The Shahada is the testimony of faith. To be a Muslim one must, with full understanding and commitment, testify:

“Ash hadu an la ilaha illa Allah was ash hadu anna Muhammadan Rasool Allah”

“I bear witness that there is no deity except God (Allah) and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God.”

The Shahada, though said upon one’s decision to embrace Islam and become a Muslim, is not just saying these words. There are 7 conditions of the Shahada, and one must be fully aware of these conditions and put these conditions to practice every single day, insha’Allah.

1. The first condition of the Shahada is knowledge (‘ilm). One must fully understand that there is no deity except Allah. There is absolutely NO deity to worship, accept Allah.. He is our Creator, our Sustainer, and the Creator of all that is in the heavens and the earth and all that is between them.. 

People from other religions worship idols, worship animals, or worship other humans! Some people are of the understanding that another person, someone more pious than them, can intercede for them because they are closer to Allah. People have gone so far as to worship those people along with Allah. This is wrong, and these people have been misguided. Allah, our Creator, the Creator of All, is the only diety to be worshipped. One must also know that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Muhammad is the final prophet sent from Allah with the final message, The Qur’an..

2. The second condition of the Shahada is certainty (Yaqeen). One must be absolutely certain, with full conviction that it is the absolute truth, that there is no deity except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

3. The third condition is acceptance (Qabool). Acceptance means that as a Muslim, we accept all of Allah’s commands. We accept them and we don’t put our own arrogance, our own desires, ahead of this acceptance. We accept everything.

It is this condition that I find to be forgotten by many Muslims. Some of Allah’s commands are freely accepted, while others, that are difficult for some, are ignored or, even worse, changed. Some accept parts of Allah’s commands, and, arrogantly reject others. We must realize that acceptance is a condition of the Shahada. To embrace Islam, to embrace Allah’s command, one must put aside his own arrogance, his own desires, and follow Allah’s command, His guidance.

The Qur’an addresses this arrogance in this ayah (verse from the Qur’an):

“Do you believe in part of the Book and reject part of it? And what is the reward of those who do so save disgrace in the life of the world, and on the day of Resurrection they will be consigned to the most grievous doom.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2: 85)

4. The fourth condition is submission (Inqiyad). We must submit to Allah. Submission is within the definition of Islam.. Islam: Submission to Allah.

“And whoever submits his face to Allah while he is a doer of good – then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold. And to Allah will be the outcome of all matters” (Luqman 31:22)

The most trustworthy handhold! How can one not submit to the One who provides for us, sends His infinite mercy upon us and sends His forgiveness upon us? How can one not submit to the One, the only One, who can grant us everlasting paradise (Jannah)? How can one not submit to the One who may, due to our arrogance and disobedience, grant us everlasting hellfire (Jahannam)?

5. The fifth condition is truthfulness (As-Sidq). There can be no hypocrisy. We must fully believe, fully submit, and do this with truthfulness. We cannot reject any of Allah’s commands!

6. The sixth condition is sincerity (Ikhlas). We must be sincere in our devotion. We must have the sincere intention that all acts of worship are for Allah. We do no act of devotion, with the intention of pleasing anyone but Allah. We must never display an act of worship to show off to other people. All worship is for Allah alone!

Say (O Muhammad (saw): “Verily I am commanded to worship Allah (Alone) by obeying Him and doing religious deeds sincerely for His sake only.” (Az-Zumar 39:11)

7. The seventh condition of the Shahada is Love (Muhaba). We must love Allah and Prophet Muhammad (SAW) more than anyone or anything else. To Love Allah and our beloved Prophet (SAW) is to embrace all of the conditions of the Shahada. We love Allah and our beloved Prophet by obeying all of Allah’s commands, and by embracing the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

It is reported by Anas (RA) that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said “Whoever possesses (the following) of three qualities will relish the sweetness (delight) of Eemaan (Faith): The one to whom Allah and His messenger (saw) becomes dearer than anything else: that he loves a person for Allah Alone (i.e. purely seeking Allah (swt) and His pleasure); that he hates to revert to Kufr (disbelief) after Allah has rescued him from it as he hates to be thrown in hell.”

The Shahada: 

“Ash hadu an la ilaha illa Allah was ash hadu anna Muhammadan Rasool Allah”

“I bear witness that there is no deity except God (Allah) and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God.”

Testifying that there is no deity except Allah and that Muhammad is the final Messenger of Allah, while fully embracing and fulfilling the seven conditions, makes one a Muslim. 

If one fully understand this, fully understand the Oneness of Allah, fully embraces the seven conditions of the Shahada, is sincere in devotion, and embraces all of the basic beliefs of a Muslim., one is Muslim! 

Alhamdulillah. If one embraces all of these beautiful blessings from Allah and testifies to this by stating and embracing the Shahada, and follow the Commands of Allah, he will be granted paradise. 

I invite you: 

Why would you not want paradise? I ask you to open your hearts, seek Allah’s guidance, grasp the most trustworthy handhold! Don’t stay stuck in a misguided belief just because it is what your family follows. Misguided beliefs do not bring you close to Allah. Misguided beliefs do not bring you closer to eternal paradise. Don’t be arrogant. Let Allah into your hearts. Don’t let this pass you. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not guaranteed! 

A supplication: 

None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, Who has no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is Able to do all things.

Allah guides who He will. Ask Him to guide you! He is listening! Testify your faith before it is too late.