Seven Condition of Shahada

THE (7) CONDITIONS OF THE SHAHADAH

- The scholars of Islam put the conditions of shahada after studying the conditions meticulously.

- Whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on the earth glorifies Allah (SWT).

Allah (SWT) said in the Qur'an surah As Saff verse 1

And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

(As-Saff 61:1)

Allah (SWT) said in the Qur'an surah Al Munafiqun verse 1

When the hypocrites come to you (O Muhammad SAW), they say: "We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah." Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars indeed.

(Al-Munafiqun 63:1)

- This surah tells you the hypocrites take shahada.

- The munafiqeen take shahada but it is fake.

- The hypocrites are plastic Muslims.

- This ayah tells you that some shahadas are fake.

- The scholars tell you that there are some conditions on shahada.

- Some of you are very naive.

- Even some mujahideen are naive.

Allah (SWT) said in the Qur'an surah At Tawbah verse 47

Had they marched out with you, they would have added to you nothing except disorder, and they would have hurried about in your midst (spreading corruption) and sowing sedition among you, and there are some among you who would have listened to them. And Allah is the All-Knower of the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.).

(At-Tawbah 9:47)

- This ayah is talking about the hypocrite.

- It is also talking about how some mujahideen are naive.

- These conditions of shahada were laid down so that these hypocrites will not slip through the net.

- So they do not get access to our secrets, marry our women, etc.

- When the hypocrites come to the masjid they cannot make wudu properly.

- When the spies come to the masjid, watch how they pray.

- They can't even pray properly.

- They put the left hand over the right hand when they pray.

Wahb ibn Munabbih was once asked, "Isn't the statement of la ilaha illa-llah the key to Paradise?" He answered, "Yes, but every key has ridges. If you come with the key that has the right ridges, the door will open for you. Yet if you do not have the right ridges the door will not open for you.”

[Sahih Bukhari, (2/71), al-Asma' wa al-Sifat al-Bayhaqi (1/274), Hilyatul-Awliya Abu-Naeem al-Asbahani (4/66)]

- Ridges mean teeth.

- The scholars use this hadith as their evidence to put the seven conditions on shahada.

WHAT ARE THE SEVEN CONDITIONS OF SHAHADAH:

1ST CONDITION: KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THE SHAHADAH MEANS.

Allah (SWT) said in the Qur'an surah Az Zukhruf verse 86

except those who bear witness to the truth (i.e. believed in the Oneness of Allah, and obeyed His Orders), and they know (the facts about the Oneness of Allah).

(Az-Zukhruf 43:86)

- If a person recites the shahada and does not know what he is reciting, they are not Muslims.

2ND CONDITION: CERTAINTY

- If you wake up one morning and you have doubts, you are a kaafir.

- The doubt in your heart about the deen is like urine in water

- you will never drink that water.

Allah (SWT) said in the Qur'an surah Al Hujjurat verse 15

Only those are the believers who have believed in Allah and His Messenger, and afterward doubt not but strive with their wealth and their lives for the Cause of Allah. Those! They are the truthful.

(Al-Hujurat 49:15)

Allah (SWT) said in the Qur'an surah Al Baqarah verse 10

Allah (SWT) spoke about the people with doubts in the following ayah. In their hearts is a disease (of doubt and hypocrisy) and Allah has increased their disease. A painful torment is theirs because they used to tell lies.

(Al-Baqarah 2:10)

3RD CONDTION: TO BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART AND TO TESTIFY WITH YOUR TONGUE

Ibn 'Abbas reported: The Prophet (may peace be upon him) said: Among the inhabitants of the Fire Abu Talib would have the least suffering, and he would be wearing two shoes (of Fire) which would boil his brain.

[Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Hadith #0413]

- Abu Talib did not testify so he is in the hellfire, as stated in the above-mentioned hadith.

- Abu Talib, the Prophet’s (ﷺ) uncle did not testify, therefore he is in the hellfire as stated in the above-mentioned hadith.

