Witness to Shahada

Question: What are the rulings for taking the Shahada? Are witnesses required? بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Iman (faith) is to believe with certainty:

1. There is no god except Allah (SWT)

2. In His angels

3. His books

4. His messengers (and the final messenger is Prophet Muhammad [SAW])

5. The Last Day

6. Fate, the good and bad of it is from Allah (SWT)

7. Resurrection after death

In short, we must believe in everything Allah (SWT) revealed and whatever has been established from the Prophet (SAW).

After one has believed in the above-mentioned tenets, they must verbally profess their faith by saying: “Ash hadu allaa ilaaha illallaahu wa ash hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu.”

Translation: I bear witness there is no god except Allah (SWT), and I bear witness Muhammad (SAW) is His servant and messenger.

Having witnesses is not a prerequisite to becoming a Muslim. However, it would be best that the Muslim community is made aware of one’s conversion.

Al-Aqidah At-Tahawiyyah: p. 37-39 (Muasasah Umm Al-Qura Li At-Tarjama wa At-Tawzee)

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Mohammad Ahsan Osmani Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah Darul Ifta Birmingham