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Shahadah: Difference between revisions
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[[Shiite|Shi'ite]] Muslims may add "and Ali is the friend of Allah." (wa-‘Aliyun waliyu l-Lāh), but this is not obligatory.<ref>[http://www.mideastweb.org/Middle-East-Encyclopedia/shahada.htm Shahada] - Encyclopedia of the Middle East</ref> | [[Shiite|Shi'ite]] Muslims may add "and Ali is the friend of Allah." (wa-‘Aliyun waliyu l-Lāh), but this is not obligatory.<ref>[http://www.mideastweb.org/Middle-East-Encyclopedia/shahada.htm Shahada] - Encyclopedia of the Middle East</ref> | ||
==="I testify that" (أشهد أن)=== | ==="I testify that" (أشهد أن)=== | ||
A new convert to Islam has to say that he ''testifies'' about Allah and Muhammad, likely hearkening back to Greek Christian idiom of "testifying" to their faith, an idiom ultimately originating in the Roman persecution of Christians (see [[ | A new convert to Islam has to say that he ''testifies'' about Allah and Muhammad, likely hearkening back to Greek Christian idiom of "testifying" to their faith, an idiom ultimately originating in the Roman persecution of Christians (see [[Shaheed (Martyr)]]). | ||
==="No god but Allah" (لا إله إلا الله)=== | ==="No god but Allah" (لا إله إلا الله)=== | ||
A statement of absolute monotheism. Note | A statement of absolute monotheism. Note the unusual difference between أله "'ilah" "a god" and the definite الله "'allah" "the God" where one would otherwise expect الإله "al-'ilah" "the god." This is likely under the influence of the Syriac ܐܲܠܵܗܵܐ "Alaaha" for "god." | ||
There is a grammatically analogous statement used by | There is a grammatically analogous statement used by Shia Muslims: | ||
{{Quote|| | {{Quote|| | ||
لا سيف إلا ذو الفقار | لا سيف إلا ذو الفقار | ||
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Literally: No sword except Zulfiqar | Literally: No sword except Zulfiqar | ||
}} | }} | ||
Zulfiqar is the sword of Ali. | Zulfiqar is the sword of Ali. Note that it doesn't imply that other swords don't exist, merely that Ali's sword is the preeminent sword of swords. | ||
==In the Quran== | ==In the Quran== | ||
Since saying the shahada is considered the first pillar of Islam, one might expect that there would be a clear version of it in the Quran saying. Yet the text of the shahada actually does not appear in the Quran, at least not in its full form. | Since saying the shahada is considered the first pillar of Islam, one might expect that there would be a clear version of it in the Quran saying. Yet the text of the shahada actually does not appear in the Quran, at least not in its full form. | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Ritual]] | |||
[[Category: | [[Category:Allah]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Muhammad]] | ||
[[Category:Revelation]] | |||