- Did you know that Allah (SWT) himself testified to the shahada?

Allah (SWT) said in the Qur'an surah Al Imran verse 18

Allah bears witness that La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), and the angels, and those having knowledge (also give this witness); (He is always) maintaining His creation in Justice. La ilah illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

(Aali Imran 3:18)

- Even Allah (SWT) testified. Are you better than Allah (SWT)?

- This is why Abu Talib is in the hellfire.

- It is also haram to make dua for Allah (SWT) to forgive people who did not take the shahada before death.

Allah (SWT) said in the Qur'an Surah At Tawbah verse 113

It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allah's Forgiveness for the Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) even though they be of kin, after it has become clear to them that they are the dwellers of the Fire (because they died in a state of disbelief).

(At-Tawbah 9:113)

- So the best thing the Prophet (ﷺ) could do for Abu Talib was to say, "Oh Allah (SWT) give him the lightest punishment in hellfire”.

- To make a born Muslim take shahada is considered bid’ah because his tashahhud in salah is enough for his shahada.

- As for a kaafir, he must take the shahada.

- To believe in your heart is not enough for you to become Muslim, you must testify.

Allah (SWT) said in the Qur'an Surah An Naml verse 14

And they belied them (those Ayat) wrongfully and arrogantly, though their ownselves were convinced thereof [i.e. those (Ayat) are from Allah, and Musa (Moses) is the Messenger of Allah in truth, but they disliked to obey Musa (Moses), and hated to believe in his Message of Monotheism]. So see what was the end of the Mufsidun (disbelievers, disobedient to Allah, evil-doers, liars.).

(An-Naml 27:14)

- The pharaoh believed in Islam in his heart, as did his soldiers like Allah (SWT) told us in the above ayah.

4TH CONDITION: TO SURRENDER TO QURAN AND SUNNAH

- This condition in Arabic is called "inqiyaad".

- Therefore a Muslim cannot have one foot in Islam and one foot in Christianity.

- So if you celebrate Christmas than this makes you a kafir.

- Salman al Awdah said to celebrate personal birthday is not haram; the most you can say is that it is makrooh.

Allah (SWT) said in the Qur'an surah An Nisa verse 65

But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad SAW) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.

(An-Nisa 4:65)

Allah (SWT) said in the Qur'an surah Al Ahzab verse 36

It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error.

(Al-Ahzab 33:36)

Allah (SWT) said in the Qur'an surah Al Baqarah Verse 20

O you who believe! Enter perfectly in Islam (by obeying all the rules and regulations of the Islamic religion) and follow not the footsteps of Shaitan (Satan). Verily! He is to you a plain enemy

(Al-Baqarah 2:20}

- In some countries, Muslim celebrates Christmas with the invalid reason that Jesus (AS) is a prophet in Islam.

- It should be noted first that Jesus (AS) was not born on the 25th of December.

- As for celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (ﷺ) this is considered bidah and this is difficult to stop.

- There is only one country that doesn't celebrate the birthday of the Prophet (ﷺ) and that is Saudi Arabia.

Allah (SWT) said in the Qur'an surah An Nisa verse 65

(An-Nisa 4:65)

- When they went to 'Umar, the person who won the dispute said,

-"We took our dispute to the Prophet (ﷺ) and he decided in my favor, but this man refused to submit to the decision."

- 'Umar bin Al-Khattab asked the second man and he concurred. 'Umar went to his house and emerged from it holding aloft his sword.

He struck the head of the man who rejected the Prophet’s decision with the sword and killed him. Consequently, Allah revealed, [فَلا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ] (But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you judge in all disputes between them... (An-Nisa 4:65)).

[Tafseer Ibn Katheer (2/351-352)]

5TH CONDITION: TO CONDEMN ALL SHADES OF FALSEHOOD.

- So as a Muslim you cannot choose which falsehood to condemn, you must condemn all shades of falsehood.

