What is the importance of the Second Kalima (Shahadat)?
The second kalima is called the shahadat or ‘bearing witness to faith’. This encompasses the central doctrine of Tawheed in Islam. The Tawheed is the belief in the unification or oneness of God. It holds that Allah is One (Al-Ahad) and Single (Al-Wahid).
The Shahada is mentioned repeatedly in the Quran and Hadith and is the basic theme of Islam. When a Muslim recites the second Kalima they proclaim:
- That Allah is the one and only God, and that Muhammad is his servant and messenger.
- That they personally accept this as true.
- That they will obey all the commitments of Islam in their life.
In total there are six Kalimas and they are widely memorized by millions across the globe because they teach fundamental beliefs about Allah and Islam. These six statements are educational and often taught to children while they are young so they will benefit from learning on early for the rest of their life.
In this post we will cover the second Kalima in detail.
Second Kalma Shahadat in Arabic:
In Arabic, the second kalima shahadat is written:
اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لَّآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَہٗ لَاشَرِيْكَ لَہٗ وَاَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهٗ وَرَسُولُہٗ
Transliteration: ashhadu alla ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lahu lahu wa-ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhoo wa rasooluhu.
The English Translation of Kalima Shahadat
The meaning of second shahadat (Ash-hadu Al-laaa Ilaaha Illa-llaahu Wahdahoo Laa Shareeka Lahoo Wa-Ash-hadu Anna Muhammadan Abduhoo Wa Rasooluhu) is,
“I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, the One alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger“
Benefit Based on Hadith:
It was narrated in Bulugh al-Maram Hadith 57 by ‘Umar (rad): Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said:
If one after performing ablution (wudu) and completely recites the following supplication: (Ash-hadu an la ilaha ill-Allahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, wa ash hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasuluhu) ‘I testify that there is no one worthy of worship but Allah, He is Alone and has no partner and Muhammad (ﷺ) is his slave and Messenger’, all the eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him and he may enter through any gate he wishes”.
It is also mentioned in the adhaan which is recited before every prayer five times a day. This reason being is Muslim’s need to be in constant remembrance of Allah in our minds.
It was narrated by Abu Mahdhurah in Sunan Ibn Majah hadith 709: The Messenger of Allah taught me the Adhan with nineteen phrases and the Iqamah with seventeen. The Adhan is:
Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar; Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah, Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah; Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah, Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah; Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah, Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah; Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah, Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah; Hayya ‘alal-salah, Hayya ‘alal-salah; Hayya ‘alal-falah, Hayya ‘alal-falah; Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar; La ilaha illallah.
Translation: Allah is the Most great, Allah is the most Great, Allah is the most Great, Allah is the most Great; I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah; I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah; I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; Come to the Prayer, Come to the Prayer; Come to the prosperity, Come to the prosperity; Allah is the Most great, Allah is the Most Great; None has the right to be worshipped but Allah