The Light English Edition November 2017
Organ of the Ahmadiyya Association for the propagation of Islam. Presenting the Islam taught by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s), a tolerant, inclusive, peaceful, rational and scientific religion.
Organ of the Ahmadiyya Association for the propagation of Islam. Presenting the Islam taught by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s), a tolerant, inclusive, peaceful, rational and scientific religion.
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<strong>November</strong> <strong>2017</strong> <strong>The</strong><br />
<strong>Light</strong> 9<br />
and then adds “and those possessed of<br />
knowledge.” This last part introduces the human<br />
element that tells us that only through true<br />
knowledge can we testify with certainty to the<br />
Unity of Almighty Allah. This true knowledge<br />
does not come from faulty, secular-based<br />
knowledge, but the knowledge that comes to us<br />
through Divine revelation granted to the Messengers<br />
of Allah. In the case of the Muslims it no<br />
doubt refers to the knowledge brought by the<br />
angel Gabriel to the heart of the Holy Prophet,<br />
Muhammad (s), the Messenger of Allah and Seal<br />
of the Prophets after whom no prophet, new or<br />
old will appear. This knowledge is contained<br />
and preserved in the Holy Quran, the only true<br />
guide for all of the humanity.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is a new argument emerging in<br />
certain sectors of the community. It professes<br />
that because the Holy Quran only mentions<br />
“witnessing the unity of Allah”, shahidallaa, in<br />
verse 3:18 above. It says nothing about<br />
Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah. <strong>The</strong>y<br />
conclude that the name of Muhammad (s)<br />
should not be included in the Muslim’s Kalima<br />
Shahada as this, they allege, would be bordering<br />
on shirk (i.e. putting up partners with Allah).<br />
This assertion, however, is based on sheer ignorance<br />
of the Holy Quran. To read verses of the<br />
Holy Quran in isolation, without judicious<br />
cross-reference to other pertinent verses, and<br />
then form opinions based on it is extremely<br />
foolish and unwise because it leads to the error<br />
of judgment. In fact, the very same chapter 3,<br />
Sura Al Imran has an entire section (9) dealing<br />
with the ‘Covenants of the Prophets’ that has a<br />
bearing on the shahada of the Nabi (s), and I<br />
quote from it:<br />
“And when Allah made a covenant through<br />
the prophets: Certainly what I have given you of<br />
Book and Wisdom — then a Messenger comes<br />
to you verifying that which is with you, you<br />
shall believe in him, and you shall aid him.<br />
He said: Do you affirm and accept My compact<br />
in this (matter)? <strong>The</strong>y said: We do affirm. He<br />
said: <strong>The</strong>n bear witness, and I (too) am of<br />
the bearers of witness with you.” 3:81<br />
Here mention is made of a covenant that<br />
was made with the people by Almighty Allah<br />
“through the prophets” that when the Messenger<br />
appears then they must believe in him and<br />
aid him. Having been asked to affirm this commitment<br />
that was requested of them, the Holy<br />
Quran states: “<strong>The</strong>y said: We do affirm. He (the<br />
Prophet) said: <strong>The</strong>n bear witness (ashaddu),<br />
and I (too) am of the bearers of witness with<br />
you.” <strong>The</strong> ‘bearing of witness’, ashaddu, here relates<br />
to the witnessing that Muhammad (s) is indeed<br />
the fulfilment of the advent of that final<br />
Messenger of Allah prophesied in their<br />
scriptures 1 and thus it became incumbent on<br />
them to believe in him and to aid him. This concludes<br />
the second portion of our shahada (testimony<br />
of faith) – Muhammad ur Rasululah – Muhammad<br />
is the Messenger of Allah. In the very<br />
next verse, 3:82, those who reject or oppose this<br />
testimony are thus warned:<br />
“Whoever then turns back after this, these<br />
are the transgressors” 3:82<br />
This verse is prophetical, as the Holy Quran<br />
shows that there were those who accepted this<br />
kalima shahada, but turned to disbelief afterwards:<br />
“How shall Allah guide a people who disbelieved<br />
after their believing, and (after) they<br />
had borne witness (shahidu) that the Messenger<br />
was true, and clear arguments had<br />
come to them? And Allah guides not the unjust<br />
people.” 3:86<br />
This verse, without a doubt, proves that at<br />
the time of its revelation there already existed a<br />
shahada which included testimony to the<br />
truth of the Messenger of Allah. <strong>The</strong> verse<br />
clearly states that there were people who<br />
turned to disbelief after they ‘bore witness’<br />
(shahidu) of the truth of the Messenger of Allah.<br />
This goes to show that here shahidu anna<br />
rasula haqq i.e. bear ‘witness that the Messenger<br />
was true’ was part of the shahada of the very<br />
1 “Whoever will not hearken unto My words which he<br />
shall speak in my name, I will require of him.” – (Deut<br />
18:19); “He will guide you unto all truth; for he will not<br />
speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear that he<br />
I Shall Love All Mankind.<br />
shall speak.” – (John 16:13). For more detail of prophesies<br />
of the advent of Muhammad (s), please refer to Muhammad<br />
in the World Scriptures – by Maulana Abdul<br />
Haq Vidyarthi