- As for the munafiq, he condemns the shirk of quboor (graves) and not that of qusoor (palaces).

- They condemn the grave worshipper but not the leader who dismantles the shariah.

- It is necessary for a Muslim to hate the munkar in his heart.

«عن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم يقوم: من رأى منكم منكرا فليغيره بيده، فإن لم يستطع فبلسانه، فإن لم يستطع فبقلبه، وذلك أضعف الإيمان» . رواه مسلم.

On the authority of Abu Sa’eed al-Khudree (RA) who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (SAW) say, "Whosoever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then [let him change it] with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart and that is the weakest of faith."

{It was related by Muslim}

- The hadith says a Muslim must stop the munkar with his hand, if cannot then with his tongue and if cannot do that he must hate it in his heart.

- If you have the power to stop it with your hand, then it is deemed necessary before speaking against it.

6TH CONDITION: TO SINGLE OUT ALLAH FOR YOUR DEVOTION

- To single out Allah (SWT) in ibadah, it is to worship Allah {SWT} alone and to shun shirk.

- The grave worshippers do not single out Allah (SWT) for their ibadah.

Allah (SWT) said in the Qur'an surah An An'am verse 162 to 163

Say (O Muhammad SAW) : "Verily, my Salat (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists). "He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims."

(Al-An'am 6:162-163)

- As for the grave worshippers, Allah (SWT) called them liars and kafirs. Surely, the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allah only.

Allah (SWT) said in the Qur'an surah Az Zumar verse 3

And those who take Auliya' (protectors and helpers) besides Him (say) : "We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah." Verily, Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever.

(Az-Zumar 39:3)

- They are mainly the Shias, the Barevlis, and the Sufis.

Allah (SWT) said in the Qur'an surah Fatir verse 14

If you invoke (or call upon) them, they hear not your call, and if (in case) they were to hear, they could not grant it (your request) to you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your worshipping them. And none can inform you (O Muhammad SAW) like Him Who is the All Knower (of each and everything).

(Fatir 35:14)

- There is a Quranic hujjah to use against the grave worshippers, it is surah Faatir verse 14. - For every deviant group, there is an ayah to be used against their deviancy.

- So why did Allah (SWT) call what they do as "worshipping"?

- It is because du'a is an act of ibadah.

- If you yourself don't label a grave worshipper a kafir then you yourself become a kafir; this principal is known as "chain takfeer".

Nu’man ibn Bashir (RA) narrated the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The supplication is itself worship.” Then he recited. And your Lord says, “Call upon Me, and I shall answer you. Surely those who are too arrogant to worship Me, they shall enter Hell, disgraced.” (40: 60)

[Tirmidhi (5/456) No. 3372, Abu Dawud (2/76) No. 1479, Ibn Majah (5/5) No. 3828, Ahmad (4/271) No. 18410]

Allah (SWT) said in the Qur'an surah Al A'raf verse 172

And (remember) when your Lord brought forth from the Children of Adam, from their loins, their seed (or from Adam's loin his offspring) and made them testify as to themselves (saying) : "Am I not your Lord?" They said: "Yes! We testify," lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection: "Verily, we have been unaware of this."

(Al-A'raf 7:172)

- They cannot use the excuse of ignorance to worship the grave (false deity) because of ayah 7:172.

- Not even the prophet's (ﷺ) father was given the excuse of ignorance.

Narrated from Anas (RA) that a man said: “O Messenger of Allah, where is my father?” He said: “In Hell.” When he turned away he called him back and said: “My father and your father are in Hell.”

[Sahih Muslim (Vol. 1, pg. 191) No. 203]

Allah (SWT) said in the Qur'an surah Al Ankabut verse 65

And when they embark on a ship, they invoke Allah, making their Faith pure for Him only, but when He brings them safely to land, behold, they give a share of their worship to others.

