Lesson two

Lesson two:
The meaning of Shahadatu anna Muhammada-rrasulu-llah (i.e testifying to the Prophet hood of Muhammad (S.A.W
Testifying to the Prophet hood of Muhammad (S.A.W), implies believing that Allah has sent His prophet, Muhammad the son of Abdullah the son of Abdul muttalib as a messenger to the- entire- Jinn and Mankind, instructing them to worship Allah alone and to avoid all deities besides Allah, and to explain the laws of the religion to them.
It also implies believing that he is a slave of Allah and his messenger, so he does not has the right to be worshiped besides Allah, and it is not permissible to exaggerate in praising him in such a way that we give him the attributes of Allah the exalted.
Adullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father Abbas) narrated that he had Umar bin Alkhttab while he was on the pulpit saying, I had the prophet (S.A.W) saying;
«لاَ تُطْرُونِي، كَمَا أَطْرَتْ النَّصَارَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ، فَإِنَّمَا أَنَا عَبْدُهُ، فَقُولُوا: عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، وَرَسُولُهُ» [رواه البخاري].
Meaning:" Do not exceed limit in praising me as the Christians did with the son of Marry, for I am nothing but His slave, therefore, say; The servant and messenger of Allah". Reported by Albukhari.
Testifying to the Prophet hood of Muhammad (S.A.W) necessitates three important things:
Firstly: Loving him, in fact, it is obligatory to love him more than one's self, family and children. Anas bin malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the prophet (S.W.A) said:
«لاَ يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ، حَتَّى أَكُونَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ وَالِدِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ» [متفق‌علیه].
Meaning:"None of you will have faith, until he loves me more than his father, his children and all Mankind". Agreed upon by Bukhari and Muslim.
Secondly: Believing in all what he narrated concerning the unseen and [all] other things. For, whatever comes [from the prophet through authentic chain is definitely] true and factual.
Thirdly: Obeying him by carrying out his commands and abstaining from what he forbids.
Testifying that Muhammadu-rrasulu-llah, is [one of the] great foundations among the foundations of Islam. In fact, a person cannot enter into the fold of Islam until he testifies that Muhammad (S.A.W) is the Messenger of Allah and if he commits anything that nullifies this testimony, then he is not a Muslim rather, he is an unbeliever and apostate from Islam.
Among those things that nullify this testimony (Shahada anna Muhammada-rrasullu- llah) are the following;
1- Hating the prophet, abusing him and mocking him or mocking any aspect of religion brought by him, for whoever commit [anything among]these, is a disbeliever in the prophet hood of Muhammad (S.A.W).
 Allah the Exalted said:
﴿فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُواْ فِيٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ حَرَجٗا مِّمَّا قَضَيۡتَ وَيُسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمٗا ٦٥﴾ [النساء: 65].
Meaning: "But no, by your Lord, they will not truly believe until they make you (O Muhammad ), judge concerning that which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission". Q 4:V65.
2- Disproving the prophet (S.A.W) and being doubtful of his truthfulness, because each of them [he that disproof's and he that is doubtful] has [in the real sense] no trust in him [the prophet] and whoever does not trust the prophet (S.A.W) has not believed in him.
3- Turning away from being obedient to the Prophet (S.A.W), in such a way that, one feels that obeying the Prophet's commands is not compulsory on him, or turning away from it totally. Thus, being careless to the prophet's do's and don'ts.
As for one who believes in Allah and his Messenger, but commits certain sins other than the nullifiers of Islam, such a person is among the disobedient Muslims. However, we will not categorize him among the unbelievers just because of such sins, but we hope for him Allah's forgiveness and mercy. And at the same time, we fear for him, (Allah's) painful punishment as the consequence of his evil deeds.
And whoever commits any of these things that violates this testimony [i.e, Shahadatu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah] is a disbeliever in the prophet hood of the prophet (S.A.W) even if he utters the testimony with his tongue, his condition is like that of the hypocrites whom Allah said concerning them:
﴿إِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقُونَ قَالُواْ نَشۡهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُۥ وَٱللَّهُ يَشۡهَدُ إِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ لَكَٰذِبُونَ ١﴾ [المنافقون: 1].
