The Syahadah

In the name of Allah most gracious, most merciful.

Last sunday, I attended one lecture in Al Khaadem. Here is just a brief of what i remember and take note from the lecture.

In Islam we believe that all the prophets are send by Allah s.w.t and all of them came with one message. The message is to worship none but Allah and the only religion besides Allah is Islam.

Say ye: "We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) prophets from their Lord: We make no difference between one and another of them: And we bow to Allah (in Islam) (Al Baqarah :136)

 The Religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His Will) (Al Imran :19)

We know that All muslim will recite the shahadah a lot of times in their life. But how many of us actually know what is the meaning and also implication of it? How many of us know what is the implicaiton of it? and how many of us know what is the condition in becoming a muslim.

To become a muslim / the condition in reciting the shahadah, one must have the following :

1. Knowledge : This is the knowledge of knowing what the testimonial (shahadah) entails. In simple, we need to know what is the meaning of the shahadah.

2. Certainty : Certainty of the truth of the testimony. In simple, we need to be sure of the truth of the testimony.

3. Acceptance : Accept the testimonial not only with tougue but also with the heart. As a muslim, we have to accept all that we know which is from pure source. This is because once we have prove that it is from pure source, we have to abide by it as Allah has ask us to enter/follow Islam teaching completely. Pharoh is very certain that prophet Musa a.s is a messenger of Allah but he rejected him.

4. Submission and compliances : Do everything that Allah and the prophet ask to do. After we have accept by tougue and heart the truth, we have to submit to it through doing it. It is true that every one will commit sin, but true believers will recognize that they have done a sin and repent after doing it. It is different from people who have done sin but yet still feel it is not wrong.

5. Truthfullness : When the person recite the shahadah, it has to be sincere and truthfully from the heart. There should be totally no force and also not because of any benefit that we can get after reciting the shahadah. There should be no compulsion at all in reciting the shahadah as Allah has already stated in the Quran :

Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things. (Al Baqarah :256)

6. Purity : We say the shahadah purely for the sake of Allah.

7. Love : When we recite the shahadah, we love the shahadah, we love the implication of it, and we love the people who do what Allah ask to do.

8. Denying other object beside Allah : If we have notice this, when we recite the shahadah, Allah has actually instruct to us to deny worshipping other before bear witness in worshipping him.

I bear witness that there is none worthy of woship : Denying part

9. Adhere to the testimonial until die : As a muslim we should always try our best to adhere to this testimonial until we die. This is because we may not know whether we will die as a muslim or not. None can guarantee that he/she will die as a muslim whether he/she is a born muslim / revert / non muslim. All things that happen is because of Allah's will and not our will.

A kind reminder to all : Dont simple judge a person faith when we ourself is not even guarantee to die as a muslim.

Question to all : A normal muslim who will perform their 5 times solat will at least recite the shahadah 9 times in a day. The question is how many times that we actually fullfill all the 9 conditions when we recite the shahadah ? 

Allah knows best.

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Life is a test

In life from time to time, we will hear that a lot of people's sufferings. When these people suffer in their life, some turn away from Allah in which they say that Allah is not there when they needed Him. But yet some remain to believe in Allah promises. How fortunate for those who continue to believe in Allah promises even when they face a lot of difficulties and trials in their life.

Here I share a simple story which I heard before.

There was once a village. In that village there live a very wealthy man. The wealthy man wealth is almost impossible to finish and he is the owner of the village. One day, the wealthy man go out and announce to all that he will conduct a test to all. He will close his door and all the poeple in the village are compulsory to participate in the test. He promise that the one who waited faithfully at his door until he open it will be made wealthy also.

The first day, all of the villagers waited at in front of the door. But the wealthy man didnt open his door. All the villagers continue to wait. On the third day, some of the villagers begin to question about the sincerity of the owner of fullfilling his promised. Day by day, villagers that wait in front of the owner house reduced. Some of the villagers also start leaving when they are influence by other villagers who left. After ten day, there is only 3 person waiting outside the door. At the tenth day evening, finally the door is open and the three person that is still waiting outside the house is invited into the house and made wealthy after that. The wealthy man kept his promise.

The story above is a simple story but yet it is the same concept as our life. Allah has promises us heaven if we are faithfully to his commandment. The only thing we need to do is continue to believe in Him and do His work and at the end, Insyaallah Allah will reward us.

In the Quran, Allah has promise us that :

If any do deeds of righteousness,- be they male or female - and have faith, they will enter Heaven, and not the least injustice will be done to them. (An Nisa :124)

For Muslim men and women,- for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in Charity, for men and women who fast (and deny themselves), for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in Allah's praise,- for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward. (Al Ahzab: 35)

Some of us may ask, why do Allah want to test us and not just giving us heaven. In the Quran , Allah has given the answer to all.

That which is on earth we have made but as a glittering show for the earth, in order that We may test them - as to which of them are best in conduct. (Al khaf :7)

He Who created Death and Life, that He may try which of you is best in deed: and He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving (Al Mulk :2)

Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere (Al Baqara : 155)

Here Allah has stated that He will definately test us to know which of us is best in conduct or sincere to Him.

But bear in mind that Allah will not test us beyond our capabilities.

On no soul doth Allah Place a burden greater than it can bear (Al Baqara : 286)

Sometimes it is true that we may not get what we want, but it may be because of some reason such as :

If Allah give you want you want straight, it means He love you.
If Allah give you what you want a bit late, it means He want to test you but He still love you.
If Allah don't give you what you want, it means He is giving something better to you.

It is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not. (Al Baqara: 216)

Some of us may fill very stress when facing the test from Allah, but Allah has told us:

And be not infirm, and be not grieving, and you shall have the upper hand if you are believers. (Al Imran : 139 )

Hmm, some of us may also ask how are we going to face the test ?

And seek assistance through patience and prayer, and most surely it is a hard thing except for the humble ones (Al Baqara :45)

Some will also ask, to whom I can depend on when I am facing this test ?

But if they turn back, say: Allah is sufficient for me, there is no god but He; on Him do I rely, and He is the Lord of mighty power. (Al Tawba :129)

When a person say that he give up, Allah has say to them :

Despair not of Allah's mercy; surely none despairs of Allah's mercy except the unbelieving people. (Yusuf : 87)

There may be times where we tend to judge the test face by some people that their test is not heavy compare to those they have seen, but my question to them is who are we to judge whether their test is heavy or not ? It is Allah who give us our test. The test we feel heavy may be light for others and it goes the same for others. When we see others in trouble, we pray for them that Allah help him and guide him and do not burden us with test that we can't handle. Amin

Allah has promise to be with us and help us when we are in test. Be patient and do not give up !

Insyaallah Malay version

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