(Al-'Ankabut 29:65)

- Some kuffar were in the boat and were about to shipwreck and they only called upon Allah (SWT) alone as mentioned in the above ayah.

It has been narrated on the authority of Anas that the Quraish made peace with the Prophet (ﷺ).

Among them was Suhail b. Amr. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to 'Ali: Write "In the name of Allah, most Gracious and most Merciful." Suhail said: As for "Bismillah," we do not know what is meant by "Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim" (In the name of Allah most Gracious and most Merciful). But write what we understand, i.e. Bi ismika allahumma (in thy name. O Allah). Then, the Prophet (may peace be upon him) said: Write: "From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah." They said: If we knew that thou welt the Messenger of Allah, we would follow you. Therefore, write your name and the name of your father. So the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) said: Write "From Muhammad b. 'Abdullah." They laid the condition on the Prophet (may peace be upon him) that anyone who joined them from the Muslims, the Meccans would not return him, and anyone who joined you (the Muslims) from them, you would send him back to them. The Companions said: Messenger of Allah, should we write this? He said: Yes. One who goes away from us to join them-may Allah keep him away ! and one who comes to join us from them (and is sent back) Allah will provide him relief and a way of escape.

{SAHIH AL MUSLIM: BOOK 19, CHAPTER 33 HADITH 440}

7TH CONDITION: AL WALAA WAL BARAA (TO LOVE AND HATE FOR THE SAKE OF ALLAH)

Allah (SWT) said in the Qur'an surah Al Mumtahinah verse 4

O you who believe! Take not My enemies and your enemies (i.e. disbelievers and polytheists, etc.) as friends, showing affection towards them, while they have disbelieved in what has come to you of the truth (i.e. Islamic Monotheism, this Qur'an, and Muhammad SAW), and have driven out the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) and yourselves (from your homeland) because you believe in Allah your Lord! If you have come forth to strive in My Cause and to seek My Good Pleasure, (then take not these disbelievers and polytheists, etc., as your friends).

You show friendship to them in secret, while I am All-Aware of what you conceal and what you reveal. And whosoever of you (Muslims) does that, then indeed he has gone (far) astray, (away) from the Straight Path. (Al-Mumtahinah 60:1) Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrahim (Abraham) and those with him, when they said to their people: "Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allah, we have rejected you, and there has started between us and you, hostility and hatred for ever, until you believe in Allah Alone," except the saying of Ibrahim (Abraham) to his father: "Verily, I will ask for forgiveness (from Allah) for you, but I have no power to do anything for you before Allah." Our Lord! In You (Alone) we put our trust, and to You (Alone) we turn in repentance, and to You (Alone) is (our) final Return,

(Al-Mumtahinah 60:4)

Allah (SWT) said in the Qur'an surah Al Mujadilah verse 22

You (O Muhammad SAW) will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day, making friendship with those who oppose Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad SAW ), even though they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred (people). For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with Ruh (proofs, light and true guidance) from Himself. And We will admit them to Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow, to dwell therein (forever). Allah is pleased with them, and they with Him. They are the Party of Allah. Verily, it is the Party of Allah that will be the successful.

(Al-Mujadilah 58:22)

Allah (SWT) said in the Qur'an surah Al Imran verse 11

O you who believe! Take not as (your) Bitanah (advisors, consultants, protectors, helpers, friends, etc.) those outside your religion (pagans, Jews, Christians, and hypocrites) since they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you. They desire to harm you severely. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, but what their breasts conceal is far worse. Indeed We have made plain to you the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses) if you understand.

(Al Imran 3:11)

Anas bin Malik (RA) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "There are three qualities whoever has them, will taste the sweetness of Iman (faith): To love Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) more than anyone else; to love a slave (of Allah) only for (the sake of) Allah; and to abhor returning to infidelity after Allah has saved him from it as he would abhor to be thrown into the fire (of Hell)."

[Al-Bukhari (21) and Muslim (43)]

- These are the seven conditions of the shahada.