Meaning: "When the hypocrites come to you, [O Muhammad], they say, "We testify that you are the messenger of Allah." And Allah knows that you are His messenger, Allah testifies that the hypocrites are liars" Q 63: V1.
Thus, this testimony will not be genuine (accepted) from a servant until he fulfills its implications such as loving, believing and obeying (the prophet). This testimony is not just a statement to be said and that is all. Rather, it is the way of life of a Muslim and it forms the orbit of his deeds, and it is by its actualization that his salvation and bliss will be attained. Allah (S.W.T) does not accept any work from his servant until it is done for His sake alone and in accordance with the teachings of the Prophet (S.A.W).
Therefore, "Al'ikhlas" (sincerity) is the implication of the testimony of "Shahadatu alla'laha'lla-llah", and "Almutaba'ah" (worshiping Allah according to the teachings of the Prophet" is the implication of the testimony of "Shahadatu anna Muhammada-rrasulu-llah".  Thus, a servant is not a follower of guidance until he becomes sincere to Allah in worship and a follower of the traditions of the Prophet (sunnah). Any act of worship which is not based on the sunnah of the prophet is considered null and void, because of the sayings of the prophet (S.A.W.)
«مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ» [رواه مُسْلمٌ من حديثِ عائشةَل].
Meaning" Whoever does an act (of worship) which is not in agreement with our matter, will have it rejected". Transmitted by Muslim on the authority of A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her). And also in sahih Muslim from the narration of Jabir bin Abdillah (may Allah be pleased with them), that the prophet of Allah (S.A.W) usually says on the pulpit during his sermon:
«أما بعدُ، فإنَّ خيرَ الحديثِ كتابُ اللهِ، وخيرَ الهَدْيِ هَدْيُ مُحمَّدٍ، وشرَّ الأمورِ مُحْدثاتُها، وكلَّ بدعةٍ ضَلالةٌ».
Meaning: "The best discourse is the book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad, (S.A.W) and the worst matter is that of innovation and every innovation is misleading".
Therefore, an innovator is disobedient to the Prophet (S.A.W) and is not following the right path. Hence, he is lost because of his innovational practice.
Innovation is of two types;
- The kind of innovation that withdraws from Islam
- And the kind of innovation that makes one to be fasiq (i.e, wrong doer).
The kind of innovation that withdraws from Islam is that which consist of some acts that nullify Islam, such as associating partner to Allah in worship, disproving Allah and His Messenger or anything among the things that violates Islam. So, who ever does it is a kafir (pagan) and has withdrawn from the religion of Islam. For example the claim of some sects that the holy Quran is incomplete or is changed, or the claim of some sects that some of their revered personalities have knowledge of the unseen.
And the kind of innovation that makes one to be fasiq (i.e, wrong doer), is that which does not consist of acts that violates Islam. For example, specifying some places and periods with certain acts of worship which has not been specified in the Quran or Hadith, such as celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (S.A.W).
The guidance of the prophet is the best guidance, and the perfection of a servant and his success is only determined by the degree to which he follows the guidance of the Prophet. Thus, the more a servant becomes a better follower (of the Prophet), the greater his reward and the more honorable his condition and end will be. He will also be safe from evils and the punishment of sins related to [innovations] i.e contradicting the guidance of the Prophet- peace be upon him. This is because the Prophet did not command except that which is good for the servant in his life and religion, and he did not forbid anything except that which is evil and harmful. And indeed paradise has been surrounded with unpleasant things while hell has been surrounded with vain desires.
Hence, whoever is certain about the truthfulness of the Prophet (SAW) will follow his guidance and abstain from forbidden desires even though his mind loves them, and he will be patient with those unpleasant things because he knows its consequence (i.e on the Day of Judgment). So, he is saved from severe punishment and he attains great reward.
But he who goes contrary to the guardians of the Prophet (S.A.W) and commits what he wills from the unlawful things, he will not be safe from the punishment in this world and the hereafter for the consequence of his sins.
