(13) Shahâda – Profession of faith
The profession of faith (shahâda) is the first “pillar” of Islam. It is made up of two parts, two “words” (kalimatayn) say Muslim theologians. The first of these is: “I bear witness that there is no divinity except God” (ashhadu anna lâ ilâha illâ Llâh) and the second: “I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God” ” (ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasûl Allâh).
The profession of faith forms part of the call to prayer (îdhân), each part of it, each word (kalima) being chanted twice. It also comes into the liturgical prayer.
Pronouncing the shahâda in the presence of an authorized witness is the way for an adult to express conversion to Islam. There is no ceremony similar to baptism to mark the entry into the Umma, the Islamic community. The children of a Muslim father will automatically be reckoned as Muslims. This can present problems when a man married to a Christian becomes a Muslim. In a Muslim family, when a child is born the parents will whisper the shahâda into the child’s ear. The same is done for a person who is gravely ill and incapable of speech.
In the Qur’an we find that it is God himself who bears witness to his Oneness:
God bears witness the there is no god but Him, as do the angels and those who have knowledge. He upholds justice. There is no god but Him, the Almighty, the All Wise.
(Q 3:18)
We could say that God is the only one who has the purity and holiness necessary to proclaim worthily his own Oneness. Yet God, in his mercy, associates human beings in this witness of faith:
[Prophet], when your Lord took out the offspring from the loins of the Children of Adam and made them witness about themselves, He said, “Am I not your Lord?” and they replied, “Yes, we bear witness” (Q 7:172; see post 4 Thiqqa).
Though, as Christians and Muslims, we understand this Oneness of God differently, faith in the One God is worthy of respect.
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