all people, in all times.
مُّحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ اللَّهِ
Mohammad is the Messenger of God. Holy Qur’an (48:29)
وَاتَّبِعُوۡهُ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَهۡتَدُوۡنَ
Follow him that you can be guided. Holy Qur’an (7:158)
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَكُمُ الرَّسُولُ بِالْحَقِّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ فَآمِنُوا خَيْرًا لَّكُمْ وَإِن تَكْفُرُوا فَإِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
O Mankind! The Messenger hath come to you in truth from God, believe in him: It is best for you. But if ye reject Faith, to God belong all things in the heavens and on earth: And God is All-knowing, All-wise. Holy Qur’an (4:170)
God tells us repeatedly, in numerous verses, that He has sent prophets through the ages to guide people to Him, naming many of the prophets He has sent in times past, and specifying that Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) is also His Prophet. The prophecy began with Abraham, and continued through the generations after him, and ended with Prophet Mohammad, the Seal of the Prophets.
إِنَّا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ كَمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ نُوحٍ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ مِن بَعْدِهِ وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالْأَسْبَاطِ وَعِيسَىٰ وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُونُسَ وَهَارُونَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ وَآتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ زَبُورًا
We have sent thee inspiration, as We sent it to Noah and the Messengers after him: we sent inspiration to Abraham, Isma’il, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the Psalms. Holy Qur’an (4:163)
مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا
Muhammad is not the father of any one of your men, but is God’s Apostle and the seal of all prophets. Holy Qur’an (33:40)