Bismillah
Praise be to Allah, Owner of skies and earth and what is between them, Creator of the creations and Owner of the Kingdom, prayer and peace be upon His final Messenger and all prophets and messengers ameen.
Interacting with several trends and orientations, Allah Blessed us with opportunities to be confronted with issues that, haven’t we been on the Internet, we wouldn’t have been exposed to. For example, of those important issues, is Quraneen (subject of this thread). Sometime back we decided to dedicate this informative thread to reply one by one to their raised issues either on this board or otherwise. One of the major points was that the formula we use as the testimony of faith (Shahada) is a shirkish (polytheistic) one. They claimed that Quran does not include a command for one to say ash hadu ana Mohamdan rasulu Allah. Thus, this is an innovation and not required for one to be a Muslim.
Examining Quran, we told them that Allah in Suratu Munafeqeeen Say:
<b>When the hypocrites come to you (O Muhammad), they say: "We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah." Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars indeed. (Quran 63:1).
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Although the Ayah clearly explains that when people intend to embrace Islam, they must go to the Messenger prayer and peace be upon him to declare their faith by including a testimony that he is the messenger. They reply O look this is the shahada of the Munafeqeen (hypocrites). Mind you, this is not the meaning of the Ayah at all. But rather Allah Is explaining about the hypocrites who they used to come - just exactly like everyone else does – to declare faith. In other words, they follow the process from the outside but Allah Knows their inside. Moreover, Allah Confirms the Messenger’s position by saying Allah Knows that you are indeed His Messenger. Sobhan Allah. Yet they just close their minds and refuse to see the point.
Alhamdulelah, lately this issues surfaced again while discussing with a sister. And Allah Blessed us with more replies. Please note that the following information is not based on a formal scholar’s reply, but rather the fruit of a personal endeavor seeking Allah’s Pleasure and Close guidance. Thus, I invoke upon Allah to forgive any shortcomings.
Reading the Quran, you will come across an Ayah in Surat Mumtahinah saying:
“O Prophet! When believing women come to you to give you the Bai'a (pledge), that they will not associate anything in worship with Allah, that they will not steal, that they will not commit illegal sexual intercourse, that they will not kill their children, that they will not utter slander, intentionally forging falsehood (i.e. by making illegal children belonging to their husbands), and that they will not disobey you in any Ma'ruf (Islamic Monotheism and all that which Islam ordains) then accept their Bai'a (pledge), and ask Allah to forgive them, Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Quran 60:12)
This noble Ayah can not - under any circumstances – be interpreted in any other sense but to say that it was a must for females who wished to embrace Islam to stand before the Messenger. But to really understand the process, let us move backward to Ayah # 10 that says:
<b>O you who believe! When believing women come to you as emigrants, examine them</b>
, Allah knows best as to their Faith.
According to all the Tafseer, the word examine them (which is emtahenoohun from which the noble Surat got its title) means have them pronounce the shahada including the testimony that Mohamed is the messenger as explained in Ayah 12. Or what does giving him (Mohamed peace and prayer be upon him) pledge not to associate anything in worship ..to the end of the Ayah mean? It physically portrays the situation as the women who wish to declare faith, they must appear before the Messenger in order to pass the examination of faith by declaring the shahada and giving him pledge.
Alright, some might say O but this address applies for females (although we are all aware and in agreement that both male and female are under equal responsibilities in terms of dos and don’t in Quran). But in order to close this gap, come let us examine another Ayah:
In Surat Nour Allah Sobhanhu wa Ta`la Say:
<b>The true believers are only those, who believe in (the Oneness of) Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad), (Quran 24:62).
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What is more to be said in this regard that could be more manifest, direct, and clear than Allah’s word.
Allah – in this noble Ayah – put a condition, a criterion, a standard of one who would be defined as a true believer. Who is the true believer???????
He/she is one who believe in the Oneness of Allah (ash hadu ana la ilaha ila Allah) and His Messenger Mohamed (wa ana Mohamadan Rasul Allah).
I don’t think I need to go any further, Alhamdulelah Who Has Guided us for this and if it was not for Him we wouldn’t have been guided.
Again I stress that, I didn’t refer to any scholastic work, but rather just reading through the Quran. May Allah Accept.