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By Ijaz Chaudry
Introduction
Human being has innate ability to exalt his own kind. No matter what signs they see around them they have a weakness to tribute these signs to someone or something other than God. This is true for the majority. However, minority few, take the signs around them as they should and attribute them to the creator of the Universe. God warns us of the people who like to exalt its kind as follows:
Most people, no matter what you do, will not believe. Even, though you are not
asking them for any money. This is a reminder for all the people. So many signs
are in the heavens and the earth they pass by them, heedlessly! Majority of
those who believe in God do not do so without committing idol worship.
What is the true shahada (Proclamation of Islam)? Is there a false shahada? These are the two questions which would be discussed here.
Since I was born until
recently I was used to this shahada:
I believed like majority of Muslims believe that those were the words of God. However, we all agree that God does not make mistakes. But the above Shahada has a serious but simple mistake in it. It is suggesting that Muhammad is alive by saying “Muhammad is His messenger”. The correct statement should have been “Muhammad was His messenger”, because Muhammad is not alive anymore. Even if the Shahada is changed to “Muhammad was His messenger” this statement would have been false at the time when Muhammad was alive. Therefore logically speaking stating “Muhammad is/was His messenger” is false either way. Also and more importantly this Shadaah is not in the Quran.
(39:30)
You will surely die, just like they will die.
[3:144] Muhammad was no more than a
messenger like the messengers before him. Should he die or get killed, would you
turn back on your heels? Anyone who turns back on his heels does not hurt GOD in
the least. GOD rewards those who are appreciative.
As we know it, he is
buried in Medina in Saudi Arabia. While his soul is with God in Paradise where
all believers go when they die, (2:154
& 3:169-171).
Recall that your Lord summoned all the descendants of Adam, and had them bear
witness for themselves: “Am I not your Lord?” They all said, “Yes. We bear
witness.” Thus you cannot say on the Day of Resurrection, “We were not aware of
this”.
Quran is clear that there should be no
distinction between God’s prophets or messengers:
(2:136)
Say, “We believe in God, and in what was sent down to us, and in what was sent
down to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and Patriarchs; and in what was given to
Moses and Jesus, and all the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction
among any of them. To Him alone we are submitters (Muslims).”
(2:285)
The messenger has believed in what was sent down to him from his Lord, and so
did the believers. They believe in God, His angels, His scripture, and His
messengers: “We make no distinction among any of His messengers.” They say, “We
hear, and we obey. Forgive us, our Lord. To You is the ultimate destiny.”
Those who disbelieve in God and His messengers, and seek to make distinction
among God and His messengers, and say, “We believe in some and reject some,” and
wish to follow a path in between; these are the real disbelievers. We have
prepared for the disbelievers a shameful retribution.
However, the
Quran is clear of the fact that Muhammad was not the Final Messenger please read
the following verse;
Not The Final Messenger
[33:40] Muhammad was not the father
of any man among you. He was a messenger of GOD and the final prophet. GOD is
fully aware of all things.
This verse is clear that Muhammad was a messenger and the Final Prophet. For the
people who do not know the difference between a “Messenger” and the “Prophet”
the following verse clarifies this issue;
[3:81]
GOD took a covenant from the prophets, saying, "I will give you the
scripture and wisdom. Afterwards, a messenger will come to confirm all existing
scriptures. You shall believe in him and support him." He said, "Do you agree
with this, and pledge to fulfil this covenant?" They said, "We agree." He said,
"You have thus borne witness, and I bear witness along with you."
As this verse confirms Prophets are the humans who receive the Scripture like
Jesus receiving Gospel, Moses receiving Torah and Muhammad receiving the Quran
all three were the prophets. The messengers are who give message from these
scriptures. We know from the Quran that Prophets could also be messengers, but
not all messengers could be Prophets. For example in the above verse it is
prophesied the coming of such a messenger.
But the upshot of all this
is that Muhammad was not the Final Messenger. Thus the reason for mentioning
Muhammad’s name in the Shadah once again is null.
A-
Grammatical mistake, Muhammad is not alive, it is suggesting he is.
B- There are no, witnesses of Muhammad today, it is suggesting there
are.
C- It is making distinction about messengers, by including Muhammad
alone in the Shahada.
Now the “True Shahada”
(47:19)
You shall know that: “La Elahaa Ella Allah” “There is no other god beside God.”…
God bears witness that there is no god except He, and so do the angels and those
who posses knowledge. Truthfully and equitably, He is the absolute god; there is
no god but He, the Almighty, Most Wise.
When God Alone is mentioned, the hearts of those who do not believe in the
Hereafter shrinks with aversion. But when others are mentioned beside Him, they
become satisfied.
This is because when God Alone was advocated, you disbelieved, but when others
were mentioned beside Him, you believed. Therefore, God’s judgement has been
issued; He is Most High the Great.