. J ; ; ;J; : ,;I•; (cont.)

If he has no love for this shahaadah or if he actually feels hatred for it, he has negated his shahaadah. The true believer puts no one as an equal to Allah in his love. Allah says in the Quran, ,_ .ই\,.,\ "' J :,.-... ,, J ..... ୺ .J. j' ,.. ¢ *,., J J !.... .... l:J! ,., / ,,. আ ॖ ସହ bl..UI ୰I u.P , ୱif ୲· I ‹J / / / "Yet of mankind are some who take unto themselves (objects of worship which they set as) rivals to Allah, loving them with a love like (that which is due to) Allah only. However, those who believe are stauncher in their love of Allah" (al-Baqara 165). Elsewhere Allah says, J J. / J ,,... .... ַj Æ·jJij Өөµ ֨jij ֩j1; 0t5" u jJ .Ii. sև/ֈ1 r1 4i @1_, L-7Я "Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brethren, your wives, your tribe, the wealth you have acquired, merchandise for which you fear that there will be no sale, or dwellings you desire are dearer to you than Allah and His messenger and striving in His way: then wait till Allah brings His command to pass. Allah guides not wrongdoing folk" (al-Taubah 24). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, Hadith #3: Islam Has Been Built Upon Five [Pillars] "Whoever has three characteristics has tasted the sweetness of faith. [The first of these] is that he loves Allah and His Messenger more than he loves anyone else ... " (Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.) An eighth condition of the shahaadah is that the person who makes the shahaadah must deny every other object of worship. Although that is clear in the words of the testimony of faith, it does not seem clear to everyone who makes that testimony. Therefore, it needs to be mentioned explicitly. In surah al-Baqara, Allah reminds Muslims of this important aspect of the shahaadah. The shahaadah is not merely an affirmation but it is both an affirmation and a negation. Allah states, .,. .,. .,. ,,. .,. o(f I -::{(1 _ , \2\l "'J! .... [ "Say [O Muhammad]: 0 mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah" (al-Araaf 158). Furthermore, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 1 In preparing this section, the author once again benefited greatly from ibn Jibreen, al­ Shahadataan, pp. 29-76. Hadith #3: Islam Has Been Built Upon Five [Pillars] "I have been given five aspects that were not given to any prophet before me ... [One of which is] every prophet was sent only to his people while I have been sent to all of mankind." (Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.) It is obligatory upon everyone from the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) until the Day of Judgment to believe in and follow the Prophet (peace be upon him). If the message of Islam clearly reaches a person and he still refuses to believe in and follow the Prophet (peace be upon him), he is a disbeliever and will be in the Hell-fire foreverunless he repents and embraces Islam. However, this also implies that the Prophet's teachings and his sunnah are valid and obligatory upon all of mankind until the Day of Judgment. That is, his example and teaching was not simply for the people of Arabia at his time. Instead, it is just as valid and just as important for each and every Muslim today, whether he be in New York or Malaysia. Some people seem to try to resist the idea that they have to follow the Prophet (peace be upon him). When they do so, they must realize that they are going against what they have testified to. They have testified that the Prophet's message, which includes both the Quran and his inspired sunnah, is for all of mankindincluding each and everyone alive today. Third, when one declares the shahaadah, he is testifying that he believes with certainty that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) conveyed the messagehe conveyed it correctly, he conveyed all of it, and he conveyed it clearly. Allah says in the Quran, J .,,., ,,.. ., ,J ;;;:; ,., / f\ tw1 ') Ӧӧ'\ o t.:j "The Messenger's duty is only to convey (the message) in a clear way" (al­ Noor 54). The Prophet (peace be upon him) himself said, rP J ,,,, ,,.. J ,.. Q ,,,. J / :'.!J.JlA ")}\ ǵ r:.ଳ;:.. · . ' ")} lA 1 -: ^ Hadith #3: Islam Has Been Built Upon Five (Pillars] says, "I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," he is taking on certain responsibilities with respect to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). When he is lacking in any of these responsibilities, then he is lacking in his complete fulfillment of his testimony of faith. It can even get to the point that he negates his shahaadah completely by refusing to fulfill his responsibility to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).