Shahadah the Pillar of Islam

Faith (Shahada) the Pillar of Islam

Shahada is the first pillar of Islam so why is shahadah the most important pillar of Islam?. It is the most important belief within Islam. That belief is “There is no God but Allah- and Muhammad (SAWW) is his last messenger”.

There are two parts of Shahadah:

  • There is no God but Allah
  • Muhammad (SAW) is the messenger of Allah

In order to become a Muslim, a person simply has to declare the Shahadah in front of witnesses. Prophet Muhammad (SAWW) informed us the benefit of Shahada is that when a person recites the shahada for the first time, and believing in it then all of their past sins are wiped away and all the good that they have done remains.

صحیح بخارى:2220

رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے ایک شخص کو ایک لشکر کا سردار بنا کر روانہ کیا ۔ وہ شخص جب نماز پڑھاتے تو ( ( قل ھو اﷲ احد ) ) پر قرآت مکمل کرتے ۔ جب یہ لوگ واپس ہوئے تو نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم سے انھوں نے اس کا ذکر کیا ۔ آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے فرمایا : ” ان سے پوچھو کہ وہ ایسا کیوں کرتے ہیں ؟ “ لوگوں نے ان سے پوچھا تو انھوں نے کہا ( کہ میں اس لیے اس کو زیادہ پڑھتا ہوں کہ ) یہ رحمن ( یعنی اللہ تعالیٰ ) کی صفت ہے اور میں اس کے پڑھنے کو محبوب رکھتا ہوں ۔ نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے فرمایا : ” اس سے کہہ دو کہ اللہ اس کو محبوب رکھتا ہے ۔ “

Why is Shahadah the most important pillar of Islam?

Shahada is important because in order to be a Muslim the person must believe on Allah and his last Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAWW). The declaration of faith is known as Shahada. Muslims expresses the belief on Allah that there is no God except Allah. Anyone who cannot recite this wholeheartedly is not consider a Muslim. The first pillar of Islam that os Shahada is the basic need of human beings as a Muslim.

One of the hadith of Sahih Bukhari clearly indicates that we must have faith in both parts of the first pillar of Islam. As Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “I have been ordered to fight against people until they testify that there is no god but Allah and the Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” (Sahi Bukhari).

The shahadah also known as Kalima. The most important faith and the most important belief for Muslims.Islam was started from Hazrat Adam (A.S) and completed on Prophet Muhammad (SAW) who is the last Messenger of Allah. In Holy Quran, Allah Almighty says: Oh, Muhammad (SAW), “This day have I perfected and fulfilled your religion for you, completed my favor upon you and I have chosen for you Islam as your one and Only Religion.” (Quran, 5:3)