Out of the six Kalimas, Kalime shahadat is the second kalima which means bearing witness to faith.
Second Kalma Shahadah in Arabic:
In Arabic, the 2nd kalima is written:
أَشْهَدُ أنْ لا إلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَأشْهَدُ أنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Transliteration of 2nd kalma:
Ash-hadu Al-laaa Ilaaha Illa-llaahu Wahdahoo Laa Shareeka Lahoo Wa-Ash-hadu Anna Muhammadan ‘Abduhoo Wa Rasooluhu.
Meaning Of Second Kalima
The translation of second kalima 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“
The second kalima is called the shahadat or ‘bearing witness to faith’. When we recite this kalima, we testify that Allah is the one and only God, and Muhammad (ﷺ) is His messenger.
It’s not just about oral recitation for the sake of sawab, it is about living this message from moment to moment. It is about aligning our actions in accordance with this kalima.
It is recited daily five times after doing wudu. This constantly reminds us of this testimony that we are giving to Allah SWT. It teaches us the concept of Tauheed and the oneness of Allah SWT.
It stops us from Shirk.
Allah SWT says that He will forgive all sins but not shirk.
It also helps us accept that Allah is the absolute power and none other is equal to or greater than Him.
Tauheed is the faith.
Without Tauheed there is no faith as it is the central doctrine of Islam.
When we recite this kalima we rule out the following four things:
- Shirk
- Shak
- Tashbeeh
- Taalil
➔ Shirk means associating or making partners with Allah SWT. As we testify that there is no God but Allah SWT this aspect is ruled out.
➔ Shak is uncertain or doubts the religion. This corrupts our faith.
➔ Tasbih is linking Allah SWT to an imaginary creature
➔ Taalil means Allah has no role in creating the creatures but they have come into existence by themselves. This is taught by science in schools.
Big bang theory and Darvin’s teachings take us to this ignorance.
By teaching this kalima to their children parents can make it clear to their children that Allah is the whole and sole creature of every single thing.
Related: Know the meaning of the first kalima and fourth kalima.
Benefits of Saying Kalima Shahadah According to Ahadith:
- It gives the good news of paradise to the believers who recite it at the time of their death.
“Whoever dies, while he knows that no god is allowed to be worshipped But Allah, and then he entered Paradise.”
- All 8 doors of paradise will be opened for the one who testifies to this kalima after doing wudu.
It was narrated that ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
‘Whoever performs Wudu’ and does it well, then says: “Ashhadu an la ilaha ill-Allah was ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh (I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is his slave and Messenger),” eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him, and he may enter through whichever one he wishes.'” – Sunan an-Nasa’i 148
- One can understand its significance as it is recited five times daily in Azaan.
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 Greatest, Allah is the Greatest; None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.
