Which Testification of Faith Would a Convert Say?
Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad
Question
I have seen on websites, two versions of the Shahada:
- “Ash-hadu Al-laaa Ilaaha Illa-llaah Wa-Ash-hadu Anna Muhammadan ‘Abduhoo Wa Rasooluh” and
- “Ash-hadu Al-laaa Ilaaha Illa-llaah Wahdahoo Laa Shareeka Lahoo Wa-Ash-hadu Anna Muhammadan ‘Abduhoo Wa Rasooluh.”
This is my first time coming across the second version, and I wanted to know whether it is a bid‘a to consider it as being the Shahada.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
The first form that you mention is the common and well-known Testification of Faith that a convert would utter when becoming Muslim. There is an even shorter form where one says “Muhammad ar-RasuluLlah” instead of “Muhammadan ‘Abduhu wa Rasulu.” Please see this link
As for the second one that you found, it is also correct, it just has some added detail. There is no issue of bid‘a here. See this link for relevant videos and articles.
The second shahada is mentioned in these hadiths:
Sa‘d said, “I took an oath by Lat and ‘Uzza.” The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “‘Say, La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lahu’ (None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, with no partner or associate), then spit toward your left three times, and seek refuge with Allah, and do not do that again.“ [Ibn Majah]
‘Umar al-Khattab said, Allah’s Messenger said, “Whoever performs Wudu, making Wudu well, then says ‘Ashhadu al la ilaha illallah, wahdahu la sharika lahu, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan-abduhu wa rasuluhu, Allahummaj ‘alni minat tawwabin, waj’alni minal mutatahhirin’ (I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone, there are no partners for Him. And I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. O Allah! Make me among the repentant, and make me among those who purify themselves.) Then eight gates of Paradise are opened for him, that may enter by whichever of them wishes.” [Tirmidhi]
May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.