Allah the Exalted has indeed said:
﴿فَلۡيَحۡذَرِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنۡ أَمۡرِهِۦٓ أَن تُصِيبَهُمۡ فِتۡنَةٌ أَوۡ يُصِيبَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ٦٣﴾ [النور: 63].
Meaning:"…So let those beware, who dissent his (i.e, the prophet's) order lest affliction (fitnah) strike them or a painful punishment". Q 24:V63.
Therefore committing sins may lead to fitnah (affliction)in the religion which a servant cannot endure. Thus, resulting to misguidance and destruction, and he may also suffer a painful punishment in this world or in his grave or in the hereafter because of his sins.
But he who follows the guidance of the prophet (S.A.W), is in safety and tranquility and peace of mind, and will neither be afraid nor grieve and will not go astray or become miserable, because he has followed the safe path (which saves) from fears, sadness, going astray and misery in this world and in the hereafter. Allah the Exalted said:
﴿يَٰٓأَهۡلَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ قَدۡ جَآءَكُمۡ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمۡ كَثِيرٗا مِّمَّا كُنتُمۡ تُخۡفُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ وَيَعۡفُواْ عَن كَثِيرٖۚ قَدۡ جَآءَكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ نُورٞ وَكِتَٰبٞ مُّبِينٞ ١٥ يَهۡدِي بِهِ ٱللَّهُ مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ رِضۡوَٰنَهُۥ سُبُلَ ٱلسَّلَٰمِ وَيُخۡرِجُهُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ بِإِذۡنِهِۦ وَيَهۡدِيهِمۡ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ ١٦﴾ [المائدة:15-16].
Meaning: "O people of the scripture, there has come to you Our messenger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the scripture and overlooking much. There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book (Quran) (15). By which Allah guides those who pursue his pleasure to the ways of peace and bringing them out from darkness into the light, by His permission, and guide them to a straight path(16). Q 5:V15 and 16.
Allah has made it compulsory upon His Messenger to convey the message (of Islam) and he has conveyed it as he was ordered. Allah the exalted said:
﴿۞يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرَّسُولُ بَلِّغۡ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ﴾ [المائدة: 67].
Meaning: "O messenger announce that which has been revealed to you from your lord. Q 5:V 65
And Allah made it obligatory upon us (the entire umma) to be obedient to him (i.e, the prophet). He (Allah) said:
﴿قُلۡ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيۡهِ مَا حُمِّلَ وَعَلَيۡكُم مَّا حُمِّلۡتُمۡۖ وَإِن تُطِيعُوهُ تَهۡتَدُواْۚ وَمَا عَلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ إِلَّا ٱلۡبَلَٰغُ ٱلۡمُبِينُ ٥٤﴾ [النور: 54].
Meaning: "Say, obey Allah and obey the Messenger; but if you turn away (from being obedient to him) then upon him is only that (duty) with which he has been charged, and upon you is that with which you have been charged.
And if you obey him, you will be (rightly) guided. And there is not upon the messenger except the (responsibility for) clear notification". Q 24:V54.
The prophet (S.A.W) has also been assigned the trust of conveying the message (of Allah) and he has fulfilled it (successfully) as Allah wills it. He even asked the people present at the great gathering, during his farewell pilgrimage saying to them:
«أَلاَ هَلْ بَلَّغْتُ»؟
Meaning: "Behold! Had I conveyed? And they all answered yes. Then, he (the Prophet) said:
«اللهم اشْهَدْ».
Meaning" O Allah bear witness".
And we bear witness that he has conveyed the message (of Allah) and has discharged the trust, and he advised the nation and strove for the sake of Allah till certainty came to him (Death)
And we have been assigned the trust of following the Messenger in open and hidden. Hence, whoever fulfills this trust will succeed and gain a huge reward. But whoever betrays this trust has recorded a great lost, for Allah the Exalted has said:
﴿يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَخُونُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوٓاْ أَمَٰنَٰتِكُمۡ وَأَنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ ٢٧﴾ [الأنفال: 27].
Meaning: "O you, who have believed, do not betray Allah and His Messenger or you betray your trusts while you know (the consequence). Q 8: V 27