Bismillah: In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful.
I remember so clearly the day–nearly twenty years ago–when
I recited these words: “I bear witness that there is no god but God, and I bear witness that Muhammad (pbuh) is
His servant and messenger.” This declaration of faith–the Shahaadah–was simple in itself yet
made a profound impact on my heart and on the direction of my life from that moment onward.
For me, and for countless others, the Shahaadah constitutes the first
formal step on the journey into Islam, a journey of spiritual discovery, a journey towards God. It is among the first phrases
spoken into the ear of a newborn child. It is the phrase recited in front of public witness signifying conversion—or
reversion—to the Muslim faith, as those of us who have entered Islam as adults experience it as a regaining of our essential
nature and a “reversion” to our original relationship with God.
The Shahaadah is the first of the five pillars of Islam. Although each
pillar is a form of worship in itself, all five together form a comprehensive structure that lays the foundation for goodness
in the human soul, and establishes a moral basis for the entire community. To remove any one of the five pillars is to seriously
weaken the entire structure, leading eventually to its collapse.
To bear witness that “there is no god but God” means to reject
any less-than-divine idol or ambition as the ultimate object of reverence in our lives. It is a witness that must spring not
only from our lips, but must be rooted in a heart that is ready to trust God’s infinite Mercy and Wisdom. We must also
attest that there is nothing besides God worthy of worship in our daily lives, in our actions and our priorities.
The witness that Muhammad, peace be upon him, is God’s servant
and messenger, means that we undertake a journey to be transformed like him. We are inspired by his example of love, truth,
justice and mercy. We are moved by his compassion for the poor and dispossessed; we are touched by his humility and complete
surrender to God, and we strive to be like him. We accept his words; we follow his actions, habits and practices; and we make
every effort to emulate his character.
“Ash-hadu an-laa ilaaha illalaah—I bear witness that there
is no god but God, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh—and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and
messenger.” These are simple words. Yet when spoken with true conviction, these words have been changing human hearts
for more than a millennium.
Barbara (Masumah) Helms
(Courtesy of the Standard Freeholder, July 29, 